Calculate and improve your company's GHG footprint

First of all, carrying out a greenhouse gas assessment (BEGES) enables a company to precisely evaluate its carbon footprint and understand the main source of each of its greenhouse gas emissions. 

The main difference between the Bilan Carbone and the Bilan GES lies in the definition of the emissions accounting perimeter.

In the Ademe methodology, the GHG balance calculation takes into account the entire life cycle of a company's products or services. This makes it possible to assess the company's overall GHG emissions and identify any sources of savings.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are assessed on the basis of consumption, using conversion factors specific to each energy source. This makes it possible to standardize measurements and obtain a quantity of emissions expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

In other words, it involves multiplying your activity data (in kWh, units, liters, €) by an emission factor (average quantity of greenhouse gas emissions for 1 unit of your activity data).

Over and above regulatory obligations (in particular since decree no. 2022-982), carrying out a GHG assessment is an essential step for a company, as it enables it to identify and list the greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly linked to its activity.

Carrying out your company's first GHG assessment will enable you to make an initial measurement and identify the main emission sources. This will make it all the easier to identify potential areas for reduction and define a low-carbon strategy for your company.

Performing a GHG assessment regularly over time will provide an opportunity to adjust your action plan and ensure that you're achieving your goals for reducing your company's environmental impact.

To accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions, you need to identify all your company's emission sources. It is therefore necessary to collect activity data:

• Energy consumption (gas, oil, diesel, petrol, electricity, etc. .....)
• Depreciating assets (real estate, fleet of vehicles, computer equipment, furniture, etc.)
• Purchases of goods (raw materials, materials, food, etc.)
• Purchases of services (internet contract, maintenance and installation of equipment, supplies of services, fees, etc....)
• Movement of people: employee commuting, business travel, visitors and customers, etc. .....
• Haulage
• Disposal
• Use and end of life of products sold.

Although it is recommended to be as exhaustive as possible in identifying emission headings, it is possible to start with financial data and to refine the accuracy of the data over time. We recommend that you carry out your inventory in stages, starting with your largest expenditure items first.

Reducing the carbon footprint of your company is a multi-step process:

• Carry out an initial assessment of your carbon footprint.
• Identify the most important emission headings, and find ways to reduce them by improving the accuracy of the data used for measurement.
• Involve your suppliers by asking them to calculate the carbon footprint of the goods and services they supply. The measurement will be all the more accurate and you will then be able to implement a responsible purchasing strategy.
• Set up an action plan and a measurement strategy over time to ensure that it is implemented and effective.