What is a ‘carbon footprint’? How can I calculate the carbon footprint of my business or product?
A carbon footprint is a measurement of the total greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly caused by an organisation, an individual, an event or a product. Your basic carbon footprint covers direct emissions of greenhouse gases, such as on-site use of electricity and fuel, and travel and transport. A full carbon footprint covers the same direct measurements as the basic footprint, but also includes the indirect emissions from factors such as the manufacture and transport of your raw materials. This allows a more detailed approach, which includes defining the methodology, specifying and reporting the ‘boundary’ of the measurement, and collecting the necessary data. You can calculate your carbon footprint and obtain further information by visiting the Carbon Trust website.
