Mistakes to avoid for an accurate Carbon Footprint® and an effective reduction strategy
Bilan Carbone® has become an essential tool for companies wishing to understand their environmental impact and take concrete steps to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
It measures all direct and indirect emissions linked to the company's activities - energy consumption, transport, production, or those linked to the supply chain, for example.
However, carrying out an accurate and effective Bilan Carbone® can present certain challenges. Although many companies are motivated by good intentions, mistakes can sometimes occur, altering the accuracy of the results and limiting the impact of their reduction efforts.
These difficulties are often encountered in data collection, in the inclusion of indirect emissions (Scope 3) or in the involvement of stakeholders. An incomplete assessment or the use of imprecise data can lead to an underestimation of the company's actual carbon footprint.
1. Anticipate to optimize your Bilan Carbone®.
1.1 Mobilizing stakeholders for comprehensive data collection
1.2 Integrating all sources of emissions: leaving no stone unturned
1.3. Rely on recent, specific data
2. Developing a long-term vision for a sustainable carbon strategy2.1. Set clear, measurable objectives for real effectiveness
Anticipate for a better optimization of your Bilan Carbone®.
🔍 Mobilizing stakeholders for comprehensive data collection
A successful carbon footprint also relies on the mobilization of internal and external stakeholders. Limit data collection to a single serviceThe absence of a dedicated department, such as the CSR department, without the involvement of other departments or key partners can lead to significant gaps in the emissions assessment. Internal departments, such as purchasing, logistics, marketing and production must be involved in identifying sources of emissions and precise data collection. In addition, collaboration with suppliers is essential to obtain accurate information, particularly on raw materials, modes of transport and waste management. According to a study conducted by Mckinsey in 2020The goal is to achieve a decarbonizing supply chain for the entire company.239 companies have signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative: 94% have included commitments to reduce GHG emissions among their customers and suppliers." The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) helps companies set GHG emissions reduction targets in line with climate science and the objectives of the Paris Agreement. It encourages companies to include their supply chains (Scope 3) in their commitments, maximizing the overall impact of their efforts. This collaborative approach ensures exhaustive coverage of emissions sources and facilitates the implementation of joint initiatives to reduce emissions along the value chain.🧩 Integrate all sources of emissions: leave no stone unturned
A common practice in the preparation of Bilan Carbone® is to focus primarily on direct emissions (Scope 1) and energy-related emissions (Scope 2), neglecting indirect emissions (Scope 3). The latter include emissions generated by suppliers, subcontractors, goods transportation, employee travel and product use by customers. The Scope 3 is often the hidden part of a company's emissions, but it's also the most significant. According to a Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Scope 3 emissions represent on average 70% to 90% of a company's total emissions in sectors such as distribution, manufacturing and the technology industry. Failure to include them means underestimating an organization's real carbon footprint, which compromises the effectiveness of actions aimed at limiting its environmental impact. To provide a better framework for this approach, the ISO 14064 standard specifies the principles and requirements for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As of the 2018 revision, ISO 14064-1 requires compliant companies to account for Scope 3 emissions. Complying with this standard not only enables companies to meet legal and regulatory requirementsbut also to adopt a more comprehensive and reliable approach to emissions management.
📊 Rely on recent and specific data
Relying on generic industrial averages or out-of-date energy data considerably reduces the reliability of the results and the credibility of the GHG emissions balance. To guarantee an accurate Bilan Carbone®, it is imperative to rely on specific and recent data reflecting the company's current operational realities.- For example, when it comes to energy consumption, emission factors for electricity vary according to each country's energy mix, which is evolving over the years with the increasing integration of renewable energies.
- In 2022, the emission factor of the average French electricity mix in ADEME's Empreinte® database was 0.0520 kg CO2e/kwh, compared with 0.0573 kg CO2e/kwh in 2016.
Developing a long-term vision for a sustainable carbon strategy
Drawing up a Bilan Carbone® report It's an ongoing process, part of a long-term strategy that includes clear objectives, team awareness and the adoption of rigorous methods. A sustainable approach involves defining a trajectory that not only measures emissions, but above all significantly reduces them.
🎯 Set clear, measurable objectives for real effectiveness
A Bilan Carbone® carbon assessment without precise objectives provides, above all, a snapshot of a company's carbon footprint at a given point in time. To obtain usable results, it is essential to define clear, measurable objectives. According to a study conducted by McKinsey in 2021, there is a positive correlation between: "the average percentage of emissions reduction targeted by companies (compared with the reference year) and their progress at the time of publication of the report". In other words, companies that have set themselves more ambitious targets seem to have achieved better results on the road to achieving them.
¹Calculatedas the median of the differences in percentage points between emissions in the reporting year (2020) and the linear adjustment between emissions in the reporting year and emissions in the target year.
A performance greater than 0% represents one percentage point of the target trajectory exceeded.
A performance below 0% represents one percentage point of the target trajectory not reached.
Source: CDP Climate Change Questionnaire 2020; McKinsey ESG Insights
Companies therefore need to go beyond assessment, by setting short-, medium- and long-term objectives that enable progress to be monitored and strategies adjusted.
🌿 Train your teams to avoid mistakes
When implementing the Bilan Carbone, it is beneficial to®It's also important to train and raise awareness among all stakeholders, both internal and external. A better understanding of climate issues and measurement tools will help to reinforce the reliability of your data and the effectiveness of your actions. This awareness-raising must include all employees, as well as partners, suppliers and customers. Innovative methods, such as the Fresque du Climat (Climate Fresco), help to explain the mechanisms of climate change and the impact of human activity in a fun and educational way. Our GCI carbon experts are certified La Fresque du Climat facilitators and can run a workshop at your company. This engaging workshop enables participants to gain a better understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change, while exploring concrete actions they can take, both individually and professionally. We also support companies wishing to raise their teams' awareness and initiate an environmental transition process, through a comprehensive training program supervised by our carbon experts.- Module 1 - Climate and energy fundamentals: Understanding the essential elements of climate, the fundamental criteria and their relationship to the GHG balance.
- Module 2 - Methodological approach to GHG inventory: Learn about the three scopes, emission items, main methods, regulations and standards, activity data, emission factors and databases.
- Module 3 - Preparing a GHG inventory with GCI: organize data collection, understand GCI's emission factors and functions, and prepare a GHG inventory on the platform.
- Module 4 - Drawing up a GHG inventory and reducing GHG emissions: Entering activity data, visualizing results and deliverables, calculating units of output and uncertainties, setting SBTi targets and defining reduction actions.
⚖️ Choosing the right methodology for your needs
Choosing the right methodology to carry out a Bilan Carbone® plays an important role in the accuracy and completeness of the results. It is essential that this approach be adapted to the specific needs of each company. Three main standards/methodologies are generally used to guide this approach, each offering its own advantages depending on the organization's objectives:✅ The Bilan Carbone® method developed by ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) offers a rigorous French methodology focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Bilan Carbone® method developed by ADEME is designed for all types of organization, and measures both direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2 and 3) emissions, taking into account local specificities.
✅ The GHG Protocol® (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) is an international reference standard, widely adopted by companies and recognized worldwide. It offers a flexible framework for measuring and managing GHG emissions, notably by enabling the different sources of emissions to be distinguished according to the three scopes. It is suitable for companies wishing to harmonize their reporting internationally.
✅ ISO 14064, also an international standard, offers a structured, verifiable approach to calculating GHG emissions, with specific requirements for quantifying and reducing emissions, while incorporating principles of traceability and auditability. This standard is particularly useful for companies seeking ISO certification, reinforcing their credibility and transparency vis-à-vis stakeholders.
The GCI platform integrates and respects all recognized standards, regulations and methodologies:- ISO 14064-1 : 2018 ;
- GHG Protocol (Corporate & Corporate Value Chain Standards) ;
- Bilan GES Réglementaire V5 methodology.
- ISO 14 067 (PCF)
The Bilan Carbone® is much more than a simple measurement tool; it represents an essential strategic lever for steering the company towards a sustainable reduction in emissions.
By defining clear, measurable objectives, raising awareness and training teams, and adopting a rigorous methodology, companies can effectively integrate these actions into a long-term vision.
Global Climate Initiatives supports companies in this process by offering appropriate training and ensuring that your balance sheet complies with recognized methodologies. Such an approach not only ensures compliance with regulations, but also strengthens their competitiveness, in a context where environmental transition has become a major issue for long-term success.
