More than sixty corporations, which began measuring the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products and supply chains in January by testing a new global framework that is part of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative, have completed their road test of the new global standards.
The two new GHG Protocol standards -- the Product Lifecycle Accounting and Reporting Standard (PDF) and the Scope 3 (Corporate Value Chain) Accounting and Reporting Standard (PDF) -- provide methods to account for emissions associated with products across their life cycles and corporations across their supply chains.
The protocols were developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The 62 companies from multiple sectors and 17 countries submitted written feedback on their usability along with final GHG inventory reports in June. A summary of the feedback is posted on the GHG Protocol Website.
Here are some general feedback findings from the summary.
Companies that road tested the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard reported that they had little difficulty completing an inventory in conformance with the requirements and found the guidance provided in the draft helpful.
The companies that road tested the Scope 3 Accounting and Reporting Standard found it achievable to complete a Scope 3 inventory and many companies believe it is practical to complete one on an annual basis, says WRI.
The feedback also found that most road testers agree that the standards help in identifying GHG reduction opportunities and prioritizing reduction efforts. The standards also help them to engage suppliers and enable supply chain GHG management as well as understand the risks and opportunities associated with emissions in the supply chain. It also helps them create competitive advantage and product differentiation, while improving credibility and transparency in GHG reporting.
However, some companies identified several challenges, including initial data collection efforts.
WRI and WBCSD plan to release revised standards -- based on feedback from the road testers and the Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups -- in September for a 30-day public comment period. The standards should be finalized by the end of 2010.
Companies that participated in the road test include: 3M, Abengoa, Acer Inc, Airbus S.A.S, AkzoNobel, Alcoa, Amcor, Ampacet, Anvil Knitwear, Inc., Autodesk, Inc., Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd, BASF SE, Belron International, Bloomberg LP, BT plc, Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke AG, Danisco A/S, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom AG, DuPont, Ecolab, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, Gold’n Plump Poultry, LLC, Herman Miller, Inc, IKEA, Italcementi Group, JohnsonDiversey, Kraft Foods, Kun Shan Tai Ying Paint Co, Ltd., Lenovo, Levi Strauss & Co., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, National Grid, New Belgium Brewing¸ Ocean Spray Cranberries, Otarian, PE International, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer, Pinchin Environmental Ltd., PricewaterhouseCoopers (Hong Kong), Procter & Gamble Eurocor, Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc., Rogers Communications, SAP AG, SC Johnson, Shanghai Zidan Food Packaging and Printing Co., Ltd., Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd., Siemens AG, Suzano Pulp and Paper, Swire Beverages, TAL Apparel Limited, Tech-Front (Shanghai) Computer Co., Ltd./Quanta Shanghai Manufacturing City, Veolia Water, Verso Paper Corp., Webcor Builders, WorldAutoSteel.