Plan Be Eco’s carbon footprint report for 2023 [check our results]
Calculating a carbon footprint has many benefits for the company and the environment. In the former case, it helps identify areas where emissions can be further reduced which translates into potential financial savings. In addition, such activities raise awareness among employees and customers about the organization’s environmental impact, which can bring reputational benefits.
Plan Be Eco is a pioneering startup that calculates an organization’s carbon footprint with a tool created by the GHG Protocol in all 3 scopes across the entire supply chain. It specializes in calculating the GHG emissions of those companies that have not had the opportunity to do so before. It also provides education to companies on sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance aspects), and teaches the importance of business impact on the environment, especially climate change.
The strategy of sustainable emissions management and the pursuit of climate neutrality has been embedded in Plan Be Eco’s operations since its inception, so greenhouse gas emissions are only generated in certain categories. Below is a detailed report summarizing the actual emissions generated in 2023.
Table of content
What is an organization's carbon footprint?
Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) emitted as a result of a company’s direct and indirect activities, most often through the combustion of fossil fuels. Usually expressed in kilograms or megagrams/ton) (kg or Mg/t), the unit is carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). It is calculated according to the GHG Protocol methodology. The carbon footprint refers to a product, service, organization or human being.
Read more here on calculating an organization’s carbon footprint
![Zmiana klimatu Raport śladu węglowego Plan Be Eco za rok 2023 [poznaj wynik]](https://planbe.eco/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/plan_be_eco_Raport-sladu-weglowego-Plan-Be-Eco-za-rok-2023-Poznaj-wynik_pl_zmiana_klimatu.png)
Through the use of international standards such as ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) or the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, companies report their emissions in a common language, facilitating comparability and understanding for external stakeholders.
These activities are also in line with the recently effective CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), promoting transparency and compliance in the area of social responsibility. According to the CSRD, each business is required to report its carbon footprint emissions as part of its non-financial (ESG) data report.
CSRD - what you need to know
Carbon footprint reporting isn’t only a step towards protecting the environment but also fulfilling human rights requirements and building a positive relationship with stakeholders through fair and sustainable business practices. Particular attention must be paid to emissions by companies seeking investment, and loans; those wishing to cooperate with Western EU countries.
For more on what every entrepreneur should know about CSRD, click here.
Scope 1
Scope 1 is direct emissions from mobile and stationary sources and fugitive emissions. These include, for example, fuels burned in company-owned cars or fugitive emissions from, for example, the use of refrigerants in air conditioners. There are no such emission-generating sources in the Plan Be Eco organization, so the carbon footprint in this area is zero.
Scope 2
Scope 2 is emissions generated indirectly through the purchased electricity and heat. In Plan Be Eco’s carbon footprint, 0.4 Mg CO2e are emissions related to remote operation (we calculate it as Scope 2).
Scope 3
Scope 3 is emissions from sources owned or controlled by others throughout the value chain. In the case of Plan Be Eco, the most GHG emissions were generated by business travel (1.56 Mg CO2e) and emissions from the other category related to digital activities – website impressions and marketing advertising campaigns (0.12 Mg CO2e).
Learn more about Scope 3 [read here].
How big is Plan Be Eco's carbon footprint for 2023?
Plan Be Eco’s total carbon footprint for the period 1.01.2023 – 31.12.2023 is 2.08 Mg CO2e.
This is roughly equivalent to 12480km driven in a diesel car. To capture this value of CO2 (carbon dioxide), 104 trees have to filter the air for a year. What is the volume of the carbon footprint of this value? It’s about as much as a hot air balloon would have over 1000m3.
“Calculating an organization’s carbon footprint is the first and most important step we can take toward action to reduce climate change. It sounds highfalutin, but that’s exactly what it is. Thanks to incoming regulations, the process is becoming accessible and commonplace, as well as feasible in organizations of all industries and sizes,” – says Joanna Maraszek, Head of Product at Plan Be Eco – “I am extremely pleased that we are starting to measure and compare our carbon footprint. Not only to our competitors but also – most importantly – to ourselves. Year after year, month after month, we can observe whether we are moving in the right direction – towards sustainability. And let’s remember that reducing our company’s emissions is often associated with significant financial savings and improved efficiency in our business operations. Reporting greenhouse gas emissions may sound scary, but at Plan Be Eco, we prove that it’s simpler than you expect.” – she adds.
Methodology for calculating carbon footprint
The carbon footprint size report was prepared based on ISO14064-1:2019 Part 1 and the GHG Protocol, which is the international standard for calculating carbon footprint, and based on published indicators.
Electricity for remote work was calculated using the location-based method, as we work from various locations across the country.
Reduction measures taken for sustainable development
By design, the Plan Be Eco is a company that generates as little greenhouse gas emissions as possible. Work is done 100% remotely, and we have no headquarters or company-owned fleet, so we don’t generate a Scope 1 carbon footprint. No headquarters also means no consumption of purchased electricity (other than that necessary for remote work, which we calculated), air conditioning, waste, or even shopping.
Business travel, the Scope 3 category in which Plan Be Eco achieved the highest emissions, was already reduced at the planning stage. Some took the train (including those abroad, as a substitute for short and more emission-intensive airplane flights), while employees’ travel to local team meetings was by public transportation (streetcars, subways).
![Przedsiębiorstwa są zobowiązane raportować emisje CO2. Raport śladu węglowego Plan Be Eco za rok 2023 [poznaj wynik]](https://planbe.eco/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/plan_be_eco_Raport-sladu-weglowego-Plan-Be-Eco-za-rok-2023-Poznaj-wynik_pl_obnizenie_emisji_co2.png)
How else does Plan Be Eco reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?
- We use green servers
- We eat only vegan meals at company meetings
- We organize a charity auction of 2nd-hand items
- We educate – through which we have an impact on limiting the greenhouse gas emissions of others
- We do not produce company gadgets
- We support projects that neutralize the effects of climate change
Guide: How companies can reduce their CO2 emissions? [read here].
Greenhouse gas emission reduction guidelines
What can contribute to lower emissions in the years to come? First and foremost is the optimization of business travel, which was the main source of emissions here. It is recommended to use public transportation services and car sharing. In addition, it is recommended to avoid air travel, except for exceptions when it is necessary, and to check the possibility of choosing public transportation instead of a personal car – especially for one-person travel.
In addition, the company can recommend a specific energy seller to its employees and encourage them to switch to a type of electricity from renewable sources – regardless of where the employees live, it is generally available in the country.
![Podróże służbowe generują emisje przedsiębiorstwa Raport śladu węglowego Plan Be Eco za rok 2023 [poznaj wynik]](https://planbe.eco/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/plan_be_eco_Raport-sladu-weglowego-Plan-Be-Eco-za-rok-2023-Poznaj-wynik_pl_podroze_sluzbowe.png)
Summary
Plan Be Eco’s carbon footprint report meets international standards and highlights the company’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. This example shows that carbon footprint management is not only an ecological necessity but also an effective business strategy that generates benefits.
Plan Be Eco actively participates in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its daily work, which includes a carbon footprint counting service for other companies. This initiative not only provides information and support, enabling companies to make more informed decisions about their environmental impact but also indirectly assists in reducing companies’ negative impact on the climate. As a reminder, mandatory ESG reporting already exists.
Plan Be Eco not only helps companies monitor and understand their carbon footprint but also supports them in reducing emissions, which contributes to the overall goal of reducing the environmental impact of business and fighting climate change.
Order the free version of the tool and get access to it for 30 calendar days now
