In the very area of carbon footprint assessments, several influences have proved determining in the international development of methods and standards.

To start with, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), which was jointly convened in 1998 by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). This initiative is aiming at developing carbon emissions accounting and assessment standards related to Carbon emissions, while building international partnerships with corporates, governments, and environmental constituents.

Of course, one could not speak of international standards without mentioning the International Organization for Standards (ISO). Regarding the environmental topic, ISO has issued a series of assessment standards under the generic number ISO 14000; more particularly, the ISO 14064 tackles the very carbon footprint assessment.

Another dynamic initiative, compatible with both GHG Protocol and ISO 14064, comes from the French Agence de Développement et de Maîtrise de l'Energie (ADEME) under the name Bilan Carbone^™. This initiative addresses to corporates as well as local collectivites and the public sector.

Most standards are actually aiming at producing a footprint at company or operation level, hence complying with typical national regulatory requirements.

To that extent,  the British Standard Institution (BSI) has taken a rather innovative step by launching their PAS 2050. This approach focuses on the carbon footprint at the very product or service level, taking the full product life cycle into account.

Although there are not much regulation at this level yet, no doubts exist that the end consumer will keep paying more attention to the actual environment impact of their consumables. 

Depending on your intentions/obligations, a CapCO₂ advisor will assist you from deciding on the most appropriate carbon footprint approach to the actual assessment and ensuing improvement and communication program. For inquiries please click here.