Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse-gas emissions associated with an organisation, product or activity, expressed as carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). For industry it is the basis for reduction targets, reporting and increasingly for customer and regulatory requirements.

An organisation's footprint is usually split into Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned sources), Scope 2 (purchased electricity and heat) and Scope 3 (the wider value chain). Measuring it reliably is the prerequisite for credible targets and for tracking progress. For most manufacturers, energy efficiency and decarbonization of heat are the largest levers on Scope 1 and 2, which is why measurement and efficiency go hand in hand.

Related terms

Industrial Decarbonization · Carbon Intensity · Net Zero · EU ETS

Related guides

Where this applies

Switching a boiler from fossil fuel to biomass · Running a leak detection and repair (LDAR) programme · Adopting renewable power purchase agreements for Scope 2 · Transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants · Biomass vs Natural-Gas Boiler · State of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage 2026 · State of the Circular Economy in Manufacturing 2026 · Global investment in energy efficiency