Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Samia Saif ¹, Anum Feroz ², M. Asif Khan ¹, Sana Akhtar ², Asim Mehmood ¹

Affiliations
1 Environmental Consultancies and Options (ECO), 31 Commercial Area, 3^rd Floor, Cavalary Ground, Lahore, PK
2 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, PK

Abstract

The world's climate is changing rapidly, and these changes are having detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. Major part of it is contributed by the anthropogenic activities. The current study is undertaken for the estimation and calculation of the carbon footprint of the paint industry. In order to find out the greenhouse gas emissions released by the industry, the carbon footprint of the industry was calculated following the greenhouse gas (GHG's) protocol guidelines. The study includes emissions from different sources. Scope 1 emissions account for the direct emissions, these include emissions from industry owned boilers, generators, furnaces and vehicles. The Scope 2 emissions account for the indirect emissions, emitted from purchased electricity and natural gas generation. And Scope 3 emissions include emissions generated from waste disposal and employee business travel. The highest amount of emissions was released from Scope 1 which was 714 tCO₂e followed by Scope 2 emissions which were calculated to be 703.011 tCO₂e and then Scope 3 emissions which were 105.733 tCO₂e. The total carbon footprint calculated for the industry was 2105.733 tCO₂e.

Keywords

Carbon Footprint, Paint Industry, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Direct Emissions, Indirect Emissions.

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Sana Akhtar ¹, Shahzeen Fatima Baig ¹, Samia Saif ², Asim Mahmood ², Sajid Rashid Ahmad ³

Affiliations
1 Kinnaird College for Women, 93 Jail Road, Lahore, 54000, PK
2 Environmental Consultancies & Options, Cavalry Ground, Lahore, 54000, PK
3 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54900, PK

Abstract

The world is experiencing deteriorating climatic changes which are significantly resulting from the increased emission of greenhouse gases. This research highlights the major activities of a textile industry that release greenhouse gases and then focuses on calculating the carbon foot print of the industry for last 5 years. Further, this study also links up the calculated carbon footprint with the environmental sustainability. The methodology adopted to calculate carbon footprint was in accordance to the GHG protocol guidelines. The study emphasizes the different emission sources including scope 1 emission which take into account direct emissions resulting from industry owned activities. The scope 2 are indirect emissions that emit due to the purchase of electricity, natural gas and the biogas emissions resulting from waste disposal. Scope 3 emissions were not accounted in the current study based upon its complexity. Scope 1 emissions were found to contribute greatest in total carbon footprint. The results symbolized an ascending trend in the carbon footprint of the industry over past five years. This ascending trend also denoted that very less environmental sustainability has been achieved by the industry in last five years. Carbon footprint calculated for the base year 2014 was 42867.72tCO₂e.

Keywords

Carbon Footprint, Textile Industry, Sustainability.

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