Carbon footprint is a measure that represents the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual, organization, or product. It is usually expressed in terms of CO2 units. The carbon footprint includes both direct and indirect emissions.
- Direct emissions are the greenhouse gases released directly as a result of activities such as energy use or transportation. For example, exhaust gases emitted while driving a vehicle can be cited as an example of direct emissions.
- Indirect emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions that occur as a result of processes such as product manufacturing, transportation, or usage. For instance, the electricity used in the production of a product can contribute to indirect emissions due to the fossil fuels used in electricity generation.
The carbon footprint is a combination of factors such as energy consumption, transportation habits, waste management, and production processes. Measuring and tracking the carbon footprint is important for
companies as it serves as a starting point for setting emission reduction goals and conducting reduction efforts.
The major factors contributing to the carbon footprint are as follows:
- Energy consumption: High energy consumption resulting from activities like transportation, industrial processes, and the use of electricity and fossil fuels contributes to the carbon footprint. The use of energy sources such as coal and oil, with their high CO2 emissions and non-renewable nature, has negative implications for sustainability.
- Industrialization: Since the mid-20th century, carbon dioxide emissions have continued to increase due to uncontrolled industrialization. However, steps have been taken in the past 20 years to address this issue (e.g., Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement).
- Waste: Regardless of the process or activity, the amount of waste generated on Earth is significantly high.
- Human activities: The habits acquired by individuals in their daily lives to perform tasks efficiently and quickly also have a significant impact on the carbon footprint.
To reduce the carbon footprint, the following measures can be taken:
- Implementing energy efficiency measures.
- Utilizing renewable energy sources.
- Adopting sustainable alternatives in transportation.
- Practicing recycling and re-evaluating consumption habits.
In conclusion, the carbon footprint is a measure that helps individuals and organizations understand their environmental impact and contribute to sustainability efforts. Working towards reducing the carbon footprint is a path that should be taken for a more sustainable future for our planet.
As GNS Alüminyum, we continue to take concrete steps to reduce our Carbon Footprint. We have started measuring our Carbon and GHG emissions in 2022 and obtained our ISO 14064-1 Certification by reporting our emissions. With this certification, we are committed to fulfilling our promise to a sustainable future and continue our journey tirelessly.
