Explanation
You calculate the footprint by multiplying consumption data, such as litres of fuel, cubic metres of gas, kilowatt hours of electricity and business kilometres, by emission factors. That gives an emission per source, which you add up to one total in CO2 equivalents. Use emission factors from a recognised, current source.
Emissions are usually divided into scope 1, 2 and 3, following a widely used international protocol. Scope 1 is direct emissions from your own sources, scope 2 is indirect emissions from purchased energy and scope 3 is other indirect emissions in the chain, such as purchased products and commuting.
The footprint is a measurement, not a goal in itself. It forms the basis for reduction targets, for reports to customers and for frameworks such as the CO2 Performance Ladder or a VSME report. Watch the boundaries: which sites and scopes you include, and that you follow the same method every year so you can compare.
Example from practice
An installation company adds up, over one year, the fuel use of its vans, the gas use of its office, the electricity purchased and its business flights. With emission factors it converts this to CO2 equivalents.
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