What is the carbon footprint and how does it relate to greenhouse gases?
3 common barriers to managing the carbon footprint
3 common barriers to managing the carbon footprint
Where do I start if I want to measure my carbon footprint?
The carbon footprint and greenhouse gases are at the center of today’s business conversation.
This isn’t a trend or empty talk: measuring these emissions is now a real requirement if we want to remain competitive.
More and more companies are measuring their impact. Why? Because if you don’t, you can’t comply with regulations, enter tenders, or access certain investors.
And worst of all: you won’t know where to begin improving.
Can we relax? Not really. Regulatory pressure won’t stop, but the good news is that measuring and reducing your footprint doesn’t have to be a headache.
If we use data properly, we can turn this obligation into a real business advantage.
The carbon footprint is the measurement of greenhouse gases (GHG) generated by a company, product or service.
And yes, it’s directly connected to everything we do: producing, transporting, selling or using something.
Each phase of a product’s life cycle adds emissions, from raw material extraction to delivery to the customer or disposal. If we don’t know how much we emit, we can’t reduce or improve anything.
And why does this matter now more than ever? Because measuring and managing these emissions is no longer optional.
It’s the starting point for any serious ESG strategy.
Tried to dodge compliance? Bad idea. The rules are clearer and stricter every day. ISO 14067, GHG Protocol, CSRD… they all demand concrete data.
Good intentions aren’t enough. You need to prove it with numbers.
More and more tenders and investors require verifiable ESG data. Want to play in that league? Then you need to measure your footprint, no exceptions.
It’s not posturing, it’s a requirement if you want to be where it matters.
Measuring your footprint helps you understand where in your process you’re losing efficiency. And that’s where the money’s going.
Where can you cut costs and improve operations? Emissions data will tell you.
CSRD, SBTi, EINF, Taxonomy… all those names have one thing in common: without carbon footprint data, you can’t comply.
Measuring is the first step to aligning with what’s being asked of you (if not now, then soon).
They’re divided into three scopes. And yes, you need to look at all three.
Scope 1: direct emissions, the ones you generate yourself (factories, company vehicles…).
Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased energy (like electricity).
Scope 3: everything else. Suppliers, logistics, product use… everything that happens in your value chain.
And why is this last one so important? Because it can account for more than 70% of total emissions. If you ignore it, you’re not seeing the full picture.
In the textile industry, for example, most emissions come from material sourcing and transportation.
In the food sector, the impact may come from farming or refrigeration processes.
Measuring accurately means making better decisions. If you know where the problem is, you know where to start fixing it.
Where’s the data? That’s the first question everyone asks. It’s everywhere and nowhere at once.
And we know it: getting accurate, up-to-date and comparable data is one of the biggest blockers to starting serious measurement.
What about what we don’t control directly? A big chunk of emissions comes from there.
But if we have no visibility, we can’t improve. We need traceability to understand what’s happening at every link in the chain.
Where do I start with so many acronyms? CSRD, SBTi, ISO, EU Taxonomy… each demands something different.
The hard part isn’t just understanding them, but connecting your data to each one without losing your mind.
Measuring your carbon footprint shouldn’t be chaos.
And you don’t need five different tools to stay compliant.
With Dcycle, you centralize all your ESG information in a single platform.
You collect, analyze and connect your data with CSRD, SBTi, ISOs, EU Taxonomy, or whatever applies.
Real automation, audit-ready reports, and zero manual work.
If you’re serious about ESG, this is where you start.
Greenhouse gases (GHG) are the emissions that cause climate impact. The carbon footprint is the way we measure how many GHGs we generate through our activities.
In short: GHGs are the “what,” and the footprint is the “how much.”
It depends on the type of activity, but some sectors have a heavier impact. Food, fashion, construction and energy are usually among the most intensive.
Why? Complex processes, transportation and high use of raw materials.
There’s no universal number, but it’s not an expense, it’s an investment. The cost depends on the company’s size, operational complexity and level of detail required.
With solutions like Dcycle, it’s accessible, efficient and scalable.
More and more regulations are demanding it. In many cases, it’s already no longer optional, especially if you operate in regulated markets like the EU.
Can we afford to relax? Not really. It’s better to stay ahead than be left out.
It’s the starting point. Measuring emissions gives us a solid base to structure all our ESG information.
Without environmental data, we can’t properly connect or report the rest: social, governance, and regulatory compliance. Everything begins there.
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Carbon footprint calculation analyzes all emissions generated throughout a product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, transportation, usage, and disposal.
The most recognized methodologies are:
Digital tools like Dcycle simplify the process, providing accurate and actionable insights.
Some strategies require initial investment, but long-term benefits outweigh costs.
Investing in carbon reduction is not just an environmental action, it’s a smart business strategy.
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