Methods to calculate the carbon footprint

There is a wide variety of standards and methodologies for calculating the carbon footprint at international level, as is evident from the reports of the European Commission. They are all based on the principles of RELEVANCE, CONSISTENCY, ACCURACY and TRANSPARENCY, and share certain steps to be followed when performing this calculation, such as defining the calculation boundaries (temporal, organisational and operational (the 3 scopes of the carbon footprint), collecting activity data or choosing the emission factors to be used.

To calculate the carbon footprint of an organisation or product, the first step is to choose the calculation methodology to be used.

Through this article, we would like to introduce these most internationally recognised carbon footprinting methodologies that every company or individual needs to be aware of, to ensure that a carbon footprint is based on the principles mentioned above and has followed the essential steps to calculate it correctly.

Methodologies for calculating the carbon footprint

The following are therefore the most globally recognised carbon footprinting methodologies:

• Green Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (GHG Protocol). Developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, it is one of the most widely used international protocols for quantifying and managing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.
• UNE-EN ISO 14064-1. In accordance with the GHG Protocol, the ISO 14064 standard was developed in 2006 and is structured in 3 parts. The application of this guide is 14064-1 which specifies the principles and requirements, at the organisational level, for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. The other parts of this standard address, on the one hand, GHG projects specifically designed to reduce GHG emissions or increase GHG removals (ISO 14064-2) and, on the other hand, the validation and verification of reported GHGs (ISO 14064-3).
• UNE-EN ISO 14065: 2021. Requirements for bodies performing validation and verification of greenhouse gases, for use in accreditation or other forms of recognition.
• UNE-ISO/TR14069: 2015. GHG quantification and reporting for organisations. It constitutes the guidance by application of ISO 14064-1.
• 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green house Gas Inventories. A comprehensive guide to calculating GHGs from different sources and sectors, including a detailed list of emission factors. This guide was developed to provide guidance for quantifying GHG emissions from national inventories, but can be very useful for organisations when calculating their carbon footprint. If specific emission factors are not available, the IPCC 2006 Guidelines provide generic emission factors that can be used to calculate the carbon footprint. In 2019, the 2019 Refinement to no the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green house GasInventories was published.
• Bilan Carbone (France). The Agence de l'Environnementte de la Maîtrise de la Energie (French Environment and Energy Management Agency), developed and implemented in 2004 this methodological tool dedicated to the measurement of GHG emissions. It is based on the contents of the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064.
• Commission Recommendation of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods for measuring and communicating the environmental performance of products and organisations throughout their life cycle (2013/179/EU).
• ISAE 3410. International Standard approved by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IASSB) in March 2012 on Assurance Engagements on Greenhouse Gas Reporting.

At Grup Carles we are committed to helping you calculate and reduce your carbon footprint effectively to contribute to a more sustainable future. Our team of experts is able to offer you effective and customised solutions for managing your carbon footprint. 

Contact us today to start your journey towards environmental sustainability.