Determine the Carbon Footprint for an Organisation in Support of Sustainable Business Practice

​It requires the ability to start-up the research, collect data, analyse data and report outcomes and results. The ability to communicate with different types of people to both gain approval for the activity and to promote the research outcomes form an important part of this standard.

It requires the application of footprinting processes and techniques to determine the carbon footprint results for the organisation as a whole.

This standard would be appropriate for:Those involved in the development of sustainable business practice through the management of greenhouse gas emissions. It is likely toapply to technical staff within organisations, owner/managers within SMEs and those with responsibility for implementing environmental programmes

​P1 specify a project plan in support of the footprinting process P2 engage others to ensure support for the footprinting processP3 obtain the resources required to implement the footprinting process P4 implement the footprinting process to determine the carbon footprint for the organisationP5 identify opportunities for reducing the carbon footprint for the organisationP6 report on the research outcomes detailing the carbon footprint for the organisation and carbon reduction opportunitiesP7 establish that the research outcomes and recommendations comply with legal requirementsP8 present research outcomes and recommendations for carbon reduction to decision makersP9 communicate effectively with all those involved in the footprinting processP10 gain approval and support for proposals and recommendations

​K1 the legislation, industry standards, circular economy and voluntary codes that support carbon footprintingK2 the carbon footprints’ impact on the economic, social and environmental principles of sustainability and sustainable business practiceK3 how organisational based carbon footprinting supports the development of sustainable business practiceK4 the different greenhouse gases that contribute to the organisation’s carbon footprintK5 how greenhouse gas emissions contribute to environmental change K6 the global warming potential of the gases that are classed as greenhouse gasesK7 how carbon footprints link to the science of climate changeK8 why it is important to involve decision makers, organisational colleagues,customers and suppliers in the footprinting processK9 project planning and implementationK10 the resources that are required to support an organisational carbon footprinting processK11 the sources of carbon footprinting advice and supportK12 sensitivity analysis and how and why it is used to identify research boundaries for carbon footprinting processesK13 functional units and their role in footprintingK14 the guiding principles of the carbon footprinting processK15 how raw materials and supply chains can contribute to an organisational carbon footprintK16 how to complete the process steps involved in carbon footprintingK17 types, sources and methods for collecting and organising carbon dataK18 the techniques used to verify quality of carbon dataK19 the carbon data analysis techniques used to calculate carbon footprints for an organisationK20 the methods used to validate carbon footprintsK21 the opportunities available for reducing carbon footprints including, mitigation, offsetting and storageK22 how to link carbon footprints into the management of greenhouse gasesK23 how to communicate the outcomes of the carbon footprinting activities

​Project plan describing:1 product/services selection2 function unit3 project scope4 research objectives5 sensitivity6 research methodology

Others include:1 decision makers2 organisational colleagues3 customers4 suppliers

Resources include:1 people2 finance3 technology4 knowledge

Footprinting process includes:1 process mapping2 checking boundaries3 data collection and processing4 footprint calculation5 evaluating uncertainties within results

Carbon reduction opportunities include:1 the use of renewable energy2 carbon off-setting3 carbon storage4 delayed emissions5 recycling and reuse