Navigating Net-Zero with CCF and PCF
Achieving Net-Zero targets by 2045 or 2050 requires more than just technical innovation: it demands the precise and transparent recording of greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, two metrics have established themselves as decisive steering instruments: the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) and the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).
While technological approaches create the physical basis for CO₂-neutral production, CCF and PCF provide the necessary data foundation to make progress in decarbonization measurable and comparable.
Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF): The Organizational Balance Sheet
The Corporate Carbon Footprint describes the sum of greenhouse gas emissions caused by a company within a defined reporting period. Accounting is generally carried out based on the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which distinguishes between three areas of application, known as Scopes:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company (e.g., combustion processes in own facilities).
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy (e.g., electricity, steam, or district heating).
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions occurring in the up- and downstream value chain.
In the chemical industry, many emissions fall under Scope 3, particularly regarding the procurement of raw materials. Reducing these indirect emissions is, therefore, one of the most complex yet impactful levers for a climate-neutral corporate strategy.
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF): The Product-Related Emission Perspective
In contrast to the organizational level, the Product Carbon Footprint focuses on the specific GHG emissions of a single functional unit (e.g., one metric ton of synthesis gas). The PCF is calculated across the entire life cycle of a product—often following the "Cradle-to-Gate" approach (from raw material extraction to the factory gate).
Calculations follow standards such as ISO 14067 and allow for a direct comparison of the climate impact of different manufacturing processes. For the chemical industry, a lower PCF represents a significant competitive advantage, as industrial customers increasingly demand raw materials with a low carbon footprint to achieve their own sustainability targets.
Synergies and the Leverage Effect of Scope 3
CCF and PCF are directly interdependent: the PCF of a precursor (e.g., a chemical feedstock) enters the Scope 3 balance of the purchasing company directly.
This connection highlights the strategic relevance of feedstock selection:
- Defossilization: By replacing fossil resources (natural gas, crude oil) with circular carbon sources, the PCF of a product can be drastically reduced.
- Reduction Chain Reaction: A reduced PCF immediately relieves the customer's Scope 3 balance. Companies can thus improve their CCF (and PCF!) through the targeted purchase of low-emission raw materials without having to make fundamental changes to their own production plants.
Conclusion: Data as a Driver of the Industrial Transition
The systematic recording of CCF and PCF is far more than a regulatory obligation. It acts as a technological compass: only by quantifying emissions does it become clear which processes make the greatest contribution to decarbonization.
The chemical industry faces the task of ending its dependence on fossil resources. CCF and PCF are the metrics that prove that a circular carbon economy is not only ecologically necessary but also economically sound by reducing Scope 3 emissions.
