FAQ › Carbon footprint
- Can I divide my carbon footprint into scopes?
- Which CO2 emission figures does the carbon meter use and what are they based on?
- Can I compare my carbon footprint to that of other companies?
- Which environmental aspects does the Envirometer take into account?
- Are other greenhouses gasses included in the Envirometer?
- How much does it cost to publish the CO2 footprint?
- Can I use the Envirometer to publish my carbon footprint?
Can I divide my carbon footprint into scopes?
Yes, the CO2 footprint in the Envirometer is presented in three ways:
- thematically (grouped by theme: electricity, fuels, business traffic, etc.)
- in accordance with the GreenHouseGas protocol
- in accordance with the CO2 Performance Ladder.
In the international GreenHouseGas (GHG) protocol, reporting on greenhouse gas emissions is divided into three “scopes”. Scope 1 and 2 are always mandatory for reports. Clients often also request parts from scope 3, such as the CO2 Performance Ladder asks to include the emissions from Business Travel from scope 3 in the CO2 footprint.
In accordance with GHG, the classification is as follows:
- Scope 1 includes all direct emissions by the organization from the use of fuel for heating and processes and emissions from its own fleet. Emissions of refrigerants also belong to scope 1.
- Scope 2 includes indirect emissions of purchased energy such as electricity, heat, cold or compressed air from a collective system.
- Scope 3 includes other indirect emissions such as emissions caused by business traffic where the company does not purchase the fuel itself (such as public transport, aircraft, declared km with private cars), commuting, outsourced transport, emissions arising from the purchase of services and the production of raw materials.
For the CO2 footprint in accordance with the CO2 Performance Ladder, the scope 3 emissions from business traffic are included in the category “scope 2 & BusinessTravel”. This makes this footprint classification directly usable for the CO2 Performance Ladder.
Which CO2 emission figures does the carbon meter use and what are they based on?
The CO2 emission figures have been established in close consultation with Stimular, Stichting Klimaatvriendelijk Aanbesteden & Ondernemen (manager CO2 Performance Ladder), Duurzame logistiek/Connekt and with the support of CE. The list and the associated sources can be found at www.CO2emissiefactoren.nl
For a comprehensive overview of all CO2 items in the Envirometer, see the list
Can I compare my carbon footprint to that of other companies?
If a benchmark is available for your industry, you can compare your Envirometer and key figures to your industry standards.
You can also compare your carbon footprint to those published by other organisations. See: public carbon footprints.
Which environmental aspects does the Envirometer take into account?
The following aspects are taken into account:
- electricity
- fuels(gas, city heating, wood, diesel)
- water (drinking water preparation and wastewater processing)
- emissions (refrigerants and solvents)
- commuter traffic (public transport, motorized vehicles)
- mobile tools(forklift, excavator, bulldozer, etc.)
- commercial traffic (public transport, motorized vehicles)
- freight transport (all input fields)
- visitor traffic
- paper (production)
The carbon meter corrects this CO2 emission by taking green energy use into consideration and distinguishes between different kinds of green energy: from biomass, wind power and hydropower to solar energy and landfill gas.
Unspecified green energy, such as hydropower from old hydroelectric power stations in Norway and Iceland, don’t reduce your CO2 emissions. Purchasing these does not emissions because hydropower has always been produced and was sold as grey energy in the past.
See the complete list of CO2 factors in the Envirometer.
Are other greenhouses gasses included in the Envirometer?
Yes, the Envirometer takes other greenhouse gases into account (e.g. methane (CH4), other gaseous hydrocarbons, N2O, HFK’S and PFK’s), which are then converted into CO2 equivalents according to international conversion standards (IPCC). Details include:
- Air traffic emissions converted to CO2 equivalents are multiplied by two because the emission takes place in the upper atmosphere and therefore has a greater effect.
- Nitrous oxide emissions from traffic are no longer taken into account because vehicles only emit a small amount of N2O (less than 1% of the total environmental impact per km).
How much does it cost to publish the CO2 footprint?
The Envirometer is subject to subscription costs. Publishing a carbon footprint is not subject to additional costs.
The Envirometer can do more than just publish carbon footprints. The instrument contains lists of industry-specific measures to reduce CO2 output and save costs. It can also generate graphs that detail overall environmental performance, which is useful for companies interested in waste management, clean air, environmental performance or ISO 14001, in addition to the CO2/energy policy.
Can I use the Envirometer to publish my carbon footprint?
Once you’ve completed your carbon footprint in the Envirometer, you can publish this directly on the page using the publish carbon footprint button on the Envirometer website. You can display the carbon footprint per Envirometer, per year. You can also select or edit the following:
- the year
- the themes (electricity, fuel, transport) or scopes (scope 1,2 or 3)
- the language (English or Dutch)
- the absolute (CO2 in tonnes) or relative (CO2 in tonnes) values per FTE, per turnover or per product
- the logo of ISO 14064 and/or of the CO2 Performance Ladder (if you have the necessary certificates)