Sphera Case Studies Carbon footprinting for sensible greenhouse gas reduction targets toward net zero

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	Carbon footprinting for sensible greenhouse gas reduction targets toward net zero Sphera

Carbon footprinting for sensible greenhouse gas reduction targets toward net zero

Sphera

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
Applicable Industries	Automotive
Applicable Functions	Business Operation
Use Cases	Energy Management System
Services	Data Science Services System Integration
Challenge	The Volkswagen (VW) communications department was tasked with calculating its carbon footprint to identify emissions reduction actions, inspire other VW brands, and contribute to the decarbonization of the entire VW group. The challenge was to determine the boundaries for the departmental carbon footprint and identify all emissions directly or indirectly caused by the VW communication department’s activities. The department faced difficulties in distinguishing its activities from the VW group and identifying emission hotspots and levers for reductions. The diverse set of activities required different emissions calculation methods. Read More
About Customer	The customer is the Volkswagen (VW) Group, a German multinational automotive manufacturing company founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company has a significant global presence, with 100 production facilities across 27 countries worldwide. In 2019, the company reported a revenue of $282.9 billion and a production output of 10,823,000 vehicles. The specific department involved in this case study is the VW communications department, which plays a special role in helping the company achieve a net-zero emissions target. Read More
Solution	Sphera’s Sustainability Consulting services were commissioned to calculate the carbon footprint of the VW communications department. Sphera’s extensive expertise in the automotive sector and methodologies for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, as well as access to the life-cycle emissions factor database (GaBi), made it the perfect fit for this task. The consultants worked with the various divisions of the communications department to compile all emission-relevant activities and made sensible assumptions using best practice approaches. The carbon footprint was calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol standard by applying primary emission factors from Sphera’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) database GaBi, emission factors from economic input-output databases, and third-party emission factor databases. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Services

Data Science Services

System Integration

Challenge

The Volkswagen (VW) communications department was tasked with calculating its carbon footprint to identify emissions reduction actions, inspire other VW brands, and contribute to the decarbonization of the entire VW group. The challenge was to determine the boundaries for the departmental carbon footprint and identify all emissions directly or indirectly caused by the VW communication department’s activities. The department faced difficulties in distinguishing its activities from the VW group and identifying emission hotspots and levers for reductions. The diverse set of activities required different emissions calculation methods.

About Customer

The customer is the Volkswagen (VW) Group, a German multinational automotive manufacturing company founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company has a significant global presence, with 100 production facilities across 27 countries worldwide. In 2019, the company reported a revenue of $282.9 billion and a production output of 10,823,000 vehicles. The specific department involved in this case study is the VW communications department, which plays a special role in helping the company achieve a net-zero emissions target.

Solution

Sphera’s Sustainability Consulting services were commissioned to calculate the carbon footprint of the VW communications department. Sphera’s extensive expertise in the automotive sector and methodologies for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, as well as access to the life-cycle emissions factor database (GaBi), made it the perfect fit for this task. The consultants worked with the various divisions of the communications department to compile all emission-relevant activities and made sensible assumptions using best practice approaches. The carbon footprint was calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol standard by applying primary emission factors from Sphera’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) database GaBi, emission factors from economic input-output databases, and third-party emission factor databases.

Impact #1	Collected all emission–relevant activity data for the VW communications department
Impact #2	Transparently selected methods for emissions calculation
Impact #3	Identified hotspots and developed actions for emissions reductions across the department

Impact #1

Collected all emission–relevant activity data for the VW communications department

Impact #2

Transparently selected methods for emissions calculation

Impact #3

Identified hotspots and developed actions for emissions reductions across the department

Benefit #1	Calculated carbon footprint, including scope 1,2 and 3 emissions

Benefit #1

Calculated carbon footprint, including scope 1,2 and 3 emissions

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Overview

Carbon footprinting for sensible greenhouse gas reduction targets toward net zero

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit