Introduction

Reduction of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is central to the mitigation of climate change (see Annex A), considered to be arising from natural and anthropogenic activities. Specificity and consistency in calculating GHG emission values is important for governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), industry and consumers involved in climate change discussions and policy development. Global markets and financial interests demand transparency and there is no common model used for carbon footprint studies, which leads to confusion and misinformation: data sets are very difficult to compare if they are calculated using different models and criteria. The publishing industry and associated industries [manufacturers of electronic media (e-media) devices, servers, networks, cloud-based data management systems and digital content developers] have made progress in recent years as the reach of digital technology has extended to all parts of society and commerce across the globe. However, it is extremely difficult to track and quantify emissions associated with e-media.

Standards can provide a common model that minimises variability and complexity and provides the market with a method for developing tools that are easy to use and that follow a common methodology. The results of carbon footprint studies can be used to provide the basis of a data corpus that governments, NGOs, industry, and media consumers and specifiers can use for reference to further refine carbon footprinting processes. These data must be gathered using tools which use a consistent calculation method and must be accurate, defensible and trustworthy. This document is intended as a first step towards subsequent work that can provide such assurance. It is a framework for calculating and communicating the carbon footprint of examples of e-media and follows an equivalent methodology to that outlined in ISO 16759.

This document is a starting point, taking the first steps towards developing accurate and comprehensive carbon footprint data for examples of e-media. It is important to understand that we are at the beginning of a process that will take years to stabilize, define and implement fully. What we can achieve now is necessarily primitive because of the lack of data, practice and plural experience. Over time, carbon footprint studies will create a body of sector-specific data. Capturing all of the data associated with e-media products is currently extremely difficult because e-media data products exist only in digital form. They can be used in many contexts and viewed on many different devices, so their carbon footprint can be substantial, even though it bears no relation to the value of the content. To understand the environmental impact of e-media, a framework methodology for capturing carbon footprint data is required as a starting point for consistent carbon footprint calculations over time.

This document has been developed to provide such a model for e-media, including the tools required to access the data and devices on which e-media are stored for streamed or downloaded use. It references the delivery devices and the data components that together deliver electronic content to end users. It is written for manufacturers of electronic e-media devices, servers, networks, cloud-based data management systems, digital content developers, consumers, related industry associations and providers of carbon footprinting tools. It offers a program-neutral method for calculating and communicating the carbon footprint of e-media content products, based on calculated carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) values, for the single impact category of climate change. Life span is distinguished from life cycle because digital data do not reach end of life. Digital data (contents) are perpetual; however, digital data (contents) also have a life span during which time they are viable and usable, and after which they are generally stored or deleted. This single criteria approach provides the foundation for future work addressing multi-criteria impacts which assess all potential impacts that e-media can have on the environment.

Multi-criteria calculations based on all four phases of life cycle assessment (LCA), as outlined in ISO 14040, are not within the scope of this document. Further information for conducting LCA is outlined in ISO 14044. This document also references IEC/TR 62921, a quantification methodology for GHG emissions for computers and monitors, developed as part of international efforts to provide GHG calculation guidance for electronic products. According to IEC/TR 62921, quantification of the carbon footprint of e-media content products requires a defined goal and scope for the carbon footprint of a product (CFP) study. IEC/TR 62921 also requires a specification of the system boundaries and process inventory as the basis for calculations. It allows for calculations of the whole or partial life span of contents and the life cycle of e-media devices, while e-media are constituted of contents and e-media devices. The life span is assessed using the same method as LCA.

This document provides the foundation to develop calculation models that will increase over time in consistency, transparency, robustness and accountability for e-media carbon footprint quantifications and their communication. It can provide the following benefits to companies:

— enables accountable and transparent carbon footprint information to be obtained for all parties in the supply chain, including consumers and media buyers;
— enables consistency in carbon footprint calculator design, to aid relevance and applicability for different e-media product sectors and geographies;
— provides e-media publishers, distributors, buyers and consumers with a means of quantifying and communicating the carbon footprint of e-media using a common methodology and defined boundaries;
— encourages media buyers and consumers of e-media to make informed media investment, purchase and usage decisions, using information validated with calculation, communication and reporting tools that are consistent with this document;
— facilitates continuous monitoring of the carbon footprint of e-media as part of their overall environmental impact, and encourages constant improvement;
— provides reliable and consistent CO₂ emissions data for e-media;
— provides a model for gathering e-media data for emissions management and reduction;
— provides a model for data assumptions for media usage;
— can be used as part of GHG emissions management;
— facilitates performance tracking and progress in GHG emissions reduction.

This document includes examples of carbon footprint studies and guidance for communicating and verifying carbon footprint information to device developers, content creators, distributors, publishers, consumers, industry and any other interested parties.

Use of this document facilitates the calculation of the carbon footprint of e-media products and similar digital content delivered digitally to an electronic device such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, e-reader or equivalent electronic device. Its principles can be extended to all digitally delivered media, including movies and audio and are not restricted to media that are alternatives to print.

Where the results of a carbon footprint study for e-media are intended to be communicated to businesses and consumers, the communication should follow standards of completeness as defined here and in other ISO standards, such as ISO 14020.

BS ISO 20294:2018

Graphic technology. Quantification and communication for calculating the carbon footprint of e-media

Current

Published:

30 Nov 2018