Why calculate a carbon footprint?

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There are typically two main reasons for wanting to calculate a carbon footprint:
  • To manage the footprint and reduce emissions over time

Calculating an organisation’s carbon footprint can be an effective tool for ongoing energy and environmental management. In this case, it may be enough to understand and quantify the key emissions sources, typically including gas, electricity and transport. This approach is quite quick and straightforward. Having quantified the emissions, steps can be identified and prioritised, focusing on the areas of greatest savings potential.

Find out more about the Carbon Trust’s basic approach to carbon footprinting.

  • To report the footprint accurately to a third party

Organisations increasingly want to calculate their carbon footprint in detail for public disclosure:
  • For Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or marketing purposes
  • To fulfil requests from business or retail customers, or from investors
  • To ascertain what level of emissions they need to offset in order to become ‘carbon neutral’.

For these reasons, a more robust approach is needed, covering the full range of emissions the organisation is responsible for. It may also be appropriate for the calculation to be independently verified to ensure that the methodology has been correctly used and that the results are accurate.

Find out more about the process of calculating a detailed carbon footprint.

For more information on carbon offsetting see The Carbon Trust three stage approach to developing a robust offsetting strategy.

For an indication of your carbon emissions, use our online tools:
Calculate your carbon footprint

Now read How to calculate a basic carbon footprint or How to calculate a full carbon footprint

 
 
Footnotes
 
For more information on corporate emissions reporting, visit the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, produced by the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute.
 

Publications

 
 
 
 
Carbon Footprinting
This guide provides an explanation of key footprinting concepts, a definition of the term ‘carbon footprint’ and an overview of the key issues in calculating an organisation’s carbon impact.

 
Carbon footprints in the supply chain: The next step for business
The report describes a radical new way for businesses to cut carbon emissions across their supply chain, from raw materials to product disposal, and to deliver low carbon products to the consumer.

 
The Carbon Trust three stage approach to developing a robust offsetting strategy
This guide provides a step by step process for organisations interested in offsetting to implement a robust strategy that includes direct and indirect emissions reductions.