Helping develop an affordable, practical way to measure embedded carbon

Embedded carbon refers to the amount of carbon that is emitted as a result of the production of a given product or service, including the emissions of all component parts. Calculation of embedded carbon is valuable in understanding the life cycle impact of products and services, and in highlighting carbon hotspots which can then be addressed.

In 2006 the Carbon Trust developed a draft methodology to measure embedded carbon. After consultation, Defra and the Carbon Trust co-sponsored the British Standards Institute (BSI) to develop a Publicly Available Specification (PAS).
 

IGD brings industry together to measure carbon footprints

There is a clear public benefit to finding a single way to measure embedded carbon. At the request of our Policy Issues Council, in early 2007 IGD undertook work with BSI, Defra and the Carbon Trust to develop a PAS which meets the food and grocery industry’s twin tests of being practical to use, and affordable across a wide range of food and grocery categories. The PAS was published in October 2008.

Carbon management and climate change in the context food and grocery chain are managed through the IGD Industry Sustainability Group (ISG).
 
 Find out more, see the members of the ISG and and access the PAS 2050 here