A carbon footprint is "the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product". For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.
The Carbon footprint of an organisation encompasses a wide range of emissions sources, from direct use of fuels to indirect impacts such as employee travel or emissions from other organisations within the supply chain.
There are three main types of GHG classification:
Direct emissions that result from activities the organisation controls
Such as the on site combustion of fuels, emission of gases during operation, production and manufacture, and running of a vehicle fleet
Emissions from electricity usage
Including Lighting, heating, and powering of equipment. Although the organisation is not directly in control of the emissions, by using the electricity it is indirectly responsible for the release of CO2.
Indirect emissions from products and services that the organisation does not directly control
A company that manufactures a product is indirectly responsible for the carbon that is emitted in the preparation and transport of the raw materials.
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