Understanding Carbon Accounting in the Print Industry

How organizations quantify their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and offset negative impact through PrintReleaf

The importance of carbon accounting lies in its role as an ESG imperative, helping businesses to manage climate-related risks, comply with regulations, and gain a competitive edge. However, it is essential to approach carbon accounting rigorously, using tools for transparency, and in line with best practices and standards.

To carry out carbon accounting, organizations must understand the scopes and boundaries of their operations and collect relevant data throughout a product's life cycle. Aggregating energy and fuel usage metrics throughout paper production determines the organization's overall greenhouse gas emissions for printing.

For example, a company would consider the impact of cutting a tree, transporting the tree from a forest to a manufacturing facility, and then turning that tree into paper/fiber-based products as part of measuring print's carbon footprint

In order to attain a reduction in carbon emissions, companies must decrease their reliance on liquid and gaseous fuels. This can be accomplished by investing in the use of clean energy carriers like electricity that do not generate any CO2 when utilized. 

➡️ View PrintReleaf's Carbon Offset Projects

Accurately measuring a company's emissions is complex and transforming the data into actionable strategies for emission reduction is crucial. Tools and software solutions like PrintReleaf can assist in improving the accuracy and management of carbon accounting.

Under the PrintReleaf Standard, all Carbon Offsets are currently offered via the Verra Registry, and are in accordance with rigorous industry standards.

By transitioning towards these cleaner energy sources, organizations can make substantial strides in reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to the overarching objective of sustainability.