Frequently Asked Questions

Corporate carbon footprint is the measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from all activities of a company. In this scope, direct and indirect emission sources such as energy consumption, production processes, transportation, waste management, and supply chain are taken into account. The calculation process is conducted within the framework of the internationally recognized ISO 14064-1:2018 standard and the globally most widely used methodology GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol). These standards and guidelines ensure accurate, transparent, and comparable reporting of greenhouse gas emissions at the organizational level. Corporate carbon footprint calculation helps companies understand their environmental impacts, identify reduction opportunities, and base their sustainability strategies on scientific foundations. It is also a critical tool for regulatory compliance, investor confidence, and transparent reporting to stakeholders.

Water footprint refers to the total amount of fresh water consumed or polluted as a result of the activities of a product, service, or organization. This calculation encompasses not only the direct amount of water used in production, but also the water indirectly consumed in the supply chain. Water footprint calculated within the framework of the internationally recognized ISO 14046:2014 standard consists of three main components:

• Blue Water Footprint: Use of surface and groundwater.
• Green Water Footprint: Use of rainwater and soil moisture.
• Grey Water Footprint: The amount of water required for dilution of pollutants.

Through water footprint analysis, companies can better understand their water consumption and impacts on water resources, develop water efficiency strategies, and achieve their sustainability goals. It is a critical environmental indicator, especially for businesses operating in regions with high water stress.

Product carbon footprint refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product throughout its entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to production, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal. This approach is based on the "life cycle assessment (LCA)" methodology and is calculated within the framework of the internationally recognized ISO 14067:2018 standard. Through product carbon footprint, companies can objectively measure the environmental impacts of their products, identify improvement areas in the supply chain, and develop low-carbon production strategies. It also provides transparent commitment to consumers and business partners regarding sustainability.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - CBAM) is a regulation developed within the scope of the European Union's climate policy. Its main purpose is to prevent "carbon leakage," ensure competitive equality, and support global emission reduction efforts by taking into account the carbon content of products imported into the EU. Under CBAM, the declaration duty lies with the authorised CBAM declarants importing goods into the EU in certain sectors (iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen). Producers and exporters in Türkiye supply their EU buyers with installation-level embedded emission data for that declaration. The definitive period began on 1 January 2026; the first annual declaration and certificate surrender are due by 30 September 2027. Importers below the annual 50-tonne threshold are out of scope, except for hydrogen and electricity. Embedded emissions are calculated under CBAM’s own method, set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2547. The GHG Protocol and ISO 14064 serve corporate reporting and do not replace the CBAM method. Preparing accurate and transparent declarations is of critical importance for companies to both maintain their competitive power in the EU market and prove their sustainability performance on a global scale.

Corporate carbon footprint and water footprint verification is the process of examination and approval of emission and water consumption reports prepared by businesses by an independent third party. This verification assesses the accuracy of data, compliance of calculation methods with international standards, and transparency of reporting.

• Carbon Footprint Verification:
  • Conducted according to ISO 14064-3 standard.
  • It is checked whether the calculations are compatible with ISO 14064-1 and/or GHG Protocol.
  • Provides reliability for CBAM (CBAM) declarations and corporate sustainability reporting.
• Water Footprint Verification:
  • Conducted according to ISO 14046 standard.
  • Increases transparency of water consumption, pollution, and impact assessment data.
  • It is of critical importance especially for companies operating in regions with high water stress.

Why is it necessary?

• Legal Compliance: EU regulations (e.g., CBAM) and Türkiye's Climate Law No. 7552, published in July 2025, are increasing the need for verification.
• Investor and customer trust: Verified reports ensure the reliability and international validity of the company's environmental data.
• Competitive advantage: Verification is an important criterion in tenders, supply chains, and sustainability assessments (e.g., EcoVadis).

Conclusion: Even when verification is not a legal obligation, it has become a critical requirement in terms of reliability, transparency, and international acceptance.

Measuring and reducing carbon footprint is not only an environmental responsibility in today's business world, but also a strategic necessity. The main benefits of these steps are:

• Environmental Impact Reduction: Calculation and reduction efforts help minimize your business's contribution to climate change. You support the conservation of natural resources and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
• Sustainability and Reputation: Carbon management makes your company compliant with international sustainability standards (e.g., ISO 14064, ISO 14067, and GHG Protocol). This creates trust among stakeholders and strengthens your brand reputation.
• Cost Savings: Energy efficiency and resource optimization reduce operating expenses. More efficient processes provide significant savings in the long term.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: National and international obligations such as the EU's CBAM (CBAM) regulation are rapidly increasing. Carbon footprint calculation provides the data needed to meet these legal requirements.
• Supply Chain and Customer Demands: Global buyers are increasingly demanding "low-carbon suppliers." Carbon management provides competitive advantage in tenders and customer relations.
• Innovation and Competitive Superiority: Carbon reduction efforts open doors to new technologies and sustainable product development. This way, you both produce innovative solutions and differentiate in the market.

In conclusion, investing in carbon footprint management is not only environmental responsibility; it is also a strategic step that provides financial resilience, legal compliance, and global competitive advantage.

The obligation for companies to calculate carbon footprint varies depending on legal regulations, sector dynamics, customer expectations, and sustainability goals. The main factors are:

• Legal Regulations:
  • The European Union has placed an embedded-emission declaration duty on EU importers through CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism). Companies exporting to the EU supply the product-level emission data for that declaration.
  • In Türkiye, Climate Law No. 7552 was published in July 2025 and provides the legal basis for an Emission Trading System (ETS). With these regulations, the obligations of companies in certain sectors to monitor, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions will be legally established. In the near future, carbon footprint calculation will become not just a voluntary practice, but a legal obligation.
• Market Pressure and Customer Demands: Large buyers and international supply chains do not consider companies that do not perform carbon reporting suitable for cooperation. For exporting companies, carbon footprint reporting has now become one of the basic conditions of competition.
• Sustainability and Reputation: Carbon management not only demonstrates the company's environmental responsibility, but also increases brand value and investor confidence.
• Innovation and Cost Savings: Through carbon footprint measurement, energy efficiency and process optimization can be achieved. This contributes to cost reduction and the emergence of innovation opportunities.

Conclusion: We are in a period where the legal framework in Turkey is rapidly taking shape and EU regulations are directly binding for exporters. Therefore, carbon footprint calculation is not only an environmental responsibility, but also a strategic requirement for preparation for upcoming legal obligations and market access.

The frequency of preparing corporate carbon footprint reports may vary depending on the company's size, sector dynamics, regulations, and sustainability strategies.

• Legal Framework: According to international standards (ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol), organizational-level carbon footprint reporting is generally done once a year. The Climate Law and Emission Trading System (ETS) rules in Türkiye will also shape this area.
• Best Practice: Many companies, instead of being satisfied with only annual reports, establish monthly or quarterly tracking systems to monitor their emissions more closely. This approach enables detecting sudden risks, capturing energy efficiency opportunities faster, and making proactive progress towards sustainability goals.

Conclusion: At minimum, a carbon footprint report should be prepared once a year. However, for competitive advantage and effective management, more frequent data tracking and interim reporting is recommended.

Yes. CarbonEmit is a sustainability management platform designed in compliance with international standards and usable on a global scale.

• Standard Compliance: The platform provides calculation and reporting in accordance with internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14064-1 (corporate carbon footprint), ISO 14067 (product carbon footprint), ISO 14046 (water footprint) and GHG Protocol methodology.
• Global Validity: Reports generated by CarbonEmit provide validity in global regulations and platforms such as the European Union's CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), EU Green Deal, EcoVadis assessments, and corporate sustainability reporting.
• Flexible Usage: With multi-language and multi-country support, it offers centralized sustainability management for companies operating in different geographies.

Conclusion: CarbonEmit is a platform that provides reliable and valid reporting infrastructure not only in Turkey but also in international markets.

Yes. CarbonEmit can easily integrate with your existing software infrastructure through API integration. This way, your energy consumption, production data, and logistics information are automatically transferred to the platform. Additionally, CarbonEmit On-Prem Pro version offers full integration capability with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Canias, Logo, Netsis, etc.). This way, data is pulled instantly without the need for manual entry, and daily carbon footprint tracking can be performed. This integration approach enables companies to both save time and access accurate and continuously updated emission data.