Carbon footprint measurement and calculation

We approach carbon footprint measurement as a complex matter, starting from data collection followed by reporting pursuant to the GHG Protocol, all the way through to developing an automated calculation tool.

What is a corporate carbon footprint?

A corporate carbon footprint serves as a key benchmark for assessing a company’s impact on the environment. It is an indirect indicator of energy consumption, products and services. It represents the total amount of CO₂ emissions released into the atmosphere as a result of a company’s activities or products.

What is a product carbon footprint?

A product carbon footprint refers to the greenhouse gas emissions produced throughout the life cycle of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to the waste disposal.

What is the GHG Protocol?

The GHG Protocol is a global standard for measuring and reporting the carbon footprint. It sets a standard for measurement, management and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions generated by companies.

The carbon footprint measurement itself is quite a demanding issue, which is why our calculations for clients come with a tool for calculating and controlling their future carbon footprint. This helps them monitor how their carbon footprint develops over time and allows them to simulate how their carbon footprint will change with the implementation of new technologies or a transition to green energy.

Slaven Kartelo, BAS Leader

How can PwC help?

Setting up scope and mapping current data management
Development of a calculation tool
Employee training and tool maintenance
Data collection
Process and reporting set-up

Setting up scope and mapping current data management

At a workshop attended by selected representatives of your company, we will define the key sources of emissions and the scope of calculation. During the initial screening, we will focus on the current data structure, data management, existing reporting tools, and the overall data reporting process. Subsequently, we will select a suitable programme for tool development, specify the scope of possible automation and outline the next steps.

Development of a calculation tool

We will create an Excel-based tool that utilises source data, enabling easy updates of emission factors, activity data and other key inputs over time. Our aim is to maximise automation.
We will also calculate your carbon footprint for the base year, establishing a reference point that serves as a benchmark for setting goals and tracking progress.

Employee training and tool maintenance

We will train your staff responsible for updating calculations and managing the tool. The training will cover the relevant theoretical information and practical tips for ongoing measurement. We will provide tailored instructions on using the tool, collecting data and handling reporting processes. Upon request, we can provide a package of consultation hours dedicated to the tool maintenance and annual verification of calculations.

Data collection

We will collect relevant data for carbon footprint calculations. At this stage, we will be contacting your employees or even external partners frequently for the purposes of data collection (e.g. from suppliers). If actual data is unavailable or incomplete, we will use the data from internationally recognised databases.

We will prepare a report (mandatory under the GHG Protocol and ASI certification) to document the basis of the calculation.

Process and reporting set-up

We will support you in setting up your reporting processes and responsibilities. We intend to maximise automation and to simplify the process as much as possible. If necessary, we can also help define processes for sharing the outcomes within the company as well as with your external stakeholders.