# The Importance of Carbon Footprint: Towards a Sustainable Future

Today, every business activity has a significant impact on our biosphere. This impact primarily emerges through greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. A crucial measure of these emissions is known as the carbon footprint. It represents the sum of equivalent CO2 emissions associated with products, services, and organizations as a result of human activities. Understanding this footprint is fundamental to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing harmful emissions.

## The Role of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol

In 1998, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) was introduced, providing a global framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. This protocol divides emissions into three categories, defined as “scopes”:

1. **Scope 1**: Direct emissions, which are those generated by sources owned or controlled directly by the company.

2. **Scope 2**: Indirect emissions derived from purchased energy, generated in external facilities and used by the company.

3. **Scope 3**: Refers to all other indirect emissions along the company’s value chain, further divided into upstream and downstream emissions.

This categorization is essential for providing a clear view of the environmental impact associated with business operations.

## Why Companies Should Track Their Carbon Footprint

Companies, regardless of their sector, generate different carbon footprints and sometimes need to adopt various strategies to mitigate them. There are several reasons that drive organizations to monitor their carbon footprint:

– **First Step Towards Sustainability**: Measuring the carbon footprint is essential to understand where to start for environmental improvement.

– **Supply Chain Requirements**: Many large companies require suppliers to provide carbon footprint reports to ensure their supply chains are sustainable.

– **Demand from Investors**: Increasingly, investors analyze ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors when deciding where to allocate their funds. A serious commitment to sustainability can significantly influence investor choices.

– **Access to Green Financing**: Financial institutions offer incentives for projects that demonstrate a clear sustainability strategy and emission reduction plans.

## The Path to Sustainability: A Circular Process

Addressing the issue of carbon footprint is not a simple task, but it is essential for any company looking to improve its sustainable practices. The process of calculating and reducing the carbon footprint is lengthy and requires a cyclic approach.

The typical pathway includes the following fundamental steps:

1. **Measuring Environmental Performance**: First and foremost, companies must identify which categories of emissions have the greatest impact on their overall performance. This assessment is crucial for guiding future strategies.

2. **Energy Transition**: From staff training to action planning, every company must prepare to transition to more sustainable energy sources.

3. **Executing the Plan**: Once a solid plan is developed, it is crucial to take action. Proactive measures that lead to actual emissions reduction are preferable to relying solely on passive measures, such as purchasing carbon credits.

4. **Reporting**: The final phase involves preparing reports that highlight results and progress. This is where the sustainability report comes into play, a valuable tool for communicating the actions taken and the results achieved.

## The Importance of the Sustainability Report