Our e-3.co team is characterised by the diversity of issues covered and its range of methodological competence. Team spirit and a shared passion for sustainability are other reasons why our clients enjoy working with us.
Our specialisations cover the most heterogenous aspects of sustainability, and give us an excellent overview of the field. Our bundled expertise includes developing sustainability strategies based on shared value, CSR concepts and business model innovation.
Our extensive experience focusses on climate strategy, net zero, logging and reporting on GHG emissions, environmental due diligence, assessing environmental impact and risks, eco-design and environmental technologies.
We advise on sustainable product design and resource efficiency, sustainable procurement and circular economy, mobility and sustainability issues in urban and traffic planning.
Our methodological competence is broad, ranging from benchmarking and empirical analysis through market and profitability assessments to GHG and carbon footprint studies (life cycle analysis).
DECARBONISATION AND NET ZERO
To achieve the 1.5°C limit on global warming compared to the pre-industrial era, and at least mitigate the scale of climate change, it is essential to reduce drastically all global emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. A central role in this is played by the clean energy transition and elimination of fossil fuels like petroleum and coal (decarbonisation).
However, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions alone is not enough: the goal must be neutralisation of emissions to “net zero” by 2050, i.e. the annual volume of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emitted must be matched by the volume of sequestered anthropogenic greenhouse gas.
The GHG Protocol distinguishes between three “scopes” (areas in which CO2 emissions occur). Scope 1 (direct) and scope 2 (indirect) cover greenhouse gas emissions from direct corporate activity, i.e. burning fossil fuels (scope 1) and consumption of bought-in energy in the form of electricity, steam and heat (scope 2). Scope 3 covers all GHG emissions arising in upstream and downstream value chains (e.g. raw material production, waste disposal). From the corporate point of view, net zero is a very demanding goal, as it takes into account not only scopes 1 and 2 but also scope 3 emissions.
For companies, the initial focus is generally on lowering their own emissions in scopes 1 and 2. These must be very substantially reduced, for example by energy efficiency measures or the use of green electricity to cut scope 2 emissions. What isn’t reduced must be offset by compensation or neutralisation of emissions. Compensation, also described as CO2 reduction projects, can take the form of renewable energy (e.g. wind and solar parks), energy efficiency or the use of biomass.
The second option is neutralisation of the CO2 emission remaining after significant reduction, by extracting CO2 from the air and binding it (removal, sequestration). Carbon can be bound by natural carbon stores such as trees, plants, roots and moors, and also by the use of recent technologies such as CCS (carbon capture and storage).
CARBON FOOTPRINT, CLIMATE STRATEGY AND CLIMATE REPORTING
Your impact on the climate as a company is critical. Your ambitions for and measurable contribution to mitigating climate change are also extremely relevant from the point of view of your external stakeholders, including your customers, relevant regulatory agencies and employees.
We start with a situation analysis and calculation of your specific corporate carbon footprint. We then calculate your current greenhouse gas balance for the entire value chain.
Based on this, we define a science-based goal for reducing your emissions towards net zero. We then work with you on developing a strategy for achieving this goal through a combination of reduction and compensation.
Your climate strategy should be reflected in efficient and transparent climate reporting. Ongoing reporting enables you to maintain a focus on your climate goals and quantify and evaluate the success of measures being taken.
We support you through the entire process, focussing on the following steps:
• data collection and accounting for your emissions to the GHG Protocol standard
• analyses of value chains
• developing a climate strategy
• formulating climate protection measures
• transparent climate reporting
