A corporate carbon footprint, also known as the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF), refers to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) produced by a company’s operations both directly and indirectly, such as the use of energy, transportation, and manufacturing processes. It is defined by standards such as the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064.

Measuring a company’s carbon footprint is an important step in reducing its impact on the environment and in achieving sustainability goals. It is also a crucial first step towards achieving carbon neutrality as it provides insights into the areas where the highest emissions are generated. Without this understanding, it becomes challenging to set achievable climate goals and develop effective carbon reduction projects and strategies. Therefore, determining a baseline year for a company’s Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) is a necessary step in creating a Climate Action Strategy, establishing Science Based Targets, and creating a roadmap toward achieving net zero emissions.

The CCF takes into consideration all emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3) related to a company’s operations across its entire value chain. For instance, a manufacturing company will include emissions from raw material sourcing, transportation, use of its products, and disposal at the end of their lifecycle. The CCF is typically calculated for a specific period, like a calendar year, and regularly monitored through reporting periods, such as annually or quarterly.