Decarbo’Solution®, a pioneer in 100% digital carbon footprint assessments since 2012
Conducting a GHG inventory, along with carbon footprint consulting, involves quantifying an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions. Such an inventory enables a company, local government, or any other organization to accurately assess its direct emissions and those resulting from its activities, so that it can design and implement a plan to reduce its emissions.
This initiative is fully in line with the essential momentum toward an ecological transition focused on low-carbon and carbon-free energy sources, and toward continuous improvement in energy efficiency, as called for by the Paris Agreement.
What does this international agreement entail? To combat global warming, the effects of which are becoming increasingly evident, it requires countries to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To meet this ambitious goal, France subsequently published a roadmap for all private and public organizations, stating that a reduction in emissions by all parties is urgently needed.
Reducing CO2 emissions first requires tracking them. A greenhouse gas inventory is the tool used to conduct a comprehensive and accurate accounting of an organization’s emissions.
While ADEME was ahead of the curve with the creation of its Carbon Footprint assessment in 2004 and the development of a greenhouse gas assessment using an Excel spreadsheet, there are now platforms that are just as comprehensive but more accessible to non-experts in the field.
The Decarbo’Solution® platform allows you to conduct your GHG assessment —covering all three scopes of direct and indirect emissions—either on your own or with the assistance of a carbon assessment expert.
Carbon Footprint = Management Tool
Combating global warming is, of course, a goal for many companies. However, conducting a GHG inventory is also an essential strategic management tool for improving a company’s economic and societal performance.
Calculating your company’s carbon footprint allows you to:
- Build credibility and promote a CSR initiative;
- Anticipate stakeholders' needs;
- Identify opportunities for savings;
- Optimize your business model;
- Innovate in your processes or production;
- Stand out in the market;
- Retain employees;
- Comply with regulations.
The benefits of a greenhouse gas inventory outweigh the drawbacks of conducting one. Minimizing emissions to protect the climate is not only beneficial for the environment but also for society. Carbon neutrality, as mandated by the Paris Agreement, thus becomes an advantage for companies, which can, in the process, achieve significant cost savings and invest those savings in the growth of their organizations.
Decarbo’Solution®, a 100% digital platform for carbon footprint assessments since 2012
As part of the fight against climate change, carbon footprint assessments have become increasingly popular. While there were few service providers capable of conducting such assessments before the Paris Agreement, there are far more today.
A comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory is generally prepared using the format established by ADEME in 2004, namely an Excel spreadsheet. However, this format complicates the reporting process, and only specialists who have received training in the use of the tool are able to prepare a comprehensive inventory in accordance with the spreadsheet format.
Over the years, as environmental concerns have become increasingly ingrained in everyday life, several calculation tools have emerged on the market—and even more so in recent months. Decarbo’Solution® (Decarbo’Solution®) is the pioneer in this field.
Since 2012, the Decarbo’Solution® service platform has been offering private and public companies, organizations, and local governments of all types and sizes online tools and services to identify, calculate, and reduce their carbon footprint, in full compliance with regulations, guidelines, standards, and international norms. The methodology used is based on the analysis and ongoing evaluation of various existing studies whose relevance is currently recognized, such asBase Carbone®, CE DELFT,the Shift Project, ADEME, ISO,national transportationaccounts, etc.
A comprehensive, accurate, easy-to-complete, compliant, and accessible online assessment
The Decarbo’Solution® calculator allows you to generate a comprehensive GHG inventory covering all threescopesand the following seven regulatory emission categories: Travel, Inputs (Materials and Services), Energy, Refrigerants, Water Consumption, and Waste.
It also assesses, at a given point in time, the impact of your business on the climate through targeted reporting on the main sources of emissions in your industry.
A 100% digital calculator, its proven user-friendly design and educational features enable users to quickly become proactive and use it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Once emissions have been categorized according to regulatory categories, it becomes easy to identify areas where action can be taken to reduce emissions. The platform will help you define your low-carbon strategy through emission reduction solutions.
Discounts can take many forms depending on the company’s industry. For example, a discount may apply to a switch in energy sources. In fact, carbon-free energy—such as renewable or nuclear energy—is preferred over fossil fuels.
Once the reduction has been made, voluntary offsetting may also apply. This involves investing in carbon credits through a company that promotes reforestation or the development of alternative energy sources.
The Decarbo’Solution® platform: a unique ergonomic design
In the first step, the calculator offers a selection of generic questionnaires tailored to your industry. About 20 templates are currently available (offices, factories, freight, events, etc.). Each user can then customize the questionnaire to quantify their company’s GHG emissions by simply answering a series of targeted questions based on their specific business activities.
The results of the report are expressed in metric tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). They are reported by regulatory category and by scope, allowing for both an overall view of emissions trends and a more targeted analysis.
This will allow users to easily see whether they need to reduce their energy consumption or simply switch to renewable or carbon-free energy sources, such as nuclear power. The actions they take can be integrated into the platform so they can be tracked over time and quantified.
A low-carbon strategy can be implemented and visualized. Carbon neutrality can then be determined based on each organization’s goals.
A communication platform
The GHG inventory is a powerful communication tool. Decarbo’Solution® encourages companies to share it with their stakeholders and internal teams, as well as on their website and social media channels. To this end, Decarbo’Solution® provides a well-documented, compelling, and easy-to-share report.
Bids are increasingly requiring companies to provide their carbon footprint. The carbon footprint has become an important factor in choosing a partner, as it is a strong new selling point.
Assistance in developing a decarbonization strategy and a contribution/offset plan
The platform also provides tools for developing and implementing action plans to reduce emissions, as well as contribution and offset programs.
The autonomy achieved through the Decarbo’Solution® tools makes it possible to optimize the consulting resources needed to implement the company’s decarbonization strategy.
If conducting a GHG assessment proves to be a bit too complex—especially in the first year—the Decarbo’Solution® platform has listed Decarbo’Solution® experts in the field who will help promote best practices for addressing climate challenges. To get started on your carbon footprint assessment—which is accessible, simple, 100% online, comprehensive, and compliant with regulations—request a demo.