Carbon Footprint

Question 1

Carbon Footprint

Answer 1

the total amount of greenhouse gases (especially CO₂) that are directly and indirectly emitted by a person, product, organization, or activity, usually expressed in CO₂e

• Often based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Question 2

GHG: ISO Standards

Answer 2

There are two main types of ISO standards related to GHGs:

• Product-related standards (e.g. ISO 14067)
• Corporate or organizational standards (e.g. ISO 14064)

Question 3

GHG: ISO Standards: Benefits

Answer 3

• Provides clear calculation rules
• Enables tracking of CFP improvements
• Supports a low-carbon economy

Question 4

Calculation: Chemical Industry

Answer 4

1. Define System Boundaries (Scope)
2. Collect Data
3. Equation: Activity Data * Emission Factor * GWP

• Emission Factor: Kg GHG/activity
• GWP: Global Warming Potential: kg CO₂e/kg GHG

Question 5

Scopes

Answer 5

Scope 1

• direct
• company facilities and vehicles

Scope 2

• indirect
• electricity, heating, …

Scope 3

• indirect
• purchased goods and services
• transportation
• waste generated in operations
• processing of sold products
• end-of life-treatment
• …

Question 6

Calculation: Bio-based materials

Answer 6

Includes

• Fossil GHG emissions and removals
• Biogenic GHG emissions and removals
• All important steps in the life cycle of products made from biomass (cultivation, production and harvesting of biomass, …)

Question 7

Reduction of Greenhouse Gases

Answer 7

• Improvement of energy efficiency
• switching the energy and transportation system to low-carbon energy sources (renewables, nuclear, …)
• Reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gases
• Halting further destruction of rainforests

Question 8

Avoided Emissions (Scope 4): Assessment

Answer 8

1. Identify timeframe
2. Define reference scenario
3. Assess solution and reference scenario life cycle emissions
4. Assess avoided emissions
5. Assess avoided emissions at the scale of the company (optional)