Project Carbon Footprint - Balancing your reduction project
What is a Project Carbon Footprint and why should you have it certified?
How much greenhouse gas (GHG) is really sequestered by your GHG reduction project? And where were the biggest emission reductions of your measure? You can answer these questions for yourself with a Project Carbon Footprint.
Measures/projects can be technical or organisational changes to increase efficiency, such as replacing a pump. Offset projects in developing countries are also an option.
The Project Carbon Footprint is an effective tool to create a comparable, internationally recognised and robust GHG balance for your reduction project. You will learn in which areas you can increase your efficiency in terms of GHG reductions and emissions and optimally become active for the reduction of GHG.
The Project Carbon Footprint includes the following accounting limits:
The Project Carbon Footprint includes the following accounting boundaries: In a first step, the person responsible for the project defines criteria and procedures to identify GHG sinks and sources.
Project-related emissions and reductions are those that:
- Are controlled by the project proponent
- Are related to the project
- Are influenced by the project
You can also find more information on our information page "www.climateneutrality.com".
Whether reforestation projects, the conversion to more energy-efficient technologies, sustainable land use or the switch to sustainable fuels: For all companies, organisations or initiatives that plan, implement and want to optimise GHG reduction measures, it is advantageous to carry out the GHG balance with the help of an internationally recognised standard.
Possible intentions for the verification of your GHG balance could be to generate internationally accepted emission certificates (so-called offsets) or to evaluate internal organisational measures and to communicate them to the outside world in a reliable way.
A carbon footprint serves as a management tool for the implementation of GHG and efficiency improvement plans. External verification of the GHG balance ensures reporting, improves reputation and serves as proof of the credibility of your emission reduction project.
Our DAkkS-accredited certification system incorporates all globally applicable accreditation rules. This ensures the international recognition of your certification. In addition, you benefit from the following advantages:
A detailed review of the completeness and methodology used to determine your data provides you with a robust basis for identifying your actual GHG sources.
In a GUTcert review, you receive valuable input beyond mere confirmation of compliance, because our auditors are experts in their field and have extensive industry knowledge
You can use your accredited certificate according to ISO 14064-2 or GHG Protocol for Project Accounting as a confidence-building measure for your PR and marketing purposes.
You have a global presence? So are we: in association with our parent company, the AFNOR Group, we can carry out major international projects in a centralised manner with over 1,800 auditors worldwide.
What are the requirements for a Project Carbon Footprint?
In order for external verification by an independent body to be effective in strengthening the credibility of GHG balances, the most important requirement is that the verification is complete, independent and without conflicts of interest, i.e. that the verification body has not been involved in the GHG balance in any way.
Accredited certification bodies are regularly inspected by the accreditation bodies of the European states, in Germany this is the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS). Non-accredited certificates should be scrutinised very critically.
Is integration/combination with other standards possible?
We are happy to combine our verification of your GHG balance with existing management systems (e.g. ISO 14001 or ISO 50001) or existing legal reporting requirements (e.g. emissions trading or GRI standard).
Our auditors are multi-qualified and can often audit multiple standards at the same time, so take advantage of the synergies.
What does Project Carbon Footprint certification cost?
We calculate the costs for a Project Carbon Footprint certification individually, depending on the complexity of the product, the data collection effort and the product portfolio. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your data and calculations as well as your measures are checked by an independent position- on the basis of documents and on site. If identified deficiencies are demonstrably remedied, you will receive a certificate of your climate neutrality.
Four steps to verification:
Selecting the verification body
- All accredited verification bodies are listed on the website of the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS).
- Industry knowledge and experience should be requested directly from the verification body.
- For the offer, the verifier needs information on the scope and complexity of the GHG balance, for example:
- Number of sites
- Description of activities
- Description of GHG sources
- Overview of emissions from Scope 1-3
Preparation of the verification
- The verification programme (procedure, deadlines, required documents) is jointly agreed.
- The verification body carries out a strategy and risk analysis regarding the methodology and framework conditions of your GHG balance.
- You will then receive the audit plan as an agenda for the verification.
Carrying out the verification
- The verifiers require insight into the determination methodology of your GHG balance, including:
- organisational & operational reporting boundaries
- Recorded GHG emissions from Scope 1-3
- Emission factors
- Reference values
- Uncertainties
- The data supplied is subjected to a review.
- An on-site inspection of the facilities takes place at the selected sites.
- The verifiers of the verification body then summarise their findings.
Result of the verification
- You receive a verification report with a summary of the findings, notes and recommendations for verification.
- In addition, the verifier will issue you with a final verification certificate.
- Depending on the verification body, you will receive additional verification marks for your communication (internal and external) - you can place these, for example, on vehicles, product packaging, documents, advertising material (roll-ups, banners) or your website in order to make your commitment to climate protection directly visible to employees, customers and stakeholders