GHG Protocol

What is the purpose of calculating your carbon footprint?

Calculating your carbon footprint in accordance with the GHG Protocol serves to:

  • Comply with regulatory or customer requirements. Customers increasingly value environmental information linked to our products, through GHG reports or Environmental Product Declarations.
  • Improve your score in Corporate Social Responsibility assessments such as Ecovadis, SMETA or Label Toumai by Lucie.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement. Help identify opportunities to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency through sustainability and CSR objectives that develop GHG reduction actions in the main emission hotspots.
  • Identify opportunities to reduce emissions, improve operational efficiency and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability to your stakeholders.
  • Comparison with other organisations and verification of the GHG Report by an accredited certifier, thanks to the GHG Protocol being a consistent and reliable methodology for measuring and reporting GHG emissions.

GHG Protocol Requirements

A GHG report prepared in accordance with the GHG Protocol considers the following greenhouse gases: CO₂ (carbon dioxide), CH₄ (methane), N₂O (nitrous oxide) and other industrial gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF₆), depending on the activity. It takes into account the following sections:

Definition of emission limits and sources

The definitions prior to the Greenhouse Gas Report are:

  • Definition of organisational boundaries of who issues the GHG Report and how it is grouped.
  • Definition of operational boundaries. This involves defining which activities generate GHG emissions.
  • Identification of emission sources. Where and how emissions are generated. This involves creating an inventory detailing all emission sources within scopes 1, 2 and 3.

Calculation of emissions based on data, factors and formulas applied using objective data such as bills or meters.

“Direct and indirect emissions” differentiated according to the “GHG Protocol” are classified as follows:

  • Direct Emissions (Scope 1). This takes into account stationary or mobile combustion; fugitive emissions and emissions from industrial processes.
  • Indirect emissions from energy (Scope 2). This includes electricity purchased for internal consumption as well as steam, heating or cooling purchased.
  • Other indirect emissions (Scope 3). This takes into account emissions from purchased goods and services; transport and distribution activities; waste generated in operations; business travel; employee travel; use of products sold; end of life of products and leased assets.
  1. Data collection and management. Collect, validate and maintain information through invoices, meters or any other verifiable means.
  2. Application of emission factors. Conversion of activity to GHG emissions using conversion factors. These are values that convert a unit of activity (e.g. litres of diesel, kWh, kg of waste) into an amount of CO₂ equivalent emissions. The factors may be official (MITECO, IPCC, DEFRA, etc.).
  3. Annual GHG and carbon footprint report. Includes recommendations for the creation of annual reports summarising the company’s GHG emissions, the methodologies used and the reduction strategies implemented.
  4. Presentation and reporting of results. Structured and comprehensible GHG emissions report.

Independent verification and review of the methodology used by an independent external certifier, especially if it is to be used for official purposes or GHG certification.

Planning actions to minimise the carbon footprint of greenhouse gas emissions and achieve continuous improvement. This can be linked to the continuous improvement of your ISO 14001 certificate, EMAS verification or Ecovadis.

FAQs GHG Protocol on GHG

What is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory?

The GHG Report is a structured account of all greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint generated by an organisation, classified according to their origin and impact.

It serves to determine the carbon footprint and identify opportunities for continuous improvement in reducing GHG emissions within the framework of ISO 14001 or EMAS certification.

The calculation is performed in accordance with the GHG Protocol, an internationally recognised standard for quantifying and reporting GHG emissions. Other standards such as ISO 14064 may also be taken into account.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) offers several standards designed for different contexts and emission measurement and reporting needs. Among the most notable are:

  • GHG Corporate Protocol: Helps measure and manage your GHG emissions. Provides a standardised methodology for accounting for and reporting emissions at the corporate level.
  • Value Chain Standard (Scope 3): Allows you to assess emissions across your entire value chain, enabling you to clearly evaluate the critical points on which to focus your emissions reduction efforts.
  • GHG Protocol for Cities: Provides a robust framework for cities and communities to account for and report greenhouse gas emissions across the city.
  • GHG Protocol Mitigation Targets Standard provides guidance to countries and cities for designing national and subnational mitigation targets. It also serves to assess and report progress toward climate goals at all levels.
  • Policy and Action Standard. Helps estimate the effect of greenhouse gas policies and actions.
  • Product Standard. Helps understand the full life cycle emissions of a product and focus efforts on more GHG reduction opportunities.
  • Project Protocol for Project Accounting. A tool for quantifying the greenhouse gas benefits of climate change mitigation projects.

The GHG Protocol has three scopes:

  • Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company, such as boilers, vehicles, and industrial processes.
  • Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy. Indirect emissions associated with the generation of electricity, steam, heating, and cooling purchased by the company. These emissions occur at the facilities where the energy is produced, not at the company’s facilities.
  • Scope 3: Other indirect emissions (value chain). These result from the company’s activities but occur at sources that are not owned or controlled by the company. This includes emissions from the supply chain, business travel, use of products sold, among others.

To calculate your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, you need:

  • Energy consumption (gas, electricity, fuel, etc.)
  • Recharges for air conditioners, air conditioning systems and fire extinguishers.
  • Kilometres travelled (vehicles, trips, etc.)
  • Waste generation and water consumption.
  • Supplier or subcontractor activity (if Supply 3 is to be considered)
  • Corresponding emission factors

An annual update of the “GHG Report” is recommended to monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the reduction measures adopted.

The carbon footprint is part of the environmental footprint. The environmental footprint includes other impacts such as water use, waste generation, toxicity, etc. The carbon footprint only measures the climate impact (GHG and carbon footprint report).

You can use the GHG Protocol to produce your GHG Report:

  • Private companies of all sizes and sectors can use the GHG Protocol to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. It allows them to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
  • Governments and public entities. They can use the GHG Protocol to develop emission reduction policies, implement mitigation programmes, and comply with local, national, and international emission reporting requirements.
  • Non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The GHG Protocol helps them promote sustainable practices and provide accurate data in their reports and awareness campaigns.
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