Measuring carbon and water footprints in pineapple value chains

Book excerpt: This technical guide on measuring carbon and water footprints was developed to support resilient and sustainable businesses in pineapple value chains. By quantifying and reducing GHG emissions, companies can become more resource efficient, reduce costs, enhance the resilience of their operations and contribute to climate change mitigation. Quantifying water use and reducing pollution can help ensure that sufficient, good quality water is available for both communities and businesses. This technical guide aims to develop the capacity of users and empower them to make their own carbon and water footprint calculations independently. It has two main objectives: (1) introduce companies in the pineapple value chain to a methodology to estimate the carbon footprint of their operations, including production, packing, processing and transportation to port; and (2) introduce companies in the pineapple value chain to a methodology to estimate the footprint of their direct water use, from production to transportation to the port. The guide was prepared by the Responsible Fruits Project with support from the Government of Germany. It is closely linked to the project’s technical guide Adapting to climate change in the tropical fruit industry: a technical guide for pineapple producers and exporters.