Carbon footprint is determined on the basis of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by humans and quantifies the impact we have on the environment. Its unit of measurement is units of CO2.
In 2014, the Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree creating the Carbon Footprint Register. This Royal Decree highlights the importance of calculating and registering the carbon footprint in order to have the most complete and reliable emissions inventory possible. The measurement is carried out taking into account the entire life cycle of the product or service.
For companies and organisations, the calculation of the carbon footprint is a reference or starting point. Its registration makes companies aware of the impact they generate and allows them to implement the most effective actions to reduce emissions or compensate, if they cannot avoid them.
What are the benefits of calculating the carbon footprint for companies?
Calculating a company’s carbon footprint indicates the degree of eco-efficiency of the company and enables cost savings. It identifies the transparency of the environmental impact and provides reliable information to consumers about the product or service they are buying, which will position the company as an environmental benchmark and differentiate it in the market.
There are different standards for calculating a company’s carbon footprint. These include PAS 2050, the GHG protocol and the ISO 14064 standard.
How to reduce the carbon footprint of companies?
The key to reducing the carbon footprint in the business environment is to establish lines of action with these specific objectives and implement specific measures such as: registration in carbon footprint registers, reducing energy use or adapting the mobility of workers and transport logistics.