To become a green manufacturer, we need to reduce our carbon footprint. In this article you will learn what carbon footprint is, how it matters and how it is calculated.

The statistics show that the manufacturing industry is responsible for one-fifth of the carbon emission, that’s why the manufacturers are trying to become more sustainable.

Carbon Footprint Definition

Carbon dioxide isn’t the only gas that goes into the equation for calculation of the carbon footprint. The other six gases (methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride) also go into this equation but each of them occurs under different circumstances and have different properties and different global warming potential.

Carbon dioxide can be found in atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels or it can be a result of certain chemical reactions, while methane is emitted during the production of coal, oil production and transportation and it warms the atmosphere 28 times more than carbon dioxide.

Why a Company’s Carbon Footprint Matters

Carbon footprint matters because if it is under control it boosts the financial performance of companies. The business owners are getting more and more aware of the impact climate change can have on their business. Companies are facing higher expectations from regulators and consumers.

The whole process of producing a product adds up to the company’s total carbon footprint. By doing sustainability reports companies can find the culprit for their carbon emissions and work towards a solution.

Using a cement factory for example, the emissions start when the limestone is being burnt, so the cement factory could build a carbon capture plant and aim to become a carbon-neutral cement factory.

How Manufacturing Companies Calculate Their Carbon Footprint

To calculate their carbon footprint the companies, use the so-called Greenhouse Gas Protocol. It is a framework that can be used by companies, cities and countries for calculation environmental impact.

Scope 1, 2 and 3 explained

The companies first start off by collecting data and then input it into an excel sheet or a software. The activities are represented by 3 scopes:

Scope 1:

direct company emission as in using energy in the company or driving company vehicles

Scope 2:

Indirect company emission as in traveling and transportation, waste generated in manufacturing operations and purchased goods and services.

Scope 3:

Considered the most important and most complicated part because it has the ability to calculate up to 90% of company’s carbon footprint, that includes the product transport, usage of sold products.

Data For Carbon Footprint Calculation

If a company were to calculate energy use, they would need data on:

  • the energy used has its own carbon intensity
  • how much electricity was used

If they were to calculate the carbon footprint for transport, they would need to know:

  • how much fuel was used
  • the carbon intensity of the used fuel

What Does A Product’s Carbon Footprint Mean?

The product’s carbon footprint was created as a step up for measuring the total carbon footprint.

To calculate that kind of carbon footprint we use the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. This consists of seeing the whole cycle of the product, from manufacturing to the emission that it generates after the customer gets rid of it.

The LCA shows us what gives off the most environmental impact from the product and asses the situation to create opportunities to solve the task at hand.

Real-Time Monitoring To Reduce Resource Consumption

The biggest impact to the company’s and product’s carbon footprint has to be the manufacturing process. So, companies should try their best at reducing their manufacturing process carbon emission for overall reduced carbon footprint.