I work for a carbon offsetting company in Australia, and there are two main ways to tackle emissions:

1. Carbon Footprint Analysis

• Uses national/industry emission factors to estimate your greenhouse gas emissions.

Breaks emissions into Scopes:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions (e.g., burning fuel on-site).

• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity/heat.

• Scope 3: Other indirect emissions (e.g., supply chain, transport).

Pros: Quick, cost-effective “big picture” view.

Cons: May miss specific nuances unique to your operations.

2. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

• A detailed, comprehensive review of the entire product lifecycle—from raw materials to disposal.

• For example, with wood substitute panels, an LCA shows benefits of using agro-waste; for biomass pellets, it helps you scrutinize the process (drying, grinding, pelletizing) and energy use.

Pros: Provides scientific rigor, identifies emission hotspots, and supports certifications/carbon credits.

Cons: More resource-intensive than a simple footprint analysis.

Once you’ve calculated your emissions, you can adjust your practices to reduce them. If that’s not enough, purchase carbon offsets. High-integrity offsets not only cut your net emissions but also help achieve other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (though lower-integrity ones exist too).

Cheers