Cisco Tracks Product Carbon Footprint with Decarbonizing Grids in Mind

Cisco has developed a new method for tracking the carbon footprint of its products that takes into account the decarbonization of electricity grids over time.

The company's product carbon footprint (PCF) data now dynamically adjusts to reflect real-world changes in energy consumption, unlike traditional static calculations which can miss significant reductions in emissions.

Cisco's senior leader of carbon accounting and analytics, Michael King, developed the methodology to address the challenge of getting accurate and usable data on Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. According to King, companies need product carbon data that is aligned with their base year, reporting year, and net-zero timeline.

The new dynamic PCF calculation involves identifying hotspots in product manufacturing, isolating electricity emissions, and adjusting for decarbonization based on global energy grid data and projections from organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA). This approach allows companies to track progress, set realistic targets, and make informed decisions about their sustainability efforts.