Carbon footprint: do you know how many greenhouse gas emitting your company?

What is the carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that aims to reflect "the totality of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by the direct or indirect effect of an individual, organization, event or product".

Such environmental impact is measured by undertaking a GHG emissions inventory by following international standards recognized, such as ISO 14064-1, PAS 2050 or GHG Protocol.

There are several greenhouse gases that cause global warming, and by a consequence of climate change, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and each one has a different global warming potential. To simplify the measurement of the carbon footprint it is measured in mass of carbon dioxide equivalent (TNCO2eq)that just moves the sum of the gas and its potential for global warming to a single measurement.

It is important to note that the carbon footprint is not only a element of calculationbut the tip foot initial, then reduce and offset the emissions of greenhouse gases, power combat climate change and to become a company carbon neutral.

How do you calculate the carbon footprint?

Before, we mentioned that you can measure the carbon footprint of an individual, organization, event or product. Now we're going to explain very briefly what would be the process to measure the carbon footprint of an organization.

Step 1: determine the period of calculation

Basically when when you want to measure the footprint. Usually companies tend to use the calendar year as the calculation period. 

Step 2: determine the limit operational

This means the part of the company that is to be measured. For example, a company might choose to measure only the footprint of their headquarters, their operations in a certain region or a certain country.

Step 3: to measure the extent of

The scope of the footprint is divided into 3 parts:

1. Scope 1 – Direct Emissions: Emissions of Ghgs on which the company has total control.
2. Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions: Are the emissions generated by the electricity purchased (may include the purchase of heat in industry-specific).
3. Scope 3 – Indirect Emissions: All emissions from the value chain of the company.

Once you have set the limit of the operational and the scope of the footprint  

Step 4: determine the sources of emission

To perform this properly, one must first develop a process map to clearly state all the activities within the company. With this in hand, quantifies the amount of emission points existing in every part of the process and its source of power (electricity, natural gas, Diesel, etc). 

Having these data, it continues to 

Step 5: calculate the level of activity determined at the point of issuance

A very simple explanation would be, for example, the amount of electrical energy consumed by an office. A more complex would be the amount of Greenhouse Gases released by the chemical processes in the manufacture of X kg of cement.

Then you know and have calculated the activity level of the emission points, we proceed to the 

Step 6: investigate the emission factors 

The emission factors are international units standardized on certain processes and/or activities. For example, how many TNCO2eq outputs 1 MWH of electrical energy consumed in Argentina, or how many of TNCO2eq emitted from the combustion of 1 liter of gasoline.

To meet the emission factors corresponding to each activity, we go to the last step: calculating the carbon footprint.

To do this, multiply the level of activity by the corresponding emission factor, which will be shed as a result the total emissions.

Do not be neutral in the face of changing climate.