Article 75 of the Environment Code published on July 12, 2010 states that a
carbon balance sheet is mandatory for companies with more than 500 employees in metropolitan France and 250 in the French overseas departments and territories. If a company does not comply with this
mandatory carbon balance rule, it risks a penalty of €10,000, €20,000 in the event of a repeat offence. In addition to complying with the legislation, companies have several (good!) reasons to carry out
a carbon balance sheet.
The first is to enable all employees to become aware of the importance of their GHG emissions. Once the
carbon balance is established, it is easier to manage the reduction of emissions in order to fight effectively against global warming.
More utilitarian,
the second reason is the better apprehension of one's dependence on fossil fuels. The more important it is, the more the company is likely to incur serious economic risks. Indeed, the price of a barrel of oil is extremely volatile... If they collapse at the moment while Europe is still confining itself, they could
rise significantly in the coming months, as they did in May 2020.
The third reason is that more and more decision-makers, under pressure from consumers, are tending to sideline suppliers and service providers whose carbon footprint leaves something to be desired...
According to an OpinionWay
study analysing consumer behaviour in France, Spain, Portugal and Hungary, the sustainability of a brand is more than ever a factor of choice. In fact, 90% of respondents said they expect more commitment from brands.
So, sitting on the sidelines to save the price of a carbon footprint? Not really a good idea.