Doing good: carbon handprints as assessing positive impacts of companies and the public sector
About this good practice
Assessing environmental impacts typically focuses on measuring negative effects that products, services, organisations, municipalities etc. cause to the environment. Standardised life cycle assessment (LCA) methods are established for evaluations. More companies are using these tools to pursue a business concept around reduced environmental impact of systems and products. Conveying false impression or provision of misleading information about environmental benefits, a process of “greenwashing”, is of concern. A recognised method of calculating and communicating the environmental benefits of companies and organisations actions was lacking.
The concept of footprint looks to reduce its effects close to zero, whereas the handprint sets no limits to the good that can be achieved. Need for communicating positive environmental impacts has been identified among researchers, as well as frontrunner companies and municipalities with climate friendly initiatives..
The handprint concept is defined in the context of existing LCA-based methodologies. The scope is a carbon handprint. It is based on actual impacts of the products, services or technologies. The practise facilitates internal education or process management within an organisation. Handprints may attract new customers for a product or inhabitants to a municipality, when incorporated into branding and marketing initiatives.
Resources needed
Personnel that understands the idea and methods
Evidence of success
Case studies from different economy sectors have been presented and analysed. Suitability for addressing environmental handprints at public sector level is being analysed. The carbon handprint can help cities and municipalities to identify their strengths and to maximize their positive impacts. The reliability of assessment of different environmental assessment studies has increased by provision of common guidelines.
Potential for learning or transfer
Environmental impacts are typically assessed by measuring and modelling the negative effects that products, services and organisations cause to the environment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) practises are widely used. At the same time, communication of positive effects is increasing, but without clear, common principles. The created guidelines for carbon handprint offer a possibility to compare product and organisational impacts for environment with a greater reliability and common communication facilitates further the trust of societies for environmentally friendly actions and products. The approach of carbon handprint has been built upon the existing LCA guidelines, but it complements those by setting up a fair comparison between a baseline situation and a modified situation.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
LUT University
