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Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint

Carbon footprint

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced, directly or indirectly, by a person, a company, a product or an event. It's expressed in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), a unit that adds up carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases according to how much each one warms the planet.

Companies usually calculate it with the GHG Protocol, in three groups:

  • Scope 1: direct emissions, such as fuel for company vehicles;
  • Scope 2: the electricity and heat they buy;
  • Scope 3: the rest of the value chain, from suppliers and transport to business travel and waste. This is often where the biggest emissions hide.

You can read more about measuring a carbon footprint in A new sustainability tool is being launched today in Romania.

See also: climate neutrality, climate change, CSRD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CO₂ equivalent mean?

A common unit that converts all greenhouse gases into the amount of CO₂ with the same warming effect.

What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?

Scope 1 covers a company's direct emissions, Scope 2 comes from purchased energy, and Scope 3 is everything else across the value chain.

Where does a company start?

With the data it already has: energy and fuel bills, business travel, purchases, waste. The most widely used standard is the GHG Protocol.

How can I help reduce my carbon footprint?

You can use less energy, take public transport, repair instead of buying new, and waste less food.

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