Carbon Footprint. It’s all a bit of a mess really. The overall concept of what a carbon footprint is–and how to calculate it–is very undefined. The fact of the matter is that everyone seems to measure carbon footprints in different ways, and with different calculators: they take into consideration different points from where to begin and where to stop. There is no uniform method yet. So, in realising this, until everyone is using the same method, I have little faith in stern figures and final results in print for every product and company to compare with each other. Although I do have a lot of faith that carbon footprinting within a company like Pli is invaluable in setting a starting point and making it clear where to make improvements.
So what is a ‘carbon footprint’ anyway? Well, it is a measure of just one environmental impact, the amount of climate-changing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This means it is not a measure of any other ecological impacts, not that the others aren’t important, far from it: a good designer should take into consideration many impacts of their work to the surroundings. The reason that carbon is the first port of call is: it is a massive concern within society at the moment; the thought of global climate change and the effects of this are devastating. Yet a measure of total environmental impact, taking into consideration all contributions, would involve a very complex process. Let’s deal with one problem at a time shall we?
Sarah Semple hard at work