Download Carbon Footprint swot

CALCAS SWOT Analysis Carbon Footprint
Basic information
Name: Carbon Footprint
Acronym:
Author of SWOT evaluation (name, organisation, address, e-mail):
Harish Jeswani and Adisa Azapagic, School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical
Science (SCEAS), The University of Manchester, PO Box 88, Sackville Street,
Manchester, M60 1QD, UK; [email protected] &
[email protected]
Level of analysis: Micro (on substances, products, companies, person, household), meso
(sectors) and Macro (on countries and regions)
Assessed aspects of sustainability: environmental
Main purpose of the assessment: To estimate greenhouse gases of activities, events,
products, services, etc.
Detailed description
The concept of carbon footprint is being widely used in the public debate on responsibility and
mitigation against the threat of climate change.
Carbon footprint represents net emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases over the full life
cycle of a product, process, service or organisation (Carbon Trust, 2007a). Normally, it is
expressed as a CO2 equivalent (usually in kilograms or tonnes per functional unit) and as such
is equivalent to the usual LCA impact category Global Warming Potential (GWP). The life
cycle concept of the carbon footprint means all direct (on-site, internal) and indirect emissions
(off-site, external, embodied, upstream and downstream) need to be taken into account.
Carbon footprint can be calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology (ISO
14044). The LCA approach ensures that the emissions from the whole supply chain are
accounted for (Carbon Trust, 2006). PAS 2050 is a new British standard for calculating carbon
footprints of goods and services, being developed by British Standards Institution (BSI). It is
partly based on ISO 14044 and as such does not represent a completely new methodology
(BSI, 2008).
The task of calculating carbon footprints with LCA can be approached methodologically from
two different directions: bottom-up, based on Process Analysis (PA) or top-down, based on
Environmental Input-Output (EIO) analysis (Wiedmann and Minx, 2007). The method of
choice will often depend on the purpose of the study and the availability of data and resources.
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For instance, EIO analysis is suitable for estimating carbon footprints at the macro (national)
and meso (industrial sector) levels, including background systems in an LCA. However, for
micro-level analysis of processes, products or services, the EIO is not useful and the PA
approach is much more appropriate.
Strengths
The carbon footprint is a sub-set of the data covered by a more complete Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA). It focuses on one LCA impact only - climate change.
Since it only focuses on climate change, the data requirements are limited to sources of
GHG emissions only.
The number of calculations needed are limited as compared to a full LCA, particularly for
systems where energy is the major source of greenhouse gases.
Since it has only one indicator – global warming potential - it is easier to communicate to
stakeholders. In theory, provided that the same methodology is used, this should also
make it easier for consumers to compare different products based on their carbon
footprint.
Weaknesses/Limitations
It is a weakness to only study one environmental impact. It may lead to decisions being
optimised after GWP, but resulting in larger impacts on biodiversity, abiotic depletion,
toxicity etc.
Estimating a full footprint covering all types of emissions can be quite a complex task.
There is currently a lack of consistency in methods for calculation and reporting, which
means it can be difficult to compare published footprints.
Tools currently available for estimation of carbon footprints are either too simple or
simplistic or too complex. In particular, the online calculators to estimate an individual's
carbon footprint lack consistency (Padgett, et al., 2008). In addition, most calculators
lack information about their methods and estimates, which impedes validation.
Estimating a full carbon footprint covering all types of emissions can be quite a complex
task.
The issue of biogenic CO2 flows is not penetrated in ISO standards or in the PAS 2050 BSI
standard. The CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industri) deals with biogenic
flows, but in a rather generalised way, and other sectors have not been involved.
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Opportunities for broadening and deepening LCA
Since carbon footprint is a subset of a more complete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), it
provides opportunity to use specific data for a relatively simplified analysis.
It is an increasingly popular concept for labelling, marketing, finance and regulation.
In 2007, the Carbon Trust UK launched a ‘carbon-reduction label’ after it conducted pilot
‘footprint projects’ with potato chips, shampoos and soft drinks (UK Carbon Trust,
2007b). Similar initiatives are also underway in other countries (Johnson, 2008).
In a policy context, the carbon footprint can be seen as a subset of the growing demand for
life cycle based information that is being used for knowledge-based decision making for
sustainable consumption and production policies.
With climate change high up on the political and corporate agenda, carbon footprint
calculations are in strong demand.
Quantification of todays performance as well as future possible reduction strategies is a key
to prevent climate change; for example, by enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating
carbon emissions by using ‘green’ energy, with a final goal to becoming carbon neutral.
Calculating a carbon footprint is only the beginning of carbon management, i.e. taking
actions to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. Carbon footprinting can be a useful
exercise as part of a complete environmental management system.
The EPD concept is an opportunity, presenting only the GHG emissions as a "climate
declaration" profile, but at the same time having all the other environmental impacts
calculated and documented and certified as well. The concept builds on a sector
accepted methodology within the different industrial sectors, so called PCR (Product
Category Rules; IEC, 2008), on the ISO 14025 standard on environmental declarations
(ISO, 2006), and on the LCA standard. The Carbon Footprint, or climate declarations,
are transparent in methodology, and may also be communicated in a simple way on the
product packaging. The declarations are comparable for business, but also for
consumers.
Threats for broadening and deepening LCA
Although building upon a life cycle approach, carbon footprints address only one
environmental impact - global warming potential. If the use of carbon footprint for
decision making results in burden-shifting rather than improvements, this could
undermine the credibility of the approach.
The current focus on sustainable production and consumption restricts the application of
carbon footprints, which are not adequate for assessing and achieving sustainable
production and consumption. This requires consideration and evaluation of all relevant
environmental impacts simultaneously, and can only be ensured by a complete Life
Cycle Assessment.
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Environmental labels Type I is an important competitor to carbon footprints. With their
digital approach (on-off), they are perhaps viewed as easier to communicate to
consumers.
Literature/Internet links
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BSI (2008) PAS 2050 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas
emissions of goods and services - under consultation.
Carbon Trust (2006) Carbon footprints in the supply chain: the next step for business.
Report Number CTC616, The Carbon Trust, London, UK, available at
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk
Carbon Trust (2007a) Carbon footprinting - An introduction for organisations, available
at http://www.carbontrust.co.uk
Carbon Trust (2007b) Carbon Trust Labelling Scheme, available at http://www.carbonlabel.co.uk
European Commission (2007) 'Carbon footprint – what is it and how to measure it'
available at http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Carbon_footprint.pdf
IEC (2008) General Programme Instructions for Environmental Product Declarations,
EPD. The International EPD Cooperation. url:
http://www.environdec.com/documents/pdf/EPD_instructions_080229.pdf
ISO (2006) Environmental labels and declarations -- Type III environmental
declarations -- Principles and procedures. ISO 14025:2006
Johnson, E. (2008) Disagreement over carbon footprints: A comparison of electric and
LPG forklifts, Energy Policy, 36(4): 1569-1573.
Wiedmann, T. and Minx, J. (2007) A Definition of 'Carbon Footprint', ISA UK Research
Report 07-01, available at www.isa-research.co.uk
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