Carbon handprint – An approach to assess the positive climate impacts of products demonstrated via renewable diesel case. (1st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grönman, Kaisa; Pajula, Tiina; Sillman, Jani; Leino, Maija; Vatanen, Saija; Kasurinen, Heli; Soininen, Asta; Soukka, Risto
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 206(2019)
• Page Start: 1059
• Page End: 1072
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01
• Subjects: Handprint -- Footprint -- Carbon handprint -- Carbon footprint -- Positive environmental impacts -- Life cycle assessment; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.233
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: The capacity to calculate and communicate the beneficial environmental impact of products and services is lacking in scientific guidelines. To fill this gap, this article presents a new approach for calculating the carbon handprint of products. The core of the suggested approach involves comparing the carbon footprint of an improved product with the carbon footprint of the baseline product, and subsequently calculating the reduction in greenhouse gas emission that can be achieved by utilizing the improved product. The proposed approach is founded on the standardized life cycle assessment methodology for footprints until the use stage, and it provides a framework to recognize the effects of the remaining life cycle stages in the actual operational environment. This calculation is meant to be used by manufacturers that wish to show potential customers the positive climate impacts offered by the manufacturer's product. The carbon handprint approach complements the existing methodologies by introducing new definitions and consistent guidelines for comparing the baseline product and the improved product. This article presents the developed calculation approach and demonstrates the approach with one case study about renewable diesel. Results of the diesel handprint calculation indicate that a driver can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing renewable diesel over baseline fuel. Thus, the producer of the renewable diesel will create a handprint. Organizations can use carbon handprints for quantifying the greenhouse gas reductions their customers can achieve by utilizing the product. Thus, the carbon handprint can be a powerful tool in communications and marketing. By conducting carbon handprint assessments, a company can also find out how their product qualifies in comparison to baseline products. Therefore, carbon handprints can also support decision-making and lifelong product design. Highlights: Guidelines for calculating the positive climate impacts of products are created. Carbon handprint refers to customer's greenhouse gas reductions the product enables. The reduction is calculated against the determined baseline. Carbon handprint can be used for decision-making, as well as for communication.