What is the carbon footprint?
The Carbon Footprint is the total emissions of CO2 and other Greenhouse Gases (GHG) into the atmosphere generated by an individual, organization, event, or product.
These emissions are quantified according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s international standard (and are expressed in metric tons ofCO2 equivalent (CO2e).
Calculating the Carbon Footprint is the first big step to know and manage the primary sources of GHG emissions of a process, obtaining a strategic tool to communicate, endorse, disseminate and multiply the exercise of environmental responsibility, adding value to the company.
The carbon footprint includes direct and indirect emissions:
- Direct emissions: are those generated by the company’s sources or controlled by the company. For example: Fossil fuel consumption and process emissions.
- Indirect Emissions: from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions are created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation.
- Other Indirect Emissions: Any other indirect emission generated by a third party upstream or down stream of the value chain.