The carbon handprint describes the positive climate impacts of a particular solution throughout its life cycle. A positive carbon handprint arises from the fact that using the solution provided reduces the carbon footprint of someone else (usually the customer). On the other hand, reducing the carbon footprint of one’s own operations does not increase the carbon handprint.
The carbon handprint of the same product or service may be different depending on the situation, for example, in different markets. Therefore the carbon handprint is always determined in relation to the selected baseline.
VTT and LUT University have developed a carbon handprint calculation methodology and published a guide. According to the guide, a positive carbon handprint can be achieved, for example, by improving material or energy efficiency, replacing non-renewable materials or energy with renewables, extending product lifetime, reducing waste and reducing losses, or capturing and storing carbon dioxide. The carbon handprint can be used, for example, to communicate the climate benefits of a product or service to customers or other stakeholders.