Why the Carbon Footprint Is Calculated

Legal requirement
Corporate social responsibility
Customer or investor demand
Marketing and brand image
Carbon footprint reduction (mandatory or voluntary)
Participation in emissions trading mechanisms

How the Carbon Footprint Is Calculated

An organisation that wants to calculate its corporate carbon footprint can apply one of the following international standards:

PAS 2060
GHG Protocol
ISO 14064

How the Three Standards Differ

Each standard serves a slightly different purpose. PAS 2060 is the specification for demonstrating carbon neutrality at the organisation or product level. The GHG Protocol is the most widely used global accounting standard for greenhouse gas emissions at the corporate level. ISO 14064 is the international standard series covering quantification, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. Most organisations start with either GHG Protocol or ISO 14064 for the baseline and use PAS 2060 if they then pursue a formal carbon neutrality claim.