two scopes for the carbon footprint calculation, one accounting for the emissions
from the extraction of raw materials to the factory gate (known as cradle-to-gate)
and another including the previous track but goes beyond the product’s manufacture down to the consumer use and disposal (cradle-to-grave) [41]. Moreover, since
2007 this organization developed a process ending in certified carbon footprint
labels that run from just stating that emissions were measured and certified to
commitments by the manufacturer to reduce emissions, to including that the product
has lower emissions compared with the average or even that the product becomes
carbon neutral through the offset of its already low emissions.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or GHG Protocol, was built from a partnership
between World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for
Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It calculates the carbon footprint of companies and organizations through a comprehensive global standardized procedure that
measures GHG emissions and enables future policies and measures to reduce them,
associated with operations, value chains and mitigation actions [42].
The GHG Protocol developed the Corporate Standard in 2001 that has been
updated for different scopes and to include direct and indirect emissions, such as the
use of electricity. The Protocol considers three tiers: tier I includes all direct
emissions, mostly onsite emissions or emissions from equipment owned by the
organization; tier II refers to the energy purchased by the organization (mostly
electricity but can be also steam); tier III corresponds to all the indirect emissions,
from those associated with transport of input materials, products sold, disposal of
products and other activities not included in the previous tiers [42]. Tier III emissions are the most difficult to be considered in a standard form because of their
broadness. It is upon selection criteria such as the relevance of the emission sources
or the interest of the stakeholders that those tier III components should be selected
in case it is impossible n a cost-benefit basis to evaluate them all. Also, as a large
part of these emissions stand further away from a direct responsibility of the
organization, it is always questionable how they can be manageable by the organization. Relevant issues such as the accuracy of the emissions inventory of the
organization and the consideration of data quality aspects have to be considered. As
for Carbon Trust, in terms of product, the GHG Protocol also developed tools to
measure the benefits of climate change policies and measures.
The environmental track record of corporations became a key factor for the
selection of products and a relevant accountability criteria. As part of the market
systems transparency and procurement rules, many businesses started to disclosure
their carbon accounts through the Carbon Disclosure Project that developed environmental reporting rules and best-practice recommendations [43]. Activities
within the context of corporate social responsibility taken by companies regarding
the effort to reduce their carbon footprint can be widely communicated, ranging
from the products to mobility related actions [44].
A carbon footprint label would influence the purchasing options of the consumers who are getting more concerned with climate change. However, price
continues to be the main decision factor and the carbon emissions that mostly
concern the consumer are the ones associated with the transportation and disposal
Carbon Economy and Carbon Footprint
23
from the extraction of raw materials to the factory gate (known as cradle-to-gate)
and another including the previous track but goes beyond the product’s manufacture down to the consumer use and disposal (cradle-to-grave) [41]. Moreover, since
2007 this organization developed a process ending in certified carbon footprint
labels that run from just stating that emissions were measured and certified to
commitments by the manufacturer to reduce emissions, to including that the product
has lower emissions compared with the average or even that the product becomes
carbon neutral through the offset of its already low emissions.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or GHG Protocol, was built from a partnership
between World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for
Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It calculates the carbon footprint of companies and organizations through a comprehensive global standardized procedure that
measures GHG emissions and enables future policies and measures to reduce them,
associated with operations, value chains and mitigation actions [42].
The GHG Protocol developed the Corporate Standard in 2001 that has been
updated for different scopes and to include direct and indirect emissions, such as the
use of electricity. The Protocol considers three tiers: tier I includes all direct
emissions, mostly onsite emissions or emissions from equipment owned by the
organization; tier II refers to the energy purchased by the organization (mostly
electricity but can be also steam); tier III corresponds to all the indirect emissions,
from those associated with transport of input materials, products sold, disposal of
products and other activities not included in the previous tiers [42]. Tier III emissions are the most difficult to be considered in a standard form because of their
broadness. It is upon selection criteria such as the relevance of the emission sources
or the interest of the stakeholders that those tier III components should be selected
in case it is impossible n a cost-benefit basis to evaluate them all. Also, as a large
part of these emissions stand further away from a direct responsibility of the
organization, it is always questionable how they can be manageable by the organization. Relevant issues such as the accuracy of the emissions inventory of the
organization and the consideration of data quality aspects have to be considered. As
for Carbon Trust, in terms of product, the GHG Protocol also developed tools to
measure the benefits of climate change policies and measures.
The environmental track record of corporations became a key factor for the
selection of products and a relevant accountability criteria. As part of the market
systems transparency and procurement rules, many businesses started to disclosure
their carbon accounts through the Carbon Disclosure Project that developed environmental reporting rules and best-practice recommendations [43]. Activities
within the context of corporate social responsibility taken by companies regarding
the effort to reduce their carbon footprint can be widely communicated, ranging
from the products to mobility related actions [44].
A carbon footprint label would influence the purchasing options of the consumers who are getting more concerned with climate change. However, price
continues to be the main decision factor and the carbon emissions that mostly
concern the consumer are the ones associated with the transportation and disposal
Carbon Economy and Carbon Footprint
23