ISO 14064 – Carbon Footprint Verification

ISO 14064-1 – Carbon footprint verification

ISO 14064-1 is the base guideline for compiling a corporate GHG inventory, or, in other words, calculating the corporate carbon footprint. Corporate GHG emissions can be divided in three scopes:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions – Emissions directly caused by sources owned or controlled by your company;
• Scope 2: Indirect emissions – Emissions from purchased electricity, steam and heating/cooling for your operations;
• Scope 3: Indirect emissions – Emissions from sources not owned or controlled by your company, such as emissions of your suppliers, business travel and end of life emissions of sold products.

The choice on which scopes to include depends on your company’s needs and where most of the emissions take place. Our support focuses on verifying your annual GHG emissions according to ISO 14064-3, which specifies requirements for the verification of emissions. After completion you receive a verification statement. This provides you confidence in the accuracy of your carbon footprint claims, and assurance to your stakeholders and investors. Our verification services also enjoy external recognition by agencies such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

ISO 14064-2 – Emission reduction validation/verification

ISO 14064-2 is the base guideline for implementing an emission reduction project. Setting up an emission reduction project will help you to identify opportunities for reduction of your scope 1, scope 2 and/or scope 3 emissions. We offer both validation of project plans (before implementation) and verification of emission reductions (after implementation).

Getting your project plan validated by Control Union provides you the confirmation that the changes you are planning to implement will actually result in reduced emissions. Verification of the emission reductions after the project implementation provides you and your stakeholders assurance of the actual achieved emission reductions.

In some cases, emission reductions are even eligible to be converted into carbon credits. These credits can be sold as offsets to companies who want or need to compensate their own emissions.

There are several standards that issue carbon credits, each with their own focus and project requirements. In order to assure the quality of those credits, standards require third-party validation of project plans before implementation, and third-party verification of the realised emission reductions after implementation. 

The validation and verification process

Under ISO 14064-3, we deliver validation and/or verification engagements in the following steps:

• offer formulation after receipt of the information questionnaire by the customer;
• document verification: strategic and risk analysis, GHG inventory/project assessment, data collection and examination of calculation methodologies;
• validation/verification activities: on-site verification of data acquisition and modelling of calculations carried out;
• reporting: preparation of the validation/verification report and the draft opinion;
• independent technical review of the validation/verification activities carried out and finalization of the reporting phase.
• Issue the statement

Why Control Union?

Control Union Certifications offers a one-stop-shop for a wide range of certification programs. We focus on developing services around the sustainability of global supply chains which feed into the food, feed, forestry, biomass, bioenergy, social compliance and textiles markets. With our specialized knowledge, extensive experience and ‘boots on the ground’ in more than 80 countries, we are uniquely placed to help our clients manage challenges in today’s global marketplace.