Carrying out your Bilan Carbone®: a guide for companies

📖 Definition

Bilan Carbone® is a key method for assessing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a specific activity. Developed by France's Agence de la transition l'ADEME, this tool enables companies to measure their climate impact by identifying and quantifying the direct and indirect GHG emissions resulting from their activities.

It is an initial step before designing an emissions reduction strategy. However, each Bilan Carbone has its own specific advantages and limitations. It is important to select the method best suited to your company's specific characteristics and GHG emissions reduction objectives. The price of your Bilan Carbone will also be determined according to these particularities.

🔍 How do you create a carbon footprint?

To carry out a Bilan des Émissions de Gaz à Effet de Serre (BEGES), a company can choose to do it in-house or to call on an external service provider, such as a consulting firm or a SaaS solution offering expert support. The objective remains the same: to measure GHG emissions, identify and quantify the main sources of emissions, raise stakeholder awareness and draw up GHG reduction strategies.

The Bilan Carbone® consists of several key stages:

🎯Assigna contact person and define objectives: Appoint someone to steer the project, and set clear objectives so you know where you're going and why.

⚙️Définir perimeters: Determine the perimeters to be taken into account, whether organizational or operational. This includes direct GHG emissions (scope 1), indirect energy-related emissions (scope 2) and all other indirect emissions (scope 3).

📊 Collect and exploit data: Collect the necessary data using the tonne of CO2 equivalent as a common unit of measurement.

➗ Calculating GHG emissions: use the data collected to calculate GHG emissions for each emission item, applying specific emission factors.

💡Analysis ofresults and identification of action levers: Analyze results to identify the most significant emission items and define actions to reduce GHG emissions.

📉 Implementing a low-carbon strategy: Based on the action levers identified, develop a strategy for reducing GHG emissions in the short, medium and long term.

The benefits of calculating your company's carbon footprint

Calculating your company's carbon footprint has many advantages, from an environmental, social and economic point of view. Here are the main benefits of carrying out a Bilan Carbone® :

🌟Ethics

Carrying out a Bilan Carbone® is often part of a broader approach to sustainable development or corporate social responsibility (CSR). By identifying and quantifying a company's greenhouse gas emissions, it becomes possible to implement concrete actions to reduce its impact on the environment. This demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and resource conservation.

💼 Competitive and economic advantages

Depending on your sector, a carbon footprint can help you stand out from the competition and improve your economic and energy performance. In France, it has beenmandatory for certain companies tocarry out a Bilan Carbone® since the Grenelle II law, and these obligations will be extended to all companies in the future.

In addition, many initiatives to reduce GHG emissions can result in lower energy costs and improved product or service quality. This can take the form of responsible innovation, lower energy consumption, optimized procurement costs or a change in transport policy.

🥇 Enhanced brand image

An eco-responsible company reassures its consumers and customers, more and more of whom prefer a product or service from a brand committed to the ecological transition. By carrying out a Bilan Carbone® and communicating the results and actions taken to reduce the GHG emissions of your activities, a company can improve its brand image and strengthen its relationship with its stakeholders.

🎓 Improving brand appeal for young graduates

Younger generations are particularly sensitive to corporate values in their job search. By committing to reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment, a company can attract and retain talent by offering them a responsible and sustainable working environment.

🌐 Adopt a broader perspective

Finally, carrying out a Bilan Carbone® provides a broader view of your company, and opens up new perspectives for development. It's an opportunity to compare ourselves with our competitors, to review the fundamentals of our business and to reflect on our raison d'être and our commitment to society, the environment and society.

🕵️‍♂️ Anticipating regulations

In the face of climate change, carbon footprint regulations are becoming increasingly stringent. At present, companies with more than 500 employees (or 250+ in the French overseas departments), local authorities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, public establishments with more than 250 employees, and companies benefiting from the Plan France Relance must carry out a full carbon footprint (scope 1, 2 and 3).

In addition, carbon taxes continue to rise significantly. Since 2014, we've seen a steady rise in the carbon tax, from 7 euros per tonne of CO2 to 46.6 euros since 2018. This trend is set to continue in the coming years.

In short, calculating your company's carbon footprint is an important part of your commitment to sustainable development and meeting the challenges of climate change. Preparing a carbon footprint means preparing for tomorrow's challenges and avoiding being caught unprepared in the years to come.

📚Expertise and experience

With 12 years' experience and thousands of users, GCI has the recognized expertise to provide you with a high-quality service. This long experience translates into an in-depth understanding of the challenges involved in carrying out GHG assessments, guaranteeing a tailored and efficient service.

🧮Advanced online tool

GCI offers a 100% online tool, making it easy to access and use. This tool enables fast, simplified management of your issue data, directly from your browser, without the need for additional software.

⚙️ Calculation accuracy

GCI 's emissions calculator is one of the most accurate on the market. It enables you to produce GHG balances in compliance with the most stringent standards (ISO 14067). This precision is essential to obtain reliable and representative results of your carbon footprint.

👥Tailor-made support

GCI offers you the flexibility to carry out your GHG assessment on your own, or with the support of a carbon expert. This personalized approach ensures that you receive the level of support you need, based on your skills and the complexity of your project.

🗂️ Annotated annual report

GCI provides a detailed, annotated annual report. This report enables you to explain and promote your low-carbon trajectory to all your stakeholders. This transparency is crucial to strengthening your organization's credibility and commitment to reducing GHG emissions.

🤝Conformity and collaboration

The GCI platform ensures accurate, compliant calculation of your emissions factors and those of your suppliers. It includes automatic assignment of each emission item calculation to Scopes 1, 2 or 3, in accordance with international standards. What's more, it enables you to invite your suppliers to calculate the emission factors of their goods and services free of charge, ensuring full compliance with ISO 14067.

GCI offers access to a super-rich base of emission factors, including numerous references such as Base Carbone®, Impacts, EcoInvent, Inies, Beis-Defra, as well as your suppliers' specific factors. This diversity ensures that you can choose the references best suited to your sector and your specific needs.

When you choose GCI, you're opting for a comprehensive, reliable solution capable of meeting all your carbon footprint requirements, while facilitating collaboration and transparency with your partners.

To find out more : 

• How do you calculate a product's carbon footprint?