Anticipate carbon regulations with a compliant, actionable balance sheet

First of all, conducting a greenhouse gas inventory (GHG) allows a company to accurately assess its carbon footprint and understand the primary source of each of its greenhouse gas emissions. 

The main difference between the Bilan Carbone® and the GHG Assessment lies in the definition of the scope of emissions accounting.

Under ADEME’s methodology, the Bilan Carbone® calculation takes into account the entire life cycle of the products or services provided by a company’s operations. This allows for a comprehensive assessment of the operations’ GHG emissions and helps identify potential areas for savings.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are calculated based on energy consumption, using conversion factors specific to each energy source. This allows for standardized measurements and results in an emissions figure expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).

In other words, it involves simply multiplying the activity data (in kWh, units, liters, or euros) by an emission factor (the average amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of activity data).

To calculate one’s GHG footprint, one must therefore collect data on activities that directly and indirectly emit greenhouse gases and convert them using an emission factor.

Beyond regulatory requirements (particularly since Decree No. 2022-982), conducting a carbon assessment is an essential step for a company because it allows it to identify and list the sources of greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly related to its operations.

Conducting its first GHG inventory will provide an initial assessment and help identify the main sources of emissions. This will make it all the easier to identify potential reduction opportunities and develop a low-carbon strategy for the company.

Conducting regular GHG assessments over time will provide an opportunity to adjust the company’s action plan and ensure that it meets its goals for reducing its environmental impact.

To accurately measure a company’s greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to identify all of its emission sources. It is therefore necessary to collect data on its operations:

• Energy consumption (gas, fuel oil, diesel, gasoline, electricity, etc.)
• Assets under depreciation (real estate, vehicle fleet, IT equipment, furniture, etc.)
• Purchases of goods (raw materials, supplies, food products, etc.)
• Purchases of services (Internet subscriptions, equipment maintenance and installation, service provision, fees, etc.)
• Travel: employees’ commutes to and from work, business travel, visitors and customers, etc.
• Freight Transport
• Disposal
• Use and end-of-life of its products.

Although it is recommended to be as comprehensive as possible over time when identifying sources of spending, you can start with financial data and refine the accuracy of that data over time. We recommend that you take a step-by-step approach to your budget review, starting with your largest expenses at the outset.

Reducing your company's carbon footprint involves several steps:

• Calculate Your Carbon Footprint for the First Time
• Identify the largest sources of emissions and identify ways to reduce them by improving the accuracy of the data used for measurement
• Involve your suppliers by asking them to calculate the carbon footprint of the goods and services they provide. This will make the measurement more accurate, and you will then be able to implement a responsible procurement strategy.
• Develop an action plan and a strategy for monitoring progress over time to ensure its successful implementation and effectiveness.