Measurement

The 4-step footprinting process

Working either with an authorised footprint delivery partner or with your own people, the process starts with a kick-off meeting to scope the project. Once the scope has been agreed, the footprinting process will follow these steps in accordance with PAS 2050:

1. Building a process map, including setting boundaries, understanding data available and identifying sources/contacts
2. Collecting primary data from members of the supply chain and collating secondary data
3. Assessing materiality (an iterative process)
4. Building the carbon footprint

This will deliver a final footprint for your product or service which can then be put forward for certification, if you choose to do so.

Assessing the supply chain

As part of this methodology, the whole supply chain will be assessed as detailed below.

Key questions that will be asked during the project include:

• What materials are used?
• Where did they come from?
• Where are they going?
• What requires energy (fuel, electricity)?
• What could cause direct emissions?

Our evidence-based approach and implications for your business strategy

The measurement process will entail a rigorous analysis of your supply chain. These studies often reveal potential energy cost savings in the chain, including opportunities that you can exploit as well as problem areas that you will need to manage. While you may find that these discoveries may force you to substantially rethink your business strategy, they will ensure that your company is better prepared for the low carbon world of the future.

Uncertainty in product carbon footprinting

While carbon footprinting methodologies, expertise and data accuracy will improve continuously, there will always be some degree of uncertainty associated with the carbon footprint measurement process.

Uncertainty, or margin of error, is a natural part of many other measurement and reporting schemes. For instance, nutritional labelling involves the on-pack display of figures which have an accepted margin of error.

If a company subsequently chooses to communicate the results of its carbon footprint work, the uncertainty values are not a core part of the Carbon Reduction Label itself. The full complexity of uncertainty figures can't be easily explained to consumers through a Label. Rather, we encourage companies to discuss uncertainty in more general communications.

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