Carbon Footprint
Definition
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event, or product. It is usually expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The measurement encompasses emissions across an entity's entire value chain.
Why It Matters
Understanding and measuring a carbon footprint is the essential first step toward meaningful emissions reduction. Without accurate footprinting, organisations cannot set credible targets or track progress.
Related Terms
Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organisation. These include emissions from on-site fuel combustion, company vehicles, and industrial processes. They are the most straightforward emissions for a company to measure and reduce.
Scope 2 Emissions
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by the reporting organisation. They occur at the facility where the energy is generated, not where it is consumed. Companies can reduce Scope 2 emissions by switching to renewable energy sources.
Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 emissions are all indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company's value chain, both upstream and downstream. They include emissions from purchased goods, business travel, employee commuting, waste disposal, and use of sold products. For most companies, Scope 3 represents the largest share of their total emissions.
Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic methodology for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product, process, or service throughout its entire life cycle. This includes raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. LCA helps identify the most significant environmental hotspots and improvement opportunities.