Questions and Answers: Understanding ISO 14067-2018 Standard and the Process of Calculating the Carbon Footprint of Products

Question 1: Please explain the difference between greenhouse gases in ISO 14064 and the carbon footprint in ISO 14067?

Answer: Greenhouse gases in ISO 14064 and the carbon footprint in ISO 14067 refer to the same gases, but the difference lies in the reporting scope.

ISO 14064-1:2018 requires reporting for:

• Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions and removals from sources owned or controlled by the organization (e.g., emissions from production).
• Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from energy use, including purchased electricity and other energy sources (e.g., steam, heating).

ISO 14067:2018 includes:

• Scope 1, Scope 2, and also Scope 3: Indirect emissions occurring outside the organization (e.g., supply chain, product use).

Question 2: Emission factors for electricity are published on December 31 for the previous year. How is the emission factor selected for calculations?

Answer: Carbon footprint calculations for 2023 should use the most recent available data, i.e., the 2022 emission factor. Only one emission factor should be used per reporting cycle.

Question 3: How can we determine the GHG emission factor for Vietnam Electricity?

Answer: Refer to official documents published by the Vietnam Department of Climate Change, which releases emission factors periodically (every 1–2 years).

Question 4: How does a company producing adhesive tape calculate CO₂ emissions from electricity use?

Answer: Collect electricity consumption data from meters or utility bills. Multiply the total electricity used by the official emission factor from the Department of Climate Change to calculate CO₂ equivalent emissions.

Question 5: Where can emission factors be found?

Answer: Refer to Decision No. 26/26-QD-BTNMT for emission factors across various sectors. If unavailable, consult international sources like: IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) EU EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Question 6: Does Bureau Veritas (BV) have a format for calculating GHG emissions?

Answer: Yes, BV offers: Training to help businesses calculate emissions and select appropriate emission factors. Templates for GHG emission calculations.

Question 7: Can BV share emission factors for typical sources?

Answer: Yes, BV provides training on calculation methods and selecting emission factors for specific sectors like: Agriculture Cement production Chemicals Energy use.

Question 8: Is ISO 14067 mandatory for any industry?

Answer: No, it is not mandatory. Organizations may choose to apply ISO 14067 or alternatives like PAS 2050, depending on their goals.

Question 9: How to allocate emissions if the product is measured in kg and includes waste?

Answer: The calculation method is the same as for products measured in bottles or liters.

Question 10: Can you explain more about measurement uncertainty with an example?

Answer: Measurement uncertainty is a key concept in ISO 14064-1:2018. It refers to the variability in actual data, such as the emission factor used in GHG calculations.