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No time to read? We've got a recap just below. 😊
- A carbon footprint is a tool that measures a company's greenhouse gas emissions over a one-year period.
- Carbon footprints will become increasingly essential in the wake of regulatory changes.
- This tool is based on 3 areas of action: the company's direct emissions (e.g. fuel consumption), indirect emissions linked to energy consumption (e.g. electricity) and other indirect emissions (purchases, waste, etc.).
- A carbon footprint is made to measure and must correspond to your expectations and your CSR plan.
- A carbon footprint can be a competitive advantage. In particular, it is increasingly requested in calls for tender.
- A carbon footprint can save you money.
- A carbon footprint is the first step towards respecting the planet.
Bilan Carbone des Entreprises : Mode d'Emploi 📖 (in French)
With global warming on the increase and new heat records being set almost every year, it is often said that it is essential for companies to reduce their CO2 emissions by adopting an appropriate CSR strategy. This will generally involve a carbon assessment carried out by an external party, who will propose an action plan and/or via a carbon assessment platform.
Want to know all about the Bilan Carbone? We'll explain it all here! 👇
The definition of carbon footprint 🍃
The Bilan Carbone or Bilan GES has been defined by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) as a tool for assessing the quantity of greenhouse gases captured in the atmosphere in a given territory. This balance is then expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
The stages of a carbon footprint 🧐
There are two main stages in carrying out a GHG assessment. The first is to define the greenhouse gases to be accounted for, and the second is to define the scope of action to be taken into account.
1/ The different types of carbon footprint gas
The different types of gas used to calculate a company's carbon footprint are as follows:
- Carbon dioxide: CO2
- Nitrous oxide: N2O
- Methane: CH4
- Sulfur hexafluoride: SF6
- Hydrofluorocarbons: HFVs
- Perfluorocarbons: PFCs
These different emissions are then converted into CO2 to produce a simple formula: CO2 emissions = quantity consumed x emission factor.
An emission factor is the ratio between the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by a product or material and the characteristic value of the object measured in CO2 (according to the unit that best corresponds to it, such as grams or kilograms of CO2).
2/ The 3 scopes of a carbon footprint
This is the most complex stage of your carbon footprint. A scope refers to the area within which the organization's or product's greenhouse gas emissions are analyzed. Scopes range from the smallest (Scope 1) to the most general (Scope 3).
Scope1 or direct emissions
These are CO2 emissions directly linked to your company's activity, such as fuel consumption and use, and all emissions from so-called fixed sources (your equipment, buildings, etc.), non-energy processes and biomass. If your company has used petroleum during the manufacturing process of your product, these greenhouse gas emissions will be included in this scope.
Scope2 or indirect emissions related to energy consumption
This scope will take into account your greenhouse gas emissions, which are linked to energy consumption during your production process, whether in the form of heat, cold or electricity.
Scope3 or other indirect emissions
When we speak of Scope 3, we are thinking of CO2 emissions that are not part of the production process of the product or service, but of other stages in its life cycle, such as manufacturing, transport, final use of the product by customers, but also its management when the product is at the end of its life (recycling, storage, etc.). For example, we could include your purchases of products and services, but also your employees' business travel.
As Scope 3 is the most "general" in terms of scope, it will often be the source of the largest quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by your company.
Your company's carbon footprint must therefore meet the following criteria:
- It must cover the first two Scopes, Scope 3 being optional at present.
- It should give you a detailed picture of your company's greenhouse gas emissions.
- It must cover as many greenhouse gas emissions as possible, to enable you to identify as many reduction levers as possible.
- It must succeed in implementing a long-term low-carbon strategy
A carbon footprint: just a good conscience or a competitive advantage?
In the end, after reading this article, you may well ask yourself, "But why do a carbon footprint if I don't have to, and if at first sight it doesn't bring any return on investment?"
Well, because carbon footprint is proving to be an increasingly key competitive advantage, for the reasons described below:
Meeting your customers' expectations
Having a company that respects its environment is an excellent way for it to stand out from its competitors and generate a positive image. Communicating about its CSR policy is an option for attracting new customers, who are increasingly concerned about the ecological footprint of companies.
Attracting investors
We now have CSR labels that can be obtained for good CSR projects. Transparency with your investors is essential if you are to gain their trust (nobody invests in a company that goes against global warming). Finally, an ambitious CSR strategy will also give you a competitive edge over your competitors in the long term.
Reduce energy consumption and optimize your costs
Carrying out a carbon footprint assessment will help you understand where you can make savings and consume less gas, electricity or heating. It can also help you optimize your transportation costs!
For our planet
Indeed, if fossil fuel consumption is not reduced by 5% every year, and we fail to comply with the Paris Agreement, the rise in global temperature will exceed 2°C, with potentially dramatic consequences: increasing numbers of climate refugees and the extinction of animal species.
Superb! But how much does it cost? 💸
This question is so vast that we thought it deserved a little explanatory article 👇
www.traace.co/post/bilan-carbone-combien-ca-coute
Thanks to you if you made it to the end of this article! It means we're not the only ones trying to do the right thing. 😏
A beautiful, low-carbon day.
The Traace team
