Measuring your carbon impact

Businesses measure their carbon impact, or carbon footprint, through a process called carbon accounting. Carbon accounting involves quantifying the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that a business generates directly and indirectly through its operations, products, and supply chains. Here are some common steps that businesses may take to measure their carbon impact:

1. Identifying emissions sources: Businesses typically start by identifying all the sources of greenhouse gas emissions associated with their operations, including energy use, transportation, waste generation, and other activities.
2. Collecting data: Data on energy consumption, fuel usage, waste production, and other relevant activities are collected from various sources within the business, such as utility bills, transportation records, and production data.
3. Calculating emissions: Using established emissions factors or industry-specific methodologies, businesses then calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their activities. Emissions factors are typically provided by recognized standards and organizations, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
4. Including scope emissions: Carbon accounting typically includes three scopes of emissions. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the business, such as on-site fuel combustion. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity, heat, or steam. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the business, including activities such as transportation, waste disposal, and purchased goods and services.
5. Verification and reporting: Some businesses choose to have their carbon footprint data independently verified by third-party organizations to enhance credibility. Once the emissions data is calculated and verified, businesses can report their carbon footprint through various mechanisms, such as sustainability reports, annual reports, or disclosure platforms like the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).