Carbon Footprint: what it is, how to calculate it, and why it matters for companies

Knowing and calculating the carbon footprint is now a strategic move for companies seeking to take environmental responsibility. But what exactly does “carbon footprint” mean? How is it measured, and why is it so important? This article answers these questions, explains the differences between product and organizational carbon footprint, and shows how Etifor, through its scientific approach, supports companies in measuring and reducing emissions across the entire value chain.

What Is the Carbon Footprint (Simple Definition)

The carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that measures the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted—directly or indirectly—by an activity, product, service, or organization. It is often expressed in tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂eq) and is used to assess the impact of climate change.

This metric helps define environmental impact and plan concrete actions for carbon footprint reduction, contributing to climate goals such as those required by the CSRD.

What the Carbon Footprint Measures

The carbon footprint considers all greenhouse gas emissions across the lifecycle of an activity, including production, usage, transportation, and disposal phases. Emissions are categorized into three scopes:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling
• Scope 3: All other indirect emissions (e.g., suppliers, business travel, product use)

Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step toward reducing it effectively.

How to Calculate the Carbon Footprint

There is no single formula for carbon footprint calculation, but international guidelines reference recognized standards, including:

• ISO 14067 for product carbon footprint
• ISO 14064 for organizational carbon footprint
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol)

The calculation process involves:

1. Defining the boundaries (product, service, or organization)
2. Collecting data (energy, transport, materials, travel…)
3. Applying emission factors
4. Analyzing and validating results

While simplified tools like carbon footprint calculators exist, businesses should rely on a scientific and tailored approach to obtain solid, reportable data.

The PEF Method: Product Environmental Footprint

The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is a method developed by the European Commission to assess the environmental impact of products across their entire life cycle, incorporating the carbon footprint.

It is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method and includes over 15 environmental impact categories, including CO₂ emissions. It is particularly useful for comparing data and communicating sustainability in a transparent and verifiable way.

Challenges (and Opportunities) for Companies

Companies are expected to measure, reduce, and offset their emissions today. But this journey requires technical and strategic expertise. That’s why carbon footprint calculation is not just a duty—it’s an opportunity:

• To contribute to the transition toward climate neutrality
• To integrate sustainability into ESG strategies
• To meet growing transparency demands from clients and investors

How Etifor Helps Companies Calculate Their Carbon Footprint

At Etifor, we develop scientific solutions to help companies measure and reduce their environmental impact. We offer technical and strategic support to:

• Define calculation boundaries
• Identify emission hotspots for reporting
• Analyze available data
• Select the most appropriate methods
• Develop reduction and offsetting strategies
• Communicate results credibly

Explore our services for environmental impact assessment and management, and learn more about our MARC approach to start a comprehensive journey toward climate neutrality.

Conclusion

Measuring your carbon footprint is not just a good environmental practice—it’s a strategic lever for boosting competitiveness, meeting regulatory demands, and building trust with clients and stakeholders. Having accurate emissions data enables better decisions, effective reduction planning, and transparent communication. With the support of a scientific partner like Etifor, companies can tackle this journey with method, reliability, and long-term vision.