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Today, companies are evaluated not only based on their products or business performance but also on their commitment and responsibility in climate protection. The expectations of all stakeholder groups are increasing, from customers and consumers to partners and suppliers, as well as financiers and the capital market.
The path to zero emissions
To meet these increased requirements and to follow a transparent and trustworthy path towards zero emissions, companies are increasingly reporting according to Scope 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). This is where the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) comes into play. This describes the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (including CO2 emissions) generated directly or indirectly by a company's business activities.
The new stage of greenhouse gas accounting
The GHG Protocol dates to 1998 and is now considered one of the most widely used standards for GHG accounting. The protocol establishes standards that have not yet been nationally regulated. Previously, only scopes 1 and 2 were mandatory for companies with more than 500 employees. This meant that upstream and downstream processes were left out. Now, incentives for developing sustainable business practices are increasing significantly. Companies and organizations are recognizing the benefits of responsible resource management.
Expansion to Scope 3
Scope 1 and 2 of the GHG Protocol include direct and indirect emissions generated by combustion processes within the company or by the use of electricity or district heating in the accounting of emitted greenhouse gases. By expanding the requirement to include Scope 3 in GHG accounting, upstream and downstream processes are also accounted for. This poses two main challenges: Many companies lack the necessary data to assess their status quo. This is where DEKRA as a neutral third party can step in. The sustainability experts at DEKRA use various methods to calculate GHG emissions depending on the organization’s value chain. And this is exactly what poses the second challenge because not every method suits every customer. It is up to both parties to determine a suitable match together.
The Corporate Carbon Footprint
Applying suitable calculation methods paves the way to the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF), which describes the total GHG emissions (including CO2 emissions) caused directly or indirectly by a company’s business activities. The CCF provides an overview of where exactly in the operational processes and value chain greenhouse gas emissions occur and how high they are, thus producing reliable data which companies can then base their reduction targets on. Because drastically decreasing these emissions is a crucial step in a comprehensive approach to climate protection. But why is it so important for an enterprise to reduce its own GHG emissions and completely avoid them in the long term?
Focusing on Agenda 2030
In the Paris Agreement of 2015, the governments of the world have committed to keep the global rise in temperature well below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels, and to continue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F). In order to achieve this, GHG emissions would have to be cut in half by 2030 — and drop to zero by 2050. There is only limited time to act.
A passion for sustainability
With a comprehensive portfolio of sustainability services, DEKRA is capable of supporting its customers in reaching their GHG reduction targets along their entire value chain. Our experts are passionate advocates for sustainability and trusted advisors to the industry. They offer instruction, coaching, and training in management strategies or independent inspections and also work to integrate an ecological consciousness into the customers’ processes. This can entail developing and implementing internal sustainability standards or measuring GHG emissions as well as preparing a plan to reduce them. DEKRA also offers services in documenting carbon neutrality, serves as a testing center or supports in the area of regulatory compliance.
DEKRA supports you on the path to climate neutrality with various services:
- Calculating GHG emissions
- Monitoring and reviewing measures to reduce carbon emissions (low-carbon strategy, transition planning)
- Monitoring and reviewing measures to compensate for GHG emissions
- Verification of your company as climate-neutral
Our climate neutrality services help enterprises to document their carbon footprint in accordance with internationally recognized standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO 14064 or national standards like PAS 2060 or Bilan Carbone®.
These and our other sustainability services improve your company’s long-term profitability and competitiveness and contribute to the protection of our planet. This is sustainability in practice with conviction and passion.