Column 2024.11.05

What is Carbon Footprint (CFP)? A simple explanation of how to calculate it

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Carbon footprint (CFP) is an initiative to visualize the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted throughout the entire life cycle of a product or Service by converting them into CO2.

As companies face increasing demand for decarbonized management and disclosure of emission amount across their supply chains, carbon footprints (CFPs) are gaining attention as an important indicator for them.

This article provides a clear explanation of the basic concept of carbon footprint (CFP) , calculation methods, and examples of corporate initiatives.

The Contents is designed to help even those involved in CFP for the first time visualize the first steps in practical work.

What is Carbon Footprint (CFP)?

Carbon Footprint of Products (CFP) is a system that visualizes the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by products and Service at each stage, from production and transportation to use and disposal, by converting them into carbon dioxide (CO2) .

This covers all processes from procurement of raw materials to Manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal.emission amount per unit of productis quantified as*1

CFP is an indicator for quantitatively grasping the greenhouse gas emission amount of each product, and is increasingly being used in companies' decarbonization management and product strategies, as well as in consumer choice behavior.

*1:In the case of intermediate products, this may include everything from sourcing the raw materials to shipping the product.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)Why is it attracting attention and what are its benefits to companies?

As the transition to a decarbonized society accelerates worldwide, the importance of carbon footprint (CFP), which clearly indicates emission amount on a product-by-product basis, is increasing.
For companies in the Manufacturing and distribution industries,Understanding how much greenhouse gas is emitted during each stage of a product's life is the first step in reducing emissions.It will be.

Additionally, carbon footprint (CFP) calculation and disclosure is increasingly being used as a means of responding to ESG requests from customers and business partners. Particularly in B2B transactions, some industries are beginning to require submission and calculation of carbon footprint (CFP) as a green procurement standard or bidding requirement. For example, in industries such as the electronics and automotive industries, where environmentally conscious design is important, an increasing number of companies are requesting CFP calculations at the component level.

On the other hand, the carbon footprint (CFP)DisappearIt also serves as a deciding factor for consumers when choosing environmentally friendly products.One ofDisplaying the CO2 emission amount of products will raise awareness of choosing products with a low environmental impact, leading to behavioral changes across the market.

In this way , carbon footprint (CFP) is positioned as a valuable information platform for both companies and consumers, and is expected to be used in an even wider range of fields in the future.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)Basic knowledge of calculation | Understanding the calculation mechanism based on LCA

CFP is an initiative based on international standards such as ISO 14067 to visualize GHG emission amount on a product-by-product basis.Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)Here we will introduce the basic structure of carbon footprint (CFP) calculations and domestic guidelines that can be used as a reference in practice.

What is LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)?

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is a method for quantitatively evaluating the environmental impact of a product or Service throughout its entire life cycle.
It covers everything from the collection of raw materials to Manufacturing , transportation, use, disposal, and recycling, and calculates CO2 emission amount by adding up the " activity amount at each process x Emission factor ."

Carbon Footprint (CFP)Based on this LCA framework, we calculate greenhouse gas emission amount. Specifically, it consists of the following:

Weight of raw materials and transportation distance, etc.activity dataCollect
Corresponding to eachEmission factorCombine
The Total emissions per unit of product isCO2 equivalentDerived from

These calculations typically use a combination of in-house measured data (primary data) and databases provided by governments, industries, etc. (secondary data).

In practice, the "METI Guidelines and Practical Guide" is a useful reference

Carbon Footprint (CFP)It is important that the calculation of this amount is not something that companies can do in any way they like, but rather that it be done in accordance with certain procedures and concepts.
In this case, the "Carbon Footprint Guidelines" and "Carbon Footprint Guidelines (Supplementary Volume) CFP Practical Guide" published by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment (May 2023) are useful references for practical use.

These are the basic steps and concepts for calculating carbon footprint (CFP) ,

How to determine the subject and scope of calculation
Important points and precautions when collecting data
Flexible design approach according to product structure

The following is explained:

In particular, the "Practical Guide" introduces more practical flows and examples of entries to make it easier for companies that are working on carbon footprint (CFP) for the first time to visualize it, and serves as a guide for introduction.

[Reference Links]
Ministry of Economy, Industry and Ministry of the Environment |Carbon Footprint Guidelines (March 2023)
Ministry of Economy, Industry and Ministry of the Environment |Carbon Footprint Guidelines (Special Edition) CFP Practical Guide (March 2025)

In the next chapter, we will introduce the basic steps for calculating carbon footprint (CFP) that you should keep in mind in practice, based on the concepts of these guidelines.

For companies working to reduce the environmental impact of their products and Service
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Carbon Footprint (CFP)Easy-to-understand explanation of the calculation process

Carbon Footprint (CFP)The calculation process involves several important preparatory steps before actually adding up the "activity amount at each process x Emission factor."
A certain level of specialized knowledge is required in the preliminary stages, such as determining the purpose of the calculation, organizing the target products, Settings the scope of the life cycle to be included in the calculation, and preparing the necessary data, and many companies get stuck in the preparation stage.

Even after the calculation is complete, it is important to keep in mind issues such as how to verify and report the results, and how to design an internal utilization policy.
In this chapter, we will introduce the important points to remember in order to accurately and practically calculate your carbon footprint (CFP).Five basic stepsWe will explain this step by step.

(1) Clarify the purpose and calculation policy

Why calculate carbon footprint (CFP) ? Which products and who will lead the project?
Clarifying these basic policies is the starting point for calculating your carbon footprint (CFP) .

For example, the required accuracy and scope of disclosure will vary depending on the purpose, such as "to respond to customer requests," "to utilize the information in product development," or "as part of the company's decarbonization measures."
If you proceed with the calculation with the goal unclear, there is a risk that you will have to retake data or go back and do something else along the way.Clarify "why and what you are doing"It is important that...

You should also organize the target product group (one product/entire series/component unit, etc.) and the internal promotion structure (environmental department, Manufacturing department, sustainability officer, etc.). The decision on which products to prioritize for calculation will have a significant impact on the next step, which is Settings the scope of calculation.

In particular, since data collection and review across multiple departments will be required, the success of the entire project will depend on early adjustments to the division of roles between the calculation department and other related departments.

(2) Define the scope of the target product and its life cycle

Carbon Footprint (CFP)When calculating this, it is necessary to clarify which products are being considered and how far into their life cycles the calculation should cover.
If this process is left unclear while proceeding, it is easy for there to be a lack of data in later processes and for there to be misunderstandings between the parties involved.

When selecting products, decisions must be made based on internal and external circumstances, such as "starting with main products," "prioritizing products that are likely to have high CO2 emission amount," or "targeting products that customers have requested."
The complexity of your product mix and supply chain also impacts the difficulty of collecting data.

Additionally, when Settings the lifecycle scope, you have the following options:

Cradle to GateFrom the collection of raw materials to the shipment of products
Cradle to Grave：All processes from raw material collection to product use, disposal and recycling

Generally, the scope varies depending on the type of product and the purpose of the calculation. For example, parts manufacturers often only cover the "Gate" at the time of delivery, while those dealing with final products such as consumer goods generally require the "Grave" that includes use and disposal.

It is important to consider the scope to be adopted based on business practices, industry-specific customs such as raw material procurement methods and construction periods, customer requests, and consistency with your company's business strategy.

(3) Designing the calculation logic for emission amount

Once the target products and calculation scope have been decided, it is time to design the logic for calculating emission amount.
Carbon Footprint (CFP)The calculation of is basically based on the simple formula of "activity amount x Emission factor", but in reality it is important to break it down to the raw materials and parts level, organize activity data, and select Emission factor.

activity data refers to physical data that leads to emissions, such as the weight of raw materials used, the amount of electricity consumed, the distance transported, and the amount of waste.

In contrast, an Emission factor is a number that indicates "how much CO₂ is emitted per unit of activity," and an appropriate value must be selected for the activity in question.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)The data used for calculations, both activity data and Emission factor, are classified as primary and secondary data as follows:

The specific data for each is as follows:

Primary Data: Information obtained directly from our own actual measurements and raw material suppliers (suppliers, Trading company, etc.)
(Examples: Factory electricity consumption, transportation distance, raw material composition information, Emission factor obtained from suppliers, etc.)
Secondary Data: Statistics provided by government agencies and industry groups, and general Emission factor and usage patterns published in LCA databases (Standard prerequisites such as product usage period and operating frequency) etc.
(example:Emission intensity database,AIST-IDEA, ecoinvent, etc.)

Generally, primary data is more accurate and allows for calculations that are more in line with the actual situation, but in reality it can be difficult to collect primary data for all processes.

Therefore, depending on the purpose of the calculation and the required accuracy, primary and secondary data can be appropriately combined and used.If the impact is clearly small, cut it off according to the rules.This is a practical point to be noted.

In addition, by properly designing which processes to target and what data to use to accumulate emission amount based on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), it is possible to ensure the reproducibility of emission amount and the reliability of calculation results.
As such, it is extremely important that carbon footprint (CFP) calculations are not simply a matter of "multiplication," but are designed to take into account the accuracy, consistency, and clarity of data sources.

(4) Design the emission amount accumulation steps for each product

In this chapter, we will explain how to put together the basic structure of "activity amount x Emission factor" according to the characteristics of actual products and Service.

The calculation method requires ingenuity in designing depending on the complexity of the product configuration and the ease of collecting data.

The optimal design will vary depending on the structure, whether it is a single product, a product made up of multiple components, or a variation for different applications.

for example:

Simple single product → Directly accumulated from raw material input and Energy consumption in the Manufacturing process
Products that combine multiple parts → Calculate for each part and then combine them to total
Product group (multiple sizes and specifications) → Representative values for major models, or weighted values based on sales volume, etc.

As such, designing at what level to disaggregate and aggregate is extremely important.
When the configuration is complex or data collection is difficult, in addition to approximation approaches using "product groups" or "representative models," calculation methods that reduce labor costs, such as using secondary data or modeling, are also realistic options.

Additionally, when it comes to products that are contract Manufacturing or produced at multiple location, it is also important to draw the line as to how accurate the product is and how general it should be.
Rather than "striving for uniform accuracy," it is essential for sustainable carbon footprint (CFP) calculations to design calculation procedures with reasonable granularity in line with the objectives.

(5) Verification of calculation results and disclosure

Once the calculation is complete, a step must be taken to confirm whether the calculation is reasonable before using the results or disclosing them externally.
In particular, when it is assumed that the information will be disclosed to the public or at the request of customers or business partners,In addition to in-house checks, external experts also checkMore and more companies are considering this.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)There are two main approaches to assessing calculations:

Critical Review
Based on the requirements of ISO 14040/44 and ISO 14067, this test verifies compliance by checking whether calculations have been made using a methodology that is in line with the LCA framework, and is primarily aimed at CFP studies on a product or Service basis.
Third-party verification
The test verifies the "actual calculation Contents , validity of data, and consistency of process" in accordance with calculation manuals such as the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Industry's Carbon Footprint (CFP) guidelines, and is conducted by an external verification organization on a product-by-product basis.

The choice you make will depend on the situation, including the extent of your company's carbon footprint (CFP) and LCA knowledge, what your customers want you to do, and the extent to which you need to be accountable to the outside world.

For example, if a company has established an ISO-compliant LCA calculation system and has developed personnel with specialized skills, it may follow industry guidelines, design its own procedures, and then have the actual calculation results verified by a third party, thereby externally guaranteeing their accuracy.

On the other hand, for companies that are working on carbon footprint (CFP) for the first time or that have concerns about the LCA process design, they may consider a "critical review" to check whether the methodology itself is in line with ISO standards.

In addition, if the calculation results are to be made public outside the company, the medium and context in which they are disclosed is also important.
for example:

Displaying CFP value on product packaging (for consumers)
Utilized for client companies' Scope 3 reporting (for business partners)
Included in sustainability reports and TCFD disclosures (for investors)

When disclosing, it is essential to include information on the assumptions, calculation scope, and coefficients used in addition to the carbon footprint (CFP) value itself in order to maintain comparability.

In the next chapter, we will introduce specific examples of companies that have conducted CFP calculations and verification in accordance with the METI guidelines.

Examples of carbon footprint (CFP) calculations by companies

Let's take a look at some examples of companies that have actually calculated and published their carbon footprints (CFP) . Here, we look at some examples of companies that worked with Zeroboard to calculate their carbon footprints (CFP).Iwatani CorporationWe will introduce our efforts.

Iwatani Corporation calculated the CO₂ emission amount for one of its main products, Iwatani Cassette Gas (Orange), covering the entire life cycle of each product, from raw material procurement to disposal.

This CFP covers not only the emission amount caused by the Energy used during Manufacturing , but also the emissions from purchased raw materials, product transportation, and disposal, and has the following features:

Calculation procedures that comply with ISO 14067 and guidelines from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and the Ministry of the Environment
The calculation results are verified by a third-party verification organization ( Sokotec Certification Japan Co., Company )Under review .
The calculation results are disclosed externally, helping to strengthen relationships of trust with stakeholders and raise environmental awareness within the company.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)This publication not only visualizes the environmental value of products, but also serves as a practical example that has the effect of changing employee awareness and decarbonizing the entire supply chain.

summary

Carbon Footprint (CFP)is an important method for "visualizing" greenhouse gas emission amount throughout the entire life cycle of a product or Service . It goes beyond simply calculating CO₂ emissions to clarify greenhouse gas emission amount in each process, such as Manufacturing and transportation, and makes it possible to quantitatively identify areas where reductions should be made.

For companies, utilizing carbon footprint (CFP) has the following benefits:

You can objectively understand the greenhouse gas emission amount of your products.
It becomes possible to respond to requests and disclosure obligations from business partners
Contributing to decarbonization strategies across the supply chain

On the other hand, accurate calculations require a lot of preparation and verification, so expertise and the use of appropriate tools are key.

Carbon Footprint (CFP)Calculation support Service information

Zeroboard helps visualize and reduce CO₂ emission amount for each product and Service by providing carbon footprint (CFP) calculation assistance and dedicated tools.

Zeroboard employs specialized consultants who are well versed in LCA and sustainability information disclosure, and can provide practical support from calculation design to third-party verification.

If you would like to visualize the CO₂ emission amount of your products, or if your customers or parent company are requesting that you disclose your carbon footprint (CFP) , please feel free to contact us.

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