Episode 8 (EN): BusinessShift - Carbon Footprint

Shownotes

Host Tobias Kirchhoff speaks with sustainability expert Dr. Bahar Cat-Krause from TÜV Rheinland about scopes, standards, and the path to net zero. Practical tips included – for everyone who says: Just. Do it.

30 million tons of CO₂ saved – a track record that Germany’s leading companies take pride in. But is that really enough? And what exactly is a carbon footprint? This episode provides well-founded insights and hands-on tips on how companies can capture, reduce – and economically benefit from – their emissions.

In this episode of BusinessShift, host Tobias Kirchhoff talks to Dr. Bahar Cat-Krause, Global Head of Sustainability at TÜV Rheinland People & Business Assurance, about the following topics:

✅ What is a carbon footprint – and why does it matter? ✅ The difference between corporate and product carbon footprints ✅ How companies measure CO₂ emissions – including Scopes 1, 2, and 3 ✅ Which standards truly matter (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064 & 14067) ✅ What to do when data is missing ✅ Concrete actions to reduce emissions – including for small and medium-sized businesses ✅ Offsetting vs. reducing: what really works? ✅ How the CO₂ footprint becomes a strategic success factor

Chapter Overview: 00:00:00 Introduction to the BusinessShift podcast
00:00:17 Germany’s climate protection efforts
00:00:58 Understanding the carbon footprint
00:01:53 Measuring and reducing the carbon footprint
00:05:02 Global CO₂ emissions and climate targets
00:11:06 Corporate carbon footprint standards
00:14:46 Practical steps for companies
00:26:54 Personal carbon footprint
00:28:55 Offsetting and greenwashing
00:35:37 Final thoughts and encouragement

Why this matters: The carbon footprint is the starting point for real climate action. If you don’t know your emissions, you can’t reduce them. The carbon footprint reveals where emissions are generated – whether in a company, a product, or the supply chain. Only with this transparency can effective measures be implemented.

📌 Learn more & further resources: All about sustainability services at TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland – Sustainability

Calculate your own carbon footprint (German only): https://uba.co2-rechner.de/en_DE/ https://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/klimaschutz/wwf-klimarechner

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Contact: Do you have questions, feedback, or topic suggestions? Write to us at: business_shift@tuv.com

Stay curious and start your sustainability journey – we’re with you every step of the way. 🎧 Tune in now and discover why BusinessShift. Just.Do it. Simply do it. is the key to sustainable success.