Untitled - avniR

Maturity of the requested
report
Boundaries
Maturity
Suitable for
companies
Congrès International sur l’Analyse du Cycle de Vie Lille, Novembre 2011
Multi-criteria analysis of carbon footprint methods and initiatives:
a first step toward life cycle management
Naeem ADIBI 1 ,* and Stéphane MOREL 2, 3
1 Platform [avniR] cd2e, Base of 11/19, 62750 Loos en Gohelle France
2 Renault, Environmental Planning Strategy, Guyancourt, France
3
PhD Student, CGS (Centre de Gestion Scientifique), MINES ParisTech
* n.adibi@cd2e.com
Keywords: life cycle, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, prioritize
Introduction:
For companies with an international dimension, it is a necessity to manage environmental impacts
of its activities directly and through the life cycle of its products. This vision gives them a control of
regulatory and financial risk related to energy and material prices and finally an opportunity for
differentiation by representing eco-designed products. Life Cycle Analysis is the most recognized
methodology for measuring the impact of a product. By the way, to engage a company and its employees
in order to cover all of its activities, carbon footprint quantification seems essential.
Indeed, an exhaustive carbon footprint inventory allows representing both energy dependence and
climate change impacts (Greenhouse Gases (GHG)) throughout the life cycle. The use of the carbon
footprint in this context is a tool to define, categorize and prioritize reduction pathways.
First of all this study aims to identify methods and initiatives. Then an evaluation grid is set up
according to the relevance to business, completeness of all phases of life cycle and an overall assessment
of quality. Finally, results give us the possibility to prioritize the different approaches.
Method: Multi-criteria analysis:
In this study, more than 60 methods of carbon footprints were enumerated in the world. According
to their international reach, adoption and acceptance 15 are retained and are subjected to a multi-criteria
analysis, including GHG Protocol, CDP, ISO 14064, Bilan Carbone, etc.
The goal is to distinguish a rational approach that will best fit businesses and activities. Detailing
strengths of each method, we will go further looking combination of methods:"hybrid method" idea.
The three main criteria are: 1-Relevance to business; 2-Exhustivity of boundaries; 3-Quality of the
requested report.The three main criteria are divided into sub-criteria with a rating system, "a, b, c, d,"
according to level of performance and validity of explicit boundaries (scope 1, 2 or 3) as detailed in the
next table.
Table 1 Multi-criteria scoring grid
Criterion
Performance
Cover private sector, public sector or
both?
Both Public or Private Other n/a
The sector-specific guides Yes no
Many organizations covered 10000< 2000-10000 1000-2000 1000>
GHGs covered Kyoto >Kyoto 'basket of six'