Your carbon footprint represents how much greenhouse gas your organisation produces through its activities. It is measured in equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide, usually written as ‘tCO2e’.
Measuring your carbon footprint helps you understand where your emissions are coming from and how you might reduce them over time. It is the first step in developing a carbon reduction plan and working towards becoming net zero.
Your carbon footprint is usually broken down into three categories:
You cannot do any meaningful work to reduce your environmental impact if you don’t know what impact you’re having. A growing number of organisations have concluded that reducing their carbon footprint makes good business sense:
The first step in measuring your carbon footprint is to set the scope of the measurement. You do not have to measure your whole business from the start – you can decide which parts of your organisation you will measure, like a specific worksite, and grow from there. You also need to choose a point to start measuring from, so you can track your progress.
Build your evidence base. Some kinds of emissions will be more relevant to your business than others, so work out which ones are most useful to focus on. This is sometimes called a materiality assessment.
You might not be able to put together a complete picture to start with. But things like utilities bills, fuel use and waste data should be straightforward. You might also ask key suppliers for information.
Different greenhouse gases have different levels of impact. Once you have gathered your data, you will need to convert it to a single measure of tCO2e. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes a standard conversion table each year.
Once you have completed the first three steps, you will be able to see where your largest sources of greenhouse gases are. You can then set a realistic target and a plan to get you there.
You will probably start with addressing your largest sources, but you do not have to. Standards such as the Science Based Targets initiative can help you work out what is achievable and desirable.
Over time, you can introduce solutions that reduce your emissions. This depends entirely on your specific business, but might include changing to LED lighting, installing solar panels, or buying an electric fleet.
Periodically repeat steps 2 and 3 to check what your emissions are. You will be able to chart your progress and the impact of your actions. It’s recommended to do this annually.
You can also report your progress to stakeholders like partners, suppliers, buyers, or regulatory bodies.
There are lots of organisations that can help you get started with measuring your carbon footprint.
