The trend of carbon neutrality is supported by many companies. Carbon neutrality is a term that indicates that a company has reduced carbon dioxide and its equivalent emissions to zero during its production activities, or that it covers or compensates for these emissions through carbon-neutral projects.

Scientists divide the company’s waste into three scopes.

  – The first scope (Scope-1) – concerns the company’s direct emissions during the production process.

– The second scope (Scope-2) concerns energy consumption. It is necessary to know from which sources the company receives energy: coal-fired power stations, nuclear power stations, hydroelectric power stations, etc.

– The third scope (Scope-3) includes the entire product life cycle chain: purchase of raw materials, delivery, sale, use, disposal, etc., i.e. waste that is not directly related to the manufacturer.

There are three main ways to achieve carbon neutrality, and suggestions are made based on the scope of companies’ activities:

1. reduction of direct emissions and transition to renewable energy sources – hydropower, solar energy, wind energy (Scope 1-2);
2. direct capture of CO2 from the air;
3. offset by investing in projects that reduce carbon emissions.

The problem is that the transition to carbon neutrality may come with economic constraints. A reduction in direct emissions often leads to a decrease in the volume of production and, therefore, to a decrease in the company’s income. If production is not reduced, financial investments in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are required.

In general, a company starting to apply the principle of carbon neutrality should work in two directions. Prioritize the reduction of emissions during the production and transport of products by switching to renewable energy sources. Secondly, to invest in projects that reduce the carbon footprint and balance climatic conditions to compensate for waste that cannot be eliminated.