27 Sep Improved calculation of our carbon footprint

 

Index of contents:

• • The importance of measuring and reducing the carbon footprint 
  • How is the carbon footprint calculated?
  • Different scopes of the carbon footprint
  • Rieusset’s commitment: Measuring for improvement
  • Rieusset’s actions to reduce our carbon footprint in 2024
  • The importance of transparency and commitment to sustainability

 

The importance of measuring and reducing the carbon footprint

In a world where sustainability has become a global priority, the carbon footprint emerges as a key indicator for measuring the environmental impact of human activities. The carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with an organization, activity or life cycle of a product or service, expressed in tons of CO2 equivalent. This concept is crucial because it allows us to quantify the impact that our activities have on the environment and, from there, to develop strategies to minimize it.

How is the carbon footprint calculated?

Calculating the carbon footprint is not a simple process, but it is essential for making informed decisions about our environmental impact. This process involves a series of detailed steps:

 

1. Defining the scope and establishing organizational and operational limits. The first step is establishing the operational limits, that is, defining the scope of our carbon footprint. In the calculation of the carbon footprint there are 3 scopes, but according to the GHG Protocol (standard for the calculation of the carbon footprint of an organization) to be able to communicate the carbon footprint it is only mandatory to calculate scope 1 and 2. It is for this reason and because of its complex calculation that at Rieusset we have been calculating the carbon footprint since 2019 in scope 1 and 2.

 

2. Calculating the company’s activity data. Once the boundaries are defined, accurate data is collected on the company’s activities that generate GHG emissions. This data includes electricity consumption, natural gas, solvent emissions, gasoline use, among others.

 

3. Finding the specific emission factors. The carbon footprint is the sum of CO2 emissions from the various activities of the organization, such as emissions generated from gas or electricity consumption. In order to calculate this sum, it is necessary to convert the data to the same unit of measurement using emission factors. These emission factors are issued by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and are standard. For example, 1kWh of gas is 0.182 kg of CO2 equivalent. Once all the activity data is translated into the same unit, it is possible to obtain a result.

4. Obtaining results and interpreting. Finally, the results are interpreted to understand the total impact of the company’s operations. This analysis is crucial for identifying areas for improvement and developing effective emission reduction strategies.

Different scopes of the carbon footprint

The carbon footprint is classified into three scopes, each of which covers different types of emissions:

Scope 1: This refers to direct emissions coming from the company. This includes the following: gases from stationary sources (fossil fuel combustion) such as natural gas (boilers), emissions related to the production process such as VOCs (baths, solvent recovery), fugitive emissions such as fire extinguishing equipment, climate control equipment or cooling equipment and gases from mobile sources (fossil fuel combustion) such as the company’s leased cars.

Scope 2: This scope covers indirect emissions associated with energy purchased and consumed by the company, such as electricity. Although the company does not produce these emissions directly, they are a consequence of its energy consumption and should therefore be accounted for.

Scope 3: This is the broadest and most complex scope, as it includes all other indirect emissions along the value chain: raw material production, production waste management, business travel, employee commuting, water consumption, and all transportation by suppliers, customers and waste managers.

Scope 3 is particularly difficult to calculate due to the large amount of data and the difficulty in obtaining it. However, this year Rieusset has decided to include this scope in its annual calculation, demonstrating its strong commitment to transparency and sustainability. This approach reflects a high level of corporate responsibility, moving away from greenwashing and adopting a more rigorous and comprehensive approach.

 

Rieusset’s commitment: Measuring for improvement

For years, Rieusset has calculated its carbon footprint covering scopes 1 and 2, and partially including scope 3 in terms of waste management and water consumption. However, in 2024, we have decided to go a step further by incorporating more scope 3 parameters in our analysis. This includes the transportation of suppliers, waste and finished products, as well as employee commuting and business travel.

By combining the data from the three scopes, we obtain a more complete picture of CO2 emissions, allowing us to identify further opportunities for reduction and optimization.

It is critical to note that adding more parameters in the scope 3 calculation does not imply an actual increase in pollution, but rather reflects a greater level of detail in the measurement. This more comprehensive approach allows us to be more precise in our reduction strategies and, ultimately, to contribute more effectively to the fight against climate change.

 

Rieusset’s actions to reduce our carbon footprint in 2024

Rieusset’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is not limited simply to measuring. We have also implemented a series of concrete actions to reduce our GHG emissions over the course of 2024:

1. Machinery timers: We have conducted a study to find out if it is worth the effort to stop a machine and turn it back on at the beginning of the week (as there are some machines that consume more energy if they are turned off and on again than if they are kept on continuously). The following machines have been adapted to have a built-in timer and therefore shut down on weekends throughout the year:

 

• Automatic cylinder engraving line: At Rieusset we have an engraving line that is capable of engraving cylinders for printing automatically. Significant electricity savings were noted and there is now a procedure in place to stop some of the existing processes on the line once the pending job has been completed.
• Vending machines: In the Rieusset dining room there are 4 beverage and coffee machines that do not need to be refrigerated during the weekend, since there is no staff working.
• Water heaters: As in the previous point, there is no staff working during the weekend, therefore, it is not necessary to have the water heaters on to heat water that nobody is going to use.

 

2. Switching to LED lighting: Over the past year, we have completely transitioned to LED lighting throughout our facilities. This change has not only improved energy efficiency but has also reduced electricity consumption for lighting by 70%. LED lighting is not only more efficient, but also has a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thus reducing waste.

 

3. Overhaul and repair of compressed air installations: Air leaks in a production plant are common and can represent a significant loss of energy. At Rieusset, we have identified and repaired these leaks, leading to a significant reduction in costs and energy consumption. In addition, we have implemented a plan to conduct annual audits that allow us to keep a close watch on these losses and act quickly to correct them.

 

Rieusset’s carbon footprint (contribution of each one of our activities)

The importance of transparency and commitment to sustainability

At Rieusset, we firmly believe that sustainability is not just a matter of complying with regulations, but of going above and beyond in our environmental responsibility. Including scope 3 in our carbon footprint calculation demonstrates our commitment to being transparent with our customers, our team and all our stakeholders. By doing so, we ensure that our actions are aligned with our values and that we are truly contributing to a more sustainable future.

We will continue to evaluate and adjust our strategies to ensure that we are always at the forefront of environmental best practices and will continue to work to reduce our carbon footprint.