Carbon footprint assessment means calculating greenhouse gas emissions.
Why is carbon footprint assessment important for companies?
European Union Regulations
- CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) – requires all large companies and many smaller ones to report their carbon footprint.
- CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) – imported products with a higher CO₂ footprint are subject to a carbon border tax.
- Green Deal & Fit for 55 – the goal is to reduce CO₂ emissions and everyone is expected to contribute and deliver measurable results.
In the Estonian Context
- Under the Energy Efficiency Directive, a mandatory carbon footprint assessment for new buildings and CO₂ emission limit values are being introduced.
- In public procurement and grant schemes, carbon footprint data is increasingly required or used as an evaluation criterion.