Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint quantifies GHG emissions in CO₂e to help companies measure, compare, and reduce their impact.
A carbon footprint measures the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released directly or indirectly by a product, company, or activity. It is expressed in CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e), allowing different gases to be compared on a common scale.
What does a carbon footprint include?
The carbon footprint is not limited to carbon dioxide (CO₂) but also includes other key greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, such as:
- Methane (CH₄)
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- Fluorinated gases (F-gases): hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃)
The climate impact of these gases is translated into CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e) because each gas has a different Global Warming Potential (GWP). The GWP is a scientific measure that allows comparisons of how much heat a given gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO₂ over a specific time period. The higher the GWP, the more a gas contributes to global warming relative to carbon dioxide.
This conversion into CO₂e makes it possible to aggregate and compare emissions across gases and processes easily.
Why does the carbon footprint matter?
Understanding your carbon footprint is a critical step toward reducing emissions and achieving climate neutrality. By identifying emission hotspots, companies can:
- Improve energy and resource efficiency
- Optimize supply chains and transport
- Reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
- Comply with CSRD and CBAM requirements
- Support Net Zero strategies