Carbon handprint guide V. 2.0 Applicable for environmental handprint

Abstract

Climate change is one of the critical challenges of our age and carbon footprint calculation has emerged as a standard method of estimating the global warming potential of products. In addition to climate change, environmental impacts related to resource use and emissions other than greenhouse gases require attention as well. Shifting the thinking from negative to positive – from producers to reducers of emission and resource use – is an additional key to solving these pressing challenges.

The handprint approach offers a new way of quantifying the environmental benefits of products and services. This guidebook presents step-by-step guidance on how to calculate and communicate a handprint – the positive environmental impact that a product or a service can create.

Handprints can be used by organizations to communicate the environmental benefits of their products, services and technologies. Handprints also provide valuable support for product development as well as political and strategic decision making when aiming for environmentally sustainable solutions.

The Carbon handprint guide v. 2.0 is the updated edition of the previous version of the guide published in 2018. Now, the handprint approach is applicable to other environmental impacts than climate change too. Furthermore, environmental handprints can be addressed now at organization and project levels in addition to the product level.