Carbon footprint

All about the carbon footprint

What is a carbon footprint and why is it important?

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a carbon footprint is a change in climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the world's atmosphere. Fortunately, each and every one of us can work together in the fight against climate change if we promote reducing our carbon footprint – a concept that has gained significant importance in recent decades, and we tell you all about it here.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that represents the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), expressed as CO₂ equivalents, that are emitted directly or indirectly as a result of a specific activity.

Even though the focus is usually on carbon dioxide, there are other gases that contribute to this greenhouse effect such as methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O).

In order to calculate the contribution of each gas, there is a parameter called the Global Warming Potential (GWP) that compares the heating power of a certain mass of this greenhouse gas with the heating power of the same amount of CO₂, so that the effect of these different gases can be calculated with the same unit of measurement, called CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e). Therefore, the following formula is used to calculate greenhouse emissions:

GEI (t CO₂e) = GEI (t gas)*GWP gas

The first step for calculating a carbon footprint is to take an inventory of gas emissions or an analysis of the life cycle depending on the type of footprint. Using this information as a base, it's possible to implement an emissions reduction strategy based on energy efficiency, cutting back on raw materials, circular economy, process improvements, etc. Next, we'll look at the different types of carbon footprint in more detail.

What types of carbon footprints are there?

Depending on the activity we're analyzing, distinct types of carbon footprint can be identified, considering the activity's typical GHG emissions per year.

Individual carbon footprint

It's based on the consumption habits of the person and takes into account GHG emissions associated with their means of transportation, electricity use for heating and cooling at home, eating habits, and consumption of goods.

Product footprint

This includes the GHG emissions from the stages of raw material extraction, production process, required energy generation, the transportation between stages, the customer's usage, and its treatment as waste.

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Corporate footprint

It includes the GHG emissions inventory related to a company or organization's operations. It serves to identify energy efficiency measures within the organization, as well as action measures with other companies in the sector.

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How to calculate a carbon footprint

There are various guides and tools available online to calculate the carbon footprint for both individuals and organizations such as those designed by the UN, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, the UK's Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); and many more. Here is how the calculation works.

The carbon footprint calculation is based on international standards like the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064. Emissions are calculated by multiplying the consumption data by its emission factor, depending on the fuel used, type of energy, and the intended activity. Therefore, the following formula sums up the calculation:

Carbon footprint = Activity data x Emission factor

Throughout the life cycle of any product or service that we use as individuals or organizations, we can differentiate distinct stages that require energy and generate GHG emissions: from the extraction of the raw materials, the transportation to industry where they are transformed into products, the distribution to vendors, the use by consumers, and finally the waste treatment where they may be transformed again.

In each stage, there is an organization or person capable of measuring, controlling, and managing the necessary energy and the emissions of a process (the truck driver, managers of the manufacturing process, the user of the product, etc.). These would be considered the direct emissions generated in this stage by this person or organization. The rest of the stages of the process are considered indirect emissions, since they are still associated with the activity or product, even though the person or business does not have direct control over the process of the stage.

With this in mind, emissions are classified into three scopes:

Scope 1: Direct emissions

GHG emissions related to combustion from sources that are owned or controlled by the business or person, for example, boilers, vehicles, furnaces, etc.
Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions associated with energy

GHG emissions associated with the purchase of energy as electricity, steam, or compressed air, which are acquired and consumed by the business or person.
Scope 3: Other indirect emissions

GHG emissions that are the result of the business or person's activity but which occur in emission sources that are not owned or controlled by the business or person. One example would be extraction and production activities of raw materials purchased by a business, the use of products sold to third parties, or waste management activities in a home or business.

How can we reduce our carbon footprint?

Without a doubt, responsible consumption is one our greatest allies, but there's even more we can do to try to cut our carbon footprint. Here are a few tips we can put into practice in our day-to-day lives to reduce it:

We can try to save energy at home by unplugging any electronic devices we're not using. Also, if we maintain the temperature between 18ºC and 23ºC, we'll save on heating. Similarly, we should make the most of natural light during the day to save on our power bill.

We can also save hundreds of liters of water by turning off the tap while soaping up or brushing our teeth.
Using public transportation or other solutions such as bicycles or electric scooters contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, while improving mobility in cities and raising the citizens' quality of life index.

Also, other responsible mobility alternatives, such as carsharing, help reduce traffic congestion and save on private vehicle maintenance costs.

Measures companies can adopt to reduce their carbon footprint

Companies and organizations can also implement measures aimed at cutting their carbon footprint by always giving priority to actions that have a greater impact and introducing guidelines that create a carbon footprint reduction culture, both in their daily operations as well as in the management of the product life cycle.

The circular economy has a wide range of benefits. It protects the environment, reduces CO₂ emissions, and minimizes the consumption of natural resources. It benefits the local economy by promoting production models based, for example, on reverse logistics or reusing waste. It also creates jobs and stimulates the development of a more innovative and competitive industrial model.