Why should I implement a carbon footprint assessment for my company? How long is it valid for? How much does a carbon footprint assessment cost for my business?
Regulatory requirements under Article 75 of the Grenelle II law make carbon footprint assessments mandatory for:
If your company isn't currently subject to these regulations, conducting a carbon footprint assessment helps you get ahead of the curve. CSR standards are multiplying rapidly and are increasingly targeting smaller organizations.
Staying ahead of regulations helps you avoid a sudden rush of costs later on. Conducting a carbon footprint assessment now also helps you identify your company's main sources of greenhouse gas emissions and makes it easier to implement effective reduction strategies.
A carbon footprint assessment identifies every source of greenhouse gas emissions within an organization. This overview of your company's CO2 emissions allows you to pinpoint exactly where you need to focus your efforts to reduce your carbon impact.
It’s a great way to kick off a CSR initiative. Once identified, areas for improvement can be prioritized based on feasibility and impact.
This action plan will allow your company to build a genuine sustainable development strategy, which can help you win new business, convince prospects, boost internal motivation, and provide many other compelling reasons to embrace CSR.
A carbon footprint assessment is valid for 4 years for companies and 3 years for public sector entities.
It must be accompanied by a "transition plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, outlining the objectives, resources, and actions planned for this purpose, as well as any actions implemented during the previous assessment period" (Article L229-25 of the Environmental Code).
Companies subject to these regulations are required to publish their carbon footprint assessment on the ADEME website.
There are several ways to conduct a carbon footprint assessment. You can do it in-house, use online tools, or hire an external consultant.
To conduct the assessment in-house, you will need to train a staff member in the ADEME carbon footprint methodology. The training costs €1,150 (excl. tax) per person and includes 16 hours of e-learning.
Once trained, your employee can carry out the organization's assessment using the ADEME carbon footprint Excel spreadsheet. This option is often practical because it is cost-effective, and an internal team member can easily access the vast amount of data required to complete the assessment.
The digital approach involves using online software to input your data and complete your carbon footprint assessment independently. The time it takes can be short if your company is quick to gather the data, or quite long if collecting information from your business and suppliers proves more complex.
The price of a carbon footprint assessment can vary based on your industry, number of employees, the scope of the study (Scopes 1 and 2, or Scopes 1, 2, and 3), and the amount of data to be processed.
Conducting a carbon footprint assessment with software support can cost anywhere from €700 for a small business up to €4,000 for a larger company.
Working with an expert consultant provides guidance throughout the process and makes completing your carbon footprint assessment much easier. This support is especially useful if you have strict deadlines. The timeline and cost depend on your deadlines, company size, and industry. An external consultant also brings professional expertise and helps you develop an action plan once the assessment is complete.
Altopi is here to help. With our online carbon footprint calculator, we make it easy to accurately assess your company's greenhouse gas emissions. Discover the solution
Check out our article to learn more about what a carbon footprint is, how it's calculated, and what Scopes 1, 2, and 3 mean.
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