Determine the Carbon Footprint for an Organisation in Support of Sustainable Business Practice
Overview
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 to
apply to technical staff within organisations, owner/managers within SMEs and those with responsibility for implementing environmental programmes
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 specify a project plan in support of the footprinting process
P2 engage others to ensure support for the footprinting process
P3 obtain the resources required to implement the footprinting process
P4 implement the footprinting process to determine the carbon footprint for the organisation
P5 identify opportunities for reducing the carbon footprint for the organisation
P6 report on the research outcomes detailing the carbon footprint for the organisation and carbon reduction opportunities
P7 establish that the research outcomes and recommendations comply with legal requirements
P8 present research outcomes and recommendations for carbon reduction to decision makers
P9 communicate effectively with all those involved in the footprinting process
P10 gain approval and support for proposals and recommendations
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the legislation, industry standards, circular economy and voluntary codes that support carbon footprinting
K2 the carbon footprints’ impact on the economic, social and environmental principles of sustainability and sustainable business practice
K3 how organisational based carbon footprinting supports the development of sustainable business practice
K4 the different greenhouse gases that contribute to the organisation’s carbon footprint
K5 how greenhouse gas emissions contribute to environmental change
K6 the global warming potential of the gases that are classed as greenhouse gases
K7 how carbon footprints link to the science of climate change
K8 why it is important to involve decision makers, organisational colleagues,
customers and suppliers in the footprinting process
K9 project planning and implementation
K10 the resources that are required to support an organisational carbon footprinting process
K11 the sources of carbon footprinting advice and support
K12 sensitivity analysis and how and why it is used to identify research boundaries for carbon footprinting processes
K13 functional units and their role in footprinting
K14 the guiding principles of the carbon footprinting process
K15 how raw materials and supply chains can contribute to an organisational carbon footprint
K16 how to complete the process steps involved in carbon footprinting
K17 types, sources and methods for collecting and organising carbon data
K18 the techniques used to verify quality of carbon data
K19 the carbon data analysis techniques used to calculate carbon footprints for an organisation
K20 the methods used to validate carbon footprints
K21 the opportunities available for reducing carbon footprints including, mitigation, offsetting and storage
K22 how to link carbon footprints into the management of greenhouse gases
K23 how to communicate the outcomes of the carbon footprinting activities
Scope/range
Project plan describing:
1 product/services selection
2 function unit
3 project scope
4 research objectives
5 sensitivity
6 research methodology
Others include:
1 decision makers
2 organisational colleagues
3 customers
4 suppliers
Resources include:
1 people
2 finance
3 technology
4 knowledge
Footprinting process includes:
1 process mapping
2 checking boundaries
3 data collection and processing
4 footprint calculation
5 evaluating uncertainties within results
Carbon reduction opportunities include:
1 the use of renewable energy
2 carbon off-setting
3 carbon storage
4 delayed emissions
5 recycling and reuse