Carbon Footprint

Certimac supports manufacturers in assessing the carbon footprint of their products or organization

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What is carbon footprint (CFP) and why is it important?
The Carbon Footprint (CFP) is an essential method for measuring and quantifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, service, organization, event or individual. These emissions, which include CO2, CH4, N2O, NF3, SF6 and other greenhouse gasses, are expressed in tons of CO2 equivalent. Carbon footprint is critical in an era when climate change, caused primarily by human-related greenhouse gas emissions, is a major global challenge.

The Carbon Footprint assessment process involves identifying and measuring energy and resource consumption at each stage of a product or organization's life cycle.

In order to calculate the Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions associated with a product, a process or an entire organization, different international standards developed to assess and monitor environmental impacts are followed, such as ISO 14067, ISO 14064 or Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol).
According to the guidelines and requirements set by ISO 14067, it is necessary to analyze the entire product life cycle using the methodological approach of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). To assess the carbon footprint of organizations, ISO 14064 and GHG on the other hand require creating a complete inventory of harmful emissions, considering both direct and indirect emissions resulting from energy consumption.

Measuring the Carbon Footprint (CFP) offers companies several benefits, including:
  • Better environmental management: it helps identify major sources of GHG emissions within the company, enabling better management and reduction of emissions;
  • Cost reduction: emission reductions often lead to greater energy efficiency and operational cost savings, for example through optimization of energy consumption;
  • Competitive advantage: the CFP is a prerequisite for participation in voluntary GHG registries and sustainability reporting initiatives, demonstrating the company's commitment to the environment with several knock-on benefits: improving corporate reputation, attracting environmentally sensitive customers, and meeting sustainability requirements in commercial contracts;
  • Regulatory compliance: in many countries, there are regulations that require reporting of GHG emissions. Measuring CFP helps companies comply with these regulations;
  • Risk reduction: identifying and mitigating emissions helps reduce climate change risks and the resulting instabilities in supply or supply chain;
  • Internal awareness: measuring emissions can engage employees in the reduction goal and increase environmental awareness within the company;
  • Carbon credit market access: emissions reductions can enable companies to participate in carbon credit markets, providing additional financial opportunities.
    • In a world increasingly aware of the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon Footprint certification is a key tool to guide companies toward a more sustainable and responsible future.

    Find out how Find out how Certimac's specialists can guide you along the path to sustainability, providing accurate and reliable data to support business decisions and demonstrate a company's commitment to reducing carbon emissions.'s specialists can guide you along the path to sustainability, providing accurate and reliable data to support business decisions and demonstrate a company's commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
    How to assess the carbon footprint (CFP)?
    Certimac's Sustainability Division specialists comprehensively support companies wishing to reduce the environmental impact of their products or processes. Using a multidisciplinary approach, they integrate engineering knowledge, feasibility analysis and cost assessments to the detailed study of the Carbon Footprint of products or production activities. They support manufacturers at each stage of the process, starting with defining the objectives and scope, guiding them in collecting the necessary data and conducting in-depth analysis of the outputs.

    At the end of the process, a detailed technical report summarizing all stages of the Carbon Footprint study developed is provided to the organization. In this way, it will be possible for manufacturers to make informed decisions based on sound scientific data and work in synergy with the team to take action in the areas, sectors or production steps responsible for the largest GHG emissions by reducing impacts throughout the value chain.
    Area
    sustainability
    Ask our expert
    Dott. Filippo Baioli
    Expert in environmental sustainability, LCA, CFP, EPD

    How we work

    Certimac's specialists support manufacturers and organizations in their path to environmental sustainability, conducting analysis of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of the products or organization using the Carbon footprint methodology, from the analysis of the initial situation to the identification of necessary interventions, including through the support of financing green innovation.

    Discover the 5 points of our method:
    The first step is to establish the objectives of the carbon footprint study and define the scope. This includes deciding what will be analyzed (e.g., a specific product or the entire organization) and determining the temporal and geographic boundaries of the analysis.
    To calculate the carbon footprint, it is essential to identify all sources of GHG emissions. These can be direct (such as fuel consumption) or indirect (such as energy used). Data collection is done through close collaboration with the company.
    Using the data collected and the development of numerical models, GHG emissions are calculated in terms of tons of CO2 equivalent. This step involves specialized software that applies formulas and coefficients to perform the calculations.
    Data are analyzed to identify the specific areas, production steps or activities that contribute most to GHG emissions. These areas become the focal points for reduction strategies that could include, for example, adopting more efficient technologies, switching to renewable energy sources, improving production processes, etc.
    Supporting the implementation of identified reduction strategies and monitoring emissions to assess the effectiveness of the measures taken. This step is essential to make real-time changes and ensure that reduction targets are met.

    Why choose us

    With criteria of absolute independence, impartiality and technical expertise, Certimac - a Research Body founded and participated by ENEA and CNR - operates with its Sustainability Division and its professionals specialized in assessing the carbon footprint of products or organizations, along with other tools such as EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

    These advanced methods are not only essential for businesses and public administrations, but also represent a fundamental added value in environmental management.

    Our goal is to apply the results of scientific research in the eco-efficient management and design of products and processes. We identify and evaluate critical environmental issues, promoting technological and sustainable innovation in processes and materials. From initial assessment to implementation of eco-design solutions, we are committed to guiding manufacturers, including offering support in seeking funding for green innovation.

    Through our multidisciplinary expertise and joint work with the Energy Division and Materials Division, we integrate aspects of environmental impact and engineering, ensuring that products are safe, high-performance, and environmentally sustainable throughout their life cycle.

    Discover Certimac's other services dedicated to sustainability

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