Carbonfeel Project: Calculation, Verification, Certification and Labeling of the Carbon Footprint

Abstract

Carbonfeel is a collaborative initiative focused on providing methodological and technological solutions to the processes of calculation, verification, certification and labeling of the Carbon Footprint (CF). Any and all organizations from different sectors of activity, business associations, Public Administrations, certifying agencies, environmental consultancies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, universities, etc. that are committed to combating climate change and believe that responsible business is possible, are invited to participate. The project advances the creation of the first network of Carbon Footprint knowledge intended for the consolidation of products and/or services databases, by using primary data. That is what was called Green Coin: “every product has its own environmental price, a price not derived from a database more or less reliable”. The setting-up of a feedback system which organizes stores and shares these raw data is pioneering and innovative. Also, massive eco-labeling is possible due to a mixed organization-andproduct approach to the CF calculation (MC3 methodology), with no need for the active participation of all actors in the value chain. Finally, a number of complementary actions within the project, such as its feedback, assemblage, proposal of Recommended Load Allowances and implementation of a new metadata management system, are compiled and explained, showing why Carbon feel is already becoming an outstanding eco-project.

Share and Cite:

Villar, J. , Meijide, B. , Penela, A. and Hidalgo, S. (2014) Carbonfeel Project: Calculation, Verification, Certification and Labeling of the Carbon Footprint. Low Carbon Economy, 5, 65-79. doi: 10.4236/lce.2014.52008.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Ewing, B., Reed, A., Galli, A., Kitzes, J. and Wackernagel, M. (2010) Calculation Methodology for the National Footprint Accounts. 2010 Edition, Global Footprint Network, Oakland.
[2] Global Footprint Network (2009) Ecological Footprint Standards (2009). Global Footprint Network, Oakland.
[3] Kitzes, J., Galli, A., Riz, S.M., Reed, A. and Wackernagel, M. (2008) Guidebook to the National Footprint Accounts: 2008 Edition. Global Footprint Network, Oakland.
[4] Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W. (1996) Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth. New Society Publishers, Philadelphia.
[5] Doménech, J.L. (2007) Huella ecológica y desarrollo sostenible. AENOR Ediciones, Madrid.
[6] Wiedmann, T., Lenzen, M. and Barret, J. (2009) Companies on the Scale: Comparing and Benchmarking the Footprints of Businesses. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 13, 361-383.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2009.00125.x
[7] Wiedmann, T. and Lenzen, M. (2009) Unravelling the Impacts of Supply Chains. A New Triple-Bottom-Line Accounting Approach. In: Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M., Burrit, R. and Jasch, C., Eds., Environmental Management Accounting for Cleaner Production, Springer Netherlands, Amsterdam, 65-90.
[8] Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (2002) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines 2002. Global Reporting Initiative, Boston.
[9] Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (2006) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines 2000-2006. Global Reporting Initiative, Amsterdam.
[10] AccountAbility (2006) AA1000 Guidance Note on the Principles of Materiality, Completeness and Responsiveness as they Relate to the AA1000 Assurance Standard. AccountAbility, London.
[11] Holland, D. (2003) Making Project Management Discipline Integral to Corporate Culture. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 55, 33, 34, 36.
[12] Carballo Penela, A. (2010) Ecoetiquetado de bienes y servicios para un desarrollo sostenible. AENOR Ediciones, Madrid.
[13] Carballo Penela, A., Mateo-Mantecón, I., Doménech, J.L. and Coto-Millán, P. (2012) From the Motorways of the Sea to the Green Corridors’ Carbon Footprint: The Case of a Port in Spain. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 55, 765-782.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2011.627422
[14] Schaltegger, S. and Wagner, M. (2006) Managing the Business Case for Sustainability—The Integration of Social, Environmental and Economic Performance. Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield.
[15] European Comission (CE) (2011) Product Carbon Footprinting—A Study on Methodologies and Initiatives. Final Report.
http://wko.at/tirol/industrie/indakt2010/Folge38/PCF-executive%20summary.pdf
[16] BSI (British Standards Institute) (2008) PAS 2050: 2008. Specification for the Assessment of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Emissions of Goods and Services. British Standards Institute, London.
[17] BSI (British Standards Institute) (2011) PAS 2050: 2011. Specification for the Assessment of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Goods and Services. British Standards Institute, London.
[18] CONAMA (2010) Informe CONAMA 2010, Fundación CONAMA.
[19] Cagiao, J., Gómez, B., Doménech, J.L., Mainar, S.G. and Lanza, H.G. (2011) Calculation of the Corporate Carbon Footprint of the Cement Industry by the Application of MC3 Methodology. Ecological Indicators, 11, 1526-1540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.02.013
[20] Carballo Penela, A. and Doménech, J.L. (2010) Managing the Carbon Footprint of Products: The Contribution of the Method Composed of Financial Statements (MC3). International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 15, 962-969. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11367-010-0230-1
[21] Wackernagel, M., Dholakia, R., Deumling, D. and Richardson, D. (2000) Redefining Progress, Assess your Household’s Ecological Footprint 2.0.
http://greatchange.org/ng-footprint-ef_household_evaluation.xls

Copyright © 2023 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.