What Is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint refers to the total amount of direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by a company. Many activities—such as energy consumption, raw material use, logistics operations, production processes, and the supply chain—lead to greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon footprint measurement enables the identification of these emissions and their management as part of efforts to combat climate change.
Why Is It Necessary to Calculate It?
Regulatory Compliance: Carbon reporting obligations are rapidly increasing in Turkey and internationally (e.g., the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – CBAM).
Investor and Customer Expectations: Transparent sustainability reporting enhances a company’s credibility in the eyes of investors and customers.
Cost and Efficiency: Identifying emission sources reduces costs by improving energy and raw material efficiency.
Competitive Advantage: Reporting in line with international standards facilitates access to global markets.
How Is the Carbon Footprint Calculated?
In corporate carbon footprint calculations, activity data (e.g., fuel consumption, energy use, raw material consumption, logistics activities) are multiplied by internationally recognized emission factors.
The GHG Protocol method categorizes emissions into three main groups, making companies’ direct and indirect impacts globally comparable.
The ISO 14064-1 method classifies emissions under six activity categories, enabling the creation of a detailed internal inventory.
Both methodologies are internationally recognized, and calculations typically use emission factors from IPCC, DEFRA, EPA, and national electricity grid databases.
Key Information About the GHG Protocol
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) was developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It is the most widely used carbon accounting standard worldwide.
The GHG Protocol categorizes corporate emissions into three main scopes:
Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources controlled by the company (fuel consumption, on-site processes).
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam.
Scope 3: Emissions occurring throughout the company’s value chain that are not directly controlled but result from its activities (such as supply chain, logistics, product use, and end-of-life disposal).
This framework enables companies to transparently report greenhouse gas impacts across their entire value chain.
Source: GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
Challenges in Carbon Footprint Calculation
Collecting data from many different sources (ERP, accounting systems, meters, logistics records).
Accessing up-to-date and accurate emission factors.
Difficulties in collecting data from the supply chain.
Ensuring full compliance with international standards in reporting.
Overcome the Challenges With Our Platform
The software we have developed makes carbon footprint calculation easy, accurate, and compliant with international standards:
Easy Data Management: Full integration with ERP, SCADA, energy meters, and accounting systems.
Up-to-Date Emission Factors: The most current databases, including DEFRA, EPA, IPCC, and Turkey’s National Electricity Emission Factors.
User-Friendly Interface: All processes are managed from a single screen; complex calculations are automated.
International Compliance: One-click reporting in accordance with ISO 14064 and GHG Protocol standards.
Verification Support: Complete evidence files for independent verification processes.
Demo Request
Contact us to accelerate carbon footprint calculation, simplify reporting processes, and establish a sustainability management approach fully aligned with global standards.