We use the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.
As a minimum, we apply the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard to calculate your carbon footprint. This is a globally recognised standard that provides a clear set of requirements and guidance for companies and other organisations preparing a corporate-level GHG emissions inventory. We will draw on other more bespoke methodologies e.g., IPCC where required.
It is important when determining your carbon footprint to understand the scope and the boundaries that you set for yourself. This provides you with an insight into which greenhouse gas emissions your business itself is responsible for. Let’s start with boundaries…
For an organisation to accurately report its greenhouse gas emissions, you must first establish your organisational boundary. This boundary refers to the legal composition of your company and if your company has direct control over the sources of the emissions. Here are some examples :
The Control Approach | This approach is most commonly used, under which a company accounts for 100% of the GHG emissions from operations over which it has control.
The Financial Control Approach | This approach is where a company includes activities that they have financial control over.
The Operational Control Approach | This approach is where a company includes activities that they have operational control over e.g. buildings.
Identifying Your Scope of Emissions
Lastly, identifying your scope of emissions. There are many possible sources of greenhouse gas emissions from a business. To make managing them easier, we split them into three ‘scopes of emissions’.
We will provide a pro-forma to you to facilitate the data collection process covering the activities within each scope. We will be on hand to work with relevant stakeholders to discuss any challenging activity areas and how best to collect the required information.
We will deliver a bespoke Carbon Footprint Report that will set out emissions for energy, fuels, gases, refrigerant, waste, water, material use, freight, logistics and purchased goods and services. It will also highlight any key gaps and the basis for estimations / assumptions made.
We can also link this Carbon Report to an accreditation that is recognised by Carbon Disclosure Project & United Nations.