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ABC, the Bilan Carbone® guarantor
TheAssociation pour la Transition Bas Carbone (ABC), created in 2011 by ADEME and APCC, has been promoting the Bilan Carbone® methodology for over 10 years. and analysis of organizations' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. (GHG) emissions of organizations.
The ABC's role is to promote and develop the Bilan Carbone® standard by guaranteeing its methodological principles, which are now widely shared by the ecosystem of low-carbon transition players.
Why does ABC assess the compliance of carbon accounting tools?
In recent years, the use of the term Bilan Carbone® has become much more widespread, and the term is now part of everyday language. Unfortunately, however, it is often misused for marketing purposes, whereas supporting the economy's transition to a low-carbon model requires rigor and accuracy.
Following the appearance on the market of numerous carbon accounting software tools, with varying levels of requirements in terms of their methodological approach, ABC wanted to develop its compliance with the Bilan Carbone® method for carbon accounting tools available on the market.
The ABC's compliance certification process helps toensure the methodological robustness of the tools used , and to guide those involved in the transition within companies in their choices when they decide to equip themselves with a solution to carry out a real corporate carbon footprint and accelerate their climate strategy.
Finally, the ABC points out that "any person or solution offering you a 'certified Bilan Carbone®' is relying on a certification process that does not exist". (1)
Behind the scenes of ABC's assessment of Traace.
The Bilan Carbone® compliance audit framework
Visit carbon accounting platform platform has been audited over the last few months in accordance with the new ABC assessment standard for carbon accounting tools.
The audit carried out by ABC was based on four pillars, three of which are historical to the "Bilan Carbone Conform" approach, and a new one:
- The technical and methodological framework deployed by the solution.
- the solution'ssupport for carbon management.
- The transparency of the solution's approach to its customers.
- Communication and positioning of the solution.
This last new criterion was added to the audit by ABC in order toensure that solutions certified as compliant do not relay messages that are disconnected from the real challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economic model, solely to satisfy their own personal objectives.
As part of the evaluation process, not only was the Traace platform assessed, but also our blogthe content of our presentations and our communication in general: everything was scrutinized to ensure that the messages we communicate are not misleading.
The ABC audit process
Two auditors were involved in evaluating Traace on these four pillars. A CBA auditor and an external auditor, each carrying out their study according to the same evaluation standards to guarantee the transparency, quality and independence of the approach.
On the different pillars of the evaluation, the auditors highlighted in particular :
- Technical and methodological framework: exhaustiveness of carbon accounting, promotion of the physical approach, exhaustiveness of the GHGs taken into account, and ability to quantify carbon reduction actions.
- Accompaniment: the ability to enhance the skills of those involved and raise awareness among the organization's stakeholders.
- Transparency of the approach: the quality of the documentation on the methodology followed, the detailed user guide and the visibility provided on the emissions factors used.
- Communication and positioning: the consistency of Traace's messages with those of the ABC and ADEME, particularly on the subjects of carbon neutrality and carbon contribution.
During the audit, the Traace teams took into account the feedback from the ABC to make the solution and the support offered to our customers even more relevant. In particular, the audit was an opportunity to further enrich our documentation and the awareness and training elements we share during our presentations.
Traace's excellent score alsoattests to its compliance with the ABC standard and the Bilan Carbone methodology.
The exercise was particularly appreciated by the Traace teams. It was an opportunity to question ourselves, to take an objective look at our strengths and areas for improvement, and above all to aim for an ever more demanding methodology and approach, commensurate with the climate challenges we are tackling alongside our customers.
Conclusion - Why was this ABC certification important for Traace?
Since its launch in 2020, Traace has been working to technologically equip organizations to accelerate their transition to a low-carbon model.
The mission that drives the Traace teams is the materialization of the deep convictions that drive our team members and the customers who join us: tackling the decarbonization of our economy requires seriousness, rigor and transparency.
Certification is only meaningful if it is issued by an independent third party with no conflicts of interest. A certification where the auditor and the consultant are part of the same entity has no value. This is why Traace preferred to devote its energy to being audited by ABC rather than launching its own internal certification, as some players in our market do, which is more akin to greenwashing than to any serious approach.
For our customers, choosing a tool assessed by ABC as compliant with the Bilan Carbone® methodology is the assurance of rigorous, actionable carbon accounting, in-depth, relevant support on carbon emissions-related issues and, in general, expertise that is at least equivalent to the Bilan Carbone® standard.
-> Find out more about the Traace platform and our various modules for measuring, analyzing and planning decarbonization actions: click here!
Sources
- (1) https://abc-transitionbascarbone.fr/tout-savoir-sur-le-bilan-carbone-la-mise-au-point-complete-de-lassociation-pour-la-transition-bas-carbone/
- https://abc-transitionbascarbone.fr/tribune-non-un-bilan-carbone-realise-en-quelques-clics-nexiste-pas/
