Proving your carbon savings - A worthwhile endeavor, but harder than you think!

Calculating carbon savings. Where do we start…?

Understanding carbon footprint

Before delving deeper into the available methods for quantifying your carbon footprint, it’s essential to understand what the term ‘carbon footprint’ represents. According to The Nature Conservancy,

“A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.”

Be that directly or indirectly by an individual, organisation, or product. For telecoms network providers, the carbon footprint includes emissions from various sources, such as network infrastructure, data centres, and the manufacturing, disposal, installation, and recovery of network equipment.

Carbon footprint is also a vital metric for measuring ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) performance as it provides insights into a company’s environmental impact, climate change mitigation efforts, business resilience, stakeholder appeal, and regulatory compliance. By considering the carbon footprint alongside other ESG criteria, businesses (and investors) can make more informed decisions to actively reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Calculating carbon savings. Where do we start…?

The climate crisis can’t wait. Supporting the circular economy holds the key to reducing indirect emissions for our clients (i.e. Scope 3 emissions). Here, you can read more about the difference between emissions scopes 1, 2, and 3. Remember, every step taken toward reducing carbon emissions matters, and the adoption of refurbished kit is part of a solid strategy to foster environmental responsibility within the telecoms sector.

When working out carbon savings using online calculators (of which there are many), for example, the Mackay Carbon Calculator or the Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, telecom network providers need to consider two primary factors: the emissions associated with manufacturing new equipment and the emissions avoided by using refurbished kit.

The most common step-by-step approach starts with these six steps:

1. Inventory assessment: Start by assessing the inventory of network equipment currently in use or planned for deployment. Note down the quantity, type, and specifications of each item. Categorise them into two groups: refurbished kit and new equipment.
2. Emissions factor determination: Next, determine the emissions factor for each type of network equipment. The emissions factor represents the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacturing of a specific product. This information can be obtained from industry reports, life cycle assessments, or environmental product declarations (EDPs) provided by equipment manufacturers.
3. Quantity calculation: Multiply the emissions factor of each type of new equipment by the quantity of new equipment to calculate the emissions generated by using new kit. Repeat this calculation for refurbished kit as well.
4. Service life consideration: Consider the service life of each type of equipment. Typically, refurbished kit may have a shorter remaining service life compared to new equipment. Factor in the difference in service life when calculating carbon savings.
5. Avoided emissions calculation: To calculate the avoided emissions, subtract the emissions associated with the refurbished kit from the emissions associated with new equipment. This difference represents the carbon savings achieved by using refurbished equipment.
6. Annualise and aggregate: To assess the annual carbon savings, multiply the avoided emissions by the annual volume of equipment deployed or replaced. Aggregate the annual savings across all network equipment to determine the total carbon savings for a given period.

To ensure accurate calculations of carbon footprints for telecoms networks, it is advisable to consult reputable industry sources, specialised tools, or engage with sustainability professionals who have access to current data and expertise in the field.

This paragraph is taken from a newly released article written by David Griffiths, on behalf of TXO. To read the full post, and hear more about carbon savings calculations, click here.

David is passionate about sustainability and the circular economy. At TXO, he works with the wider team from asset recovery and account management, to assist in the creation of reports and whitepapers for the betterment of our industry, the work we do, and the contribution we can make to a greener future.