Carbon footprint/footprinting calculation

Carbon footprint is most appropriately calculated using life-cycle assessment or input-output analysis [3,4]- In this sense it is based on the ISO 14040 [4] and ISO 14043 [5] norms, on life cycle assessment (LCA). Specific norms for carbon footprint of enterprises and products are ISO 14064 (part 1,2, and 3) [6-8], ISO 14067 [9], and PAS 2500 [10]. Carbon footprint calculation process is shown in Figure 1. 

Fantozzi et al. [73] presents the study of the carbon footprint of a typical food product in Central Italy truffle sauce. This is a mixture of vegetable oil and truffle in proportions of 33% and 67% respectively and minor components and spices (garlic, salt, pepper, etc.). Both truffles and olives are cultivated and harvested in a farm in Umbria (Italy). Olives are crushed in a mill that is situated few kilometers from the farm. Once it has been produced, the extra virgin oil, together with the truffle, is transported to another facility to produce bottled truffle sauce. The carbon footprint calculation is based on ISO 14076 technical standard. Product Category Rules (PCR) have been developed (see Table 7). 

Figure 14.2 Material carbon footprint calculations for fossil and bio-based plastics. (Reproduced with permission from ref HI- Copyright 2012, American Chemical society.)...

The worksheet accepts inputs for manufacturing production data and provides an LCA for the production operation. The input for carbon footprint calculations is as follows ... 

A life cycle assessment (LCA), also known as life cycle analysis, of a product or process begins with an inventory of the energy and environmental flows associated with a product from "cradle to grave" and provides information on the raw materials used from the environment, energy resources consumed, and air, water, and solid waste emissions generated. GHGs and other wastes, sinks, and emissions may then be assessed (Sheehan et ah, 1998). The net GHG emissions calculated from an LCA are usually reported per imit of product or as the carbon footprint. 

Main emissions due to the most important processes are added through the whole life cycle. Carbon footprint of a purchased good or service can be calculated using Equation 1 [11]. 

In order to calculate carbon footprint, it is very important to consider the boundaries of the process which emissions should be considered in calculation of the footprint This problem can be solved by considering three definitions Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. 

Cagiao, J. Gomez, B. Domenech, J.L. Gutierrez Mainar, S. Gutierrez Lanza, H. Calculation of the corporate carbon footprint of the cement industry by the application... 

Calculate the Carbon footprint of your product, or event... 

Terrapass Calculate your carbon footprint and find green products at www.terrapass.com. 

You can calculate how much energy your household uses (your carbon footprint ) at various websites. 

One of the key methodological issues product carbon footprint standards have to deal with is whether capital goods should be included in the calculations. In some... 

Calculating carbon footprints of textile manufacturing processes... 

In addition to the references provided in Tables 1.1—1.3, the text below provides a brief description of each production stage and key publications that will assist the reader interested in calculating carbon footprints of textile products and... 

The second method that is commonly used for ecological footprint calculation suggests calculating the land need for fossil energy consumption by assessing the forest area that is necessary to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions generated by burning fossil fuels. 

In Muthu s recent book by Woodhead publications (Muthu, 2014), he comprehensively reviews the methods used to calculate environmental impact of textile and clothing supply chain, including product carbon footprints, ecological footprints, and life cycle assessment. The book presents information about the textile supply chain, its environmental impact, and an overview of the methods (greenhouse gas emissions, the water and energy footprints of the industry, and depletion of resources, as weU as the use of LCA) used to measure the overall environmental impact of the textile industry. 

Of course it is important to calculate and report on the process carbon and environmental footprint using LCA tools and ensure that the process carbon and environmental footprint is equal or better than the process being replaced. Howevex, the intrinsic fundamental value proposition for bio-based plastics arises from the zero material carbon footprint in harmony with time scales of the natural biological carbon cycle. 

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