Bilan Carbone® des Entreprises Publiques: An Essential Guide to Ecological Transition

Carbon footprint definition and objectives

Bilan Carbone®, developed by theAssociation Bilan Carbone (ABC), is a method for measuring the greenhouse gases generated by an organization. They are assessed through ten items covering all the company's activities, such as :

🔋Energy consumption (fossil fuels, electricity, heat).

🚚 The movement of employees and goods.

🛒 Purchasing goods and services.

🗑️ Waste management and industrial processes.

♻️ The use and end-of-life of products sold.

The main objective of Bilan Carbone® is to assess a company'senvironmental footprint in order to identify the main sources of emissions and define priorities for action.

This approach is essential if we are to make an active contribution to achieving national decarbonization targets.

Why is it essential for public companies?

Public structures have a dual responsibility:

🌍 Environmental exemplarity As major players in the economy, they must set an example and inspire other organizations. By carrying out their Bilan Carbone®, they are actively participating in the objectives set by theParis Agreement, aimed at limiting temperature increases by 2100.

📜 Meeting regulatory obligations: local authorities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, and public establishments and other legal entities under public law with more than 250 employees. Thecarbon footprint is one of the requirements.

A lever for integrating CSR and achieving carbon neutrality

By carrying out a Bilan Carbone®, public organizations reinforce their Corporate Social Responsibility approach. This process enables them to :

• Identify their biggest GHG emitters and prioritize initiatives to reduce them.
• Develop a concrete, costed approach to help achieve carbon neutrality, in line with European and national commitments.
• Improve their image with the general public, partners and stakeholders.

What's more, a well-executed Bilan Carbone® can reveal opportunities for cost optimization, particularly in the areas of consumption, waste management and logistics.

These economic benefits, combined with a reduced environmental footprint, make it an essential tool for public structures committed to the transition towards sustainable solutions.

How do you carry out a Bilan Carbone® for a public company?

The methodology for carrying out a Bilan Carbone® is based on a series of clearly defined steps, which help structure the analysis of greenhouse gases. These steps are as follows:

1️⃣ Framing the project

This initial stage enables us to define the objectives of the assessment (emissions reduction, awareness-raising, legal compliance, etc.) and the resources required. It also involves choosing the analysis period (generally one year) and setting priorities with stakeholders.

2️⃣ Definition of study perimeter

The perimeter determines :

🏢 Organizational boundaries (e.g. head office, branches, subsidiaries...).

⚙️ Operational boundaries, divided into GHG Protocol scopes:

• • Scope 1: direct emissions (fuel combustion).
  • Scope 2: indirect energy-related emissions (electricity, heat, etc.).
  • Scope 3: upstream and downstream indirect emissions (travel, freight, procurement, etc.).

3️⃣ Mobilizing stakeholders

Good mobilization of internal and external players is essential to ensure exhaustive, high-quality data collection. This stage involves raising the awareness of the departments concerned (procurement, logistics, finance, etc.) and organizing their roles.

4️⃣ Data collection

Once the scope has been defined, the next step is to gather the necessary information:

⚡ Energy consumption (electricity, gas, fuels, etc.).

🚗 Business and home-to-work travel.

📦 Supply of goods and services.

🗑️ Waste management.

Physical information (volumes, distances, weights) should be used to obtain accurate results.

5️⃣ Accounting for greenhouse gas emissions

The figures collected are transformed into GHGs emitted using emission factors from recognized bases, such asADEME's Base Empreinte. This calculation converts each activity into tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).

6️⃣ Analysis of results

Emissions are broken down by scopes to identify the biggest emitters and prioritize actions. This detailed analysis enables us to understand where to concentrate our reduction efforts.

7️⃣ Drawing up an action plan

Based on the results, an action plan is drawn up, including :

📉 Reducing energy consumption.

🔋 The use of less carbon-intensive solutions.

🤝 Suppliers' commitment to reducing indirect emissions.

Regular monitoring and updating of the assessment enable us to adjust our approach and measure progress.

Alternatives to the Bilan Carbone®️

Although Bilan Carbone® is the benchmark tool for assessing greenhouse gases (GHGs), there are several alternatives adapted to the needs of public-sector organizations.

These tools ensure rigorous accounting of air pollutants while meeting specific regulatory or methodological requirements.

1️⃣ The BEGES (Bilan des Émissions de Gaz à Effet de Serre - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Balance)

In France, the BEGES is a regulatory requirement for :

• Companies with over 500 employees.
• Local authorities and public establishments above a certain activity threshold.

Based on methodologies validated byADEME, the BEGES offers a standardized approach to measuring, analyzing and publishing emissions.

It is an interesting alternative for public bodies wishing to meet their legal obligations while structuring their environmental approach.

2️⃣ International standards and certifications

International standards provide globally recognized methodological frameworks for calculating and managing greenhouse gas impacts:

• ISO 14064-1: This standard provides a precise methodology for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. It also guarantees data transparency and consistency.
• PAS 2050: useful for assessing the environmental impact of products and services.

These standards are particularly well-suited to organizations seeking certification or with an international scope of action.

3️⃣ Digital tools and databases

Numerous digital solutions facilitate the assessment and management of GHG-related impacts:

• 💻 Specialized software: to automate data collection, calculate emissions and produce detailed reports.
• 📊 Emissions databases: like ADEME's Base Empreinte, they provide up-to-date emission factors to guarantee the reliability of calculations.

These tools represent an effective alternative for public bodies with limited resources or seeking to optimize their accounting processes.

Concrete examples: initiatives by public companies

To illustrate how a Bilan Carbone® can be translated into concrete action, here are some examples of successful initiatives by public bodies and municipalities:

• RATP and "Bus 2025": Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP ) has committed to converting 100% of its bus fleet to cleaner energies, notably electric and biomethane, thus contributing to the electrification and decarbonization of urban transport by 2025.
  Thanks to this ambitious project, 4,700 environmentally-friendly buses will replace diesel vehicles, reducing air pollution. By 2024, more than 2,000 electric and biomethane buses will already be operating in the Paris region.

• An organization in the energy resources sector has reduced air pollution linked to energy consumption by installing solar panels on its sites. One notable example is EDFwhich has deployed large-scale solar projects to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. EDF has also contributed to initiatives to encourage the transition to renewable energies on a national scale, and has integrated decarbonization methods into its CSR policy.

• • Some municipalities have set up sustainable mobility plans to limit the use of combustion-powered cars for commuting, helping to reduce air pollution. For example, the city of Paris has developed an ambitious sustainable mobility plan, favoring public transport and bicycle infrastructure.

These examples show that a properly conducted Bilan Carbone® can lead to concrete steps and measurable results, while complying with regulations.

Contributing to the ecological transition

By carrying out a Bilan Carbone®, public bodies and associations are in line with the objectives of theParis Agreement and European commitments to limit atmospheric pollution. They play an active role in :

• Reducing climate impact: by identifying priority initiatives, such as in everyday mobility: rapid electrification of the car fleet, in freight, electrification of roads, they reduce their contribution to global warming.

• • Building a low-carbon economy: public-sector bodies play a leading role in disseminating best practices to private-sector players and local authorities.

These initiatives involve not only the company itself, but also its partners, suppliers and employees in a collective effort to limit emissions throughout the value chain.

GCI: a partner to take you further

At GCI, we understand that every public company faces specific challenges in integrating the reduction of its climate footprint into its day-to-day activities. That's why we offer customized support and innovative solutions tailored to your needs, to help you successfully build your climate strategy.

Our services to go beyond the Bilan Carbone® :

🔍 Carrying out and monitoring the Bilan Carbone® We support public-sector players at every stage of their process:

• • Gathering and analyzing information: thanks to high-performance digital tools, we make it easier to manage information linked to your energy consumption, travel and supply chains.
  • Calculation of GHG emissions: we use the ABC Bilan Carbone®️ reference system, but we are also able to calculate according to international standards such asISO 14064-1, the GHG Protocol methodology or the mandatory BEGES, to guarantee an accurate and reliable analysis tailored to your needs.
  • Strategic action plan: our experts will help you identify concrete reduction levers and prioritize steps.🌍

 🌱 Decarbon'Achat®: a unique solution to control your indirect emissions and engage your suppliers.

Indirect emissions (scope 3), often arising from purchasing and supply chains, can account for a significant proportion of a public company's atmospheric pollutants. With our Decarbon'Achat® solution, we help you to :

• Assess the carbon footprint of your suppliers' products and services.
• Use these carbon weights in your own carbon assessment
• Integrate environmental criteria into your tenders and contracts.
• Work with your partners to reduce their air pollutants and improve the overall performance of your value chain.

This unique solution transforms your purchasing practices into a strategic lever for achieving your climate objectives, while complying with regulatory constraints.

   🌍 CSR and energy transition support

In addition to Bilan Carbone®, GCI offers dedicated services to structure and strengthen your Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives:

• Drawing up a CSR strategy that takes climate issues into account
• Design and implement long-term strategies to reduce yourenergy consumption and optimize your operations.
• Raising awareness and training your staff to mobilize all stakeholders around your environmental objectives.

  ⚖️ Anticipating future regulations

Thanks to our expertise in regulatory frameworks, such as the CSRD, we can help you :

• Comply with current obligations.
• Anticipating future legislative changes