Corporate Carbon Footprint Verification
What you need to know
As an accredited CCF Verification service provider, Kiwa-Ecobility Experts (Kiwa-EE) help companies, public authorities and organizations to present their climate footprint in a comprehensible and reliable way. By independently verifying corporate carbon footprints (CCF), we create a reliable basis for strategic decisions and sustainability reports. By integrating them into established reporting formats, transparency towards industry, politics and the public is strengthened – an essential prerequisite for credible climate protection measures and sustainable business practices.
The verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories at the organizational level is based on the GHG Protocol and the ISO 14064 standard series. ISO 14064-1 is the basis for an organization's GHG emissions calculation and reporting, while verification is carried out based on ISO 14064-3.
Verifying your GHG balance with Kiwa-Ecobility Experts offers you the following advantages:
- Credibility and transparency: Increases the credibility of the GHG balance with stakeholders (e.g. investors, customers, authorities) and minimizes the risk of greenwashing and misstatements by ensuring standardized and verifiable data.
- Compliance with legal and voluntary requirements: Meets regulatory requirements and supports sustainability reporting (e.g. CSRD, EU taxonomy), facilitates participation in and auditability of climate initiatives and ESG ratings (e.g. SBTi, EcoVadis, CDP)
- Improved basis for decision-making: Identifies weaknesses and potential savings in the carbon balance, supports informed strategic decisions to reduce emissions and promotes more efficient climate protection measures.
- Competitive advantage and brand enhancement: Improves the image as a sustainable company, increases attractiveness for sustainability-oriented customers and investors and creates access to funding programs and sustainable financing.
- Risk minimization: Reduces the risk of miscalculations or inaccurate reports, strengthens compliance and supports risk management with regard to climate change and carbon pricing.
- International recognition and comparability: Facilitates the comparability of GHG data at the global level, supports companies in supply chain transparency and in meeting supplier requirements. Recognised standards can strengthen a company's position in international markets.
Process
Preparation
In order to prepare for the third-party verification it is useful to understand the different requirements of ISO 14064-1 for calculating a GHG inventory.
The first step is the definition of boundaries, organizational and operational. A consolidation approach has to be chosen to define the boundaries. The operational control approach is usually chosen for this purpose. The first step before undergoing verification, is the definition of boundaries. The extent of control over emissions-producing activities should be determined. For this purpose, a consolidation approach should be chosen to assess whether you have financial, operational, or equity control over an organization or its processes.
To accurately measure a carbon footprint, it is essential to gather relevant data across direct and indirect emission categories, considering the boundaries you set for your organization:
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from stationary or mobile combustion
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy, including electricity, steam, heating, and cooling
- Scope 3: Additional indirect emissions within the value chain, such as supplier emissions, business travel, product transportation, waste disposal, and purchased goods
Quantification of the CCF
A comprehensive GHG inventory is built by compiling data from both internal operations and external partners across the supply chain. Input data from business activities is translated into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions using industry-standard emission factors, ensuring consistency and accuracy in reporting.
Reporting
An effective GHG emissions report should be comprehensive, transparent, accurate, and aligned with international standards, such as GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1. This document should mainly outline the methodology used for emissions calculations, the data sources and assumptions made as well as clear breakdown of emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3. This structured approach ensures that the organization’s carbon footprint is accurately represented, supporting corporate sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.
Verification
At Kiwa-EE, we provide accredited and independent third-party verification to validate the accuracy, reliability, and robustness of your GHG inventory. The verification enhances credibility, supports informed decision-making, and strengthens stakeholder confidence in your sustainability commitments.
Our verification process consists of three stages to ensure the integrity of the emission reporting:
1st Stage: Pre-Verification
This initial phase evaluates whether the organization is prepared for full verification. We review the data collection processes, assess the characteristics of the operations, and identify potential risks. This step informs a tailored verification plan for evidence gathering in the next stage.
2nd stage: Verification
Conducted in accordance with ISO 14064-1, this stage involves an in-depth examination of the data collection, calculation methodologies, and reporting processes. Our verification team may conduct on-site assessments to ensure alignment with best practices and international standards.
3rd stage: Independent review
An independent review is carried out to provide an additional layer of integrity and assurance. This step ensures consistency across the verification process, but no client involvement is required.
Why Kiwa?
- Accredited verification body: Verified and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for ISO 14064-1, PAS 2060 (carbon neutrality), and ISO 14068-1 standards. Additionally accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) for ISO 14064-1 verification.
- Global Availability and Network: Kiwa offers a worldwide availability and network of qualified verifiers, with a strong focus on operations in Europe and China.
- In-depth expertise: Kiwa has many years of experience in calculating carbon footprints and uses its own calculation software called R<THINK for Corporate Carbon Footprints and Environmental Product Declarations.
- Long-term partner: We support you from baseline calculation and defining climate targets to realizing savings potential.
- Passion & industry knowledge: Our team is passionate and has in-depth experience in various industries.
- Experience in verification: Kiwa has the expertise to professionally verify your greenhouse gas report, thus offering you real added value.