Good practice:

Doing good: carbon handprints as assessing positive impacts of companies and the public sector

Assessing environmental impacts typically focuses on measuring negative effects that products, services, organisations, municipalities etc. cause to the environment. Standardised life cycle assessment (LCA) methods are established for evaluations. More companies are using these tools to pursue a business concept around reduced environmental impact of systems and products. Conveying false impression or provision of misleading information about environmental benefits, a process of “greenwashing”, is of concern. A recognised method of calculating and communicating the environmental benefits of companies and organisations actions was lacking.
Concept of footprint looks to reduce its effects close to zero, whereas the handprint sets no limits to the good that can be achieved. Need for communicating positive environmental impacts has been identified among researchers, as well as frontrunner companies and municipalities with climate friendly initiatives..
The handprint concept is defined in the context of existing LCA-based methodologies. The scope is a carbon handprint. It is based on actual impacts of the products, services or technologies. The practise facilitates internal education or process management within an organisation. Handprints may attract new customers for a product or inhabitants to a municipality, when incorporated into branding and marketing initiatives. Case studies with companies have been assessed. Potential of handprint concept for public sector is analysed.

Personnel that understands the idea and methods.

Case studies from different economy sectors have been presented and analysed. Suitability for addressing environmental handprints at public sector level is being analysed. The reliability of assessment of different environmental assessment studies has increased by provision of common guidelines.

Critical review of calculation practice is strongly recommended. It is important to make communication understandable to the target audience.

Main purpose of the carbon handprint (CH) for cities is to recognize climate actions and encourage cities to carry out solutions to combat against climate change. CH also provides a tool for strategic planning beyond carbon neutrality goals, as well as a communication tool for branding to attract activities, businesses and residents to the area. CH was tested and applied in Espoo city. Study showed that examples of CH contributors divided into categories of ownership, operating environment and projects. Additionally, companies providing CH solutions contribute to handprint efforts. In future, handprint potential can be increased by including handprint targets in the city action plan.
Research is needed to test the applicability of GP in cities and regions. The climate benefit achieved through a handprint can be significantly greater than the size of city’s own footprint. In applying handprint thinking allows cities to differentiate and go beyond their climate neutrality targets.