“Carbon footprint

analysis in
manufacturing
process”

Student Name: Noor Al-Mashaykhi

ID:20-0063
Date:23/11/2024
Key words: climate change, CO2 removal, greenhouse gases
(GHG), manufacturing process, emissions reduction,
environmental impact, input-output analysis, life-cycle analysis,

Carbon footprint is a term that in recent years has become popular among
researchers and professionals. (Wiedmann & Minx, 2007) define the carbon
footprint systematically, “A quantification of CO2 emissions can arise either
directly from daily activities or indirectly through the complete product life
cycle”. It is widely recognized that the industrial and energy sectors are
responsible for most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly in China
(Zhao et al., 2012) . According to the (IPCC) its assessment report in 2007
exposes how greenhouse gases are badly affecting our environment. As
proof, the manufacturing sector is one of the major energy users and its
consumption accounts for around third or more at worldwide level it causes
approximately 36% carbon emission almost, based on the International
Energy Agency Estimate (IEA, 2008).
Mohammed published article titled “A Synopsis on effects of Anthropogenic
GHG Emission from Power Generation and energies consumption”, it places
into context this the unfavorable energy intersections that many countries
face nowadays. Limiting GHG emissions is also key to lessening weather
disturbances because of climate change, maintaining biodiversity. So it is of
necessity that we understand this scenario and begin to address it before it
worsens and causes more harm (Mohammed et al., 2012) .
Literature review:
The expression "carbon footprint" became popular in the 1990s to describe
the effects of climate change (Sala Lizarraga & Picallo-Perez, 2020) . It was
derived from the notion of "ecological footprint" (Ercin and Hoekstra, 2012).
Since 2005, this concept has been independently promoted. It refers to how
human activity affects the environment, particularly the climate, greenhouse
gas emissions commonly referred to as "carbon emissions," are primarily a
result of human activities. The industrialization of affluent nations has been
extremely reliant on fossil fuels ever since the industrial revolution occured,
which has caused greenhouse gas emissions to rise quickly
(Climate Change, 2020)
. One of the major problems the world must face in the twenty-first
century is global warming (Hansen et al., 2000). To fight climate change and
promote the establishment of a global community with a common future, it is
imperative that all countries collaborate to decrease greenhouse gas
emissions.
This study involves through analysis of the most recent literature be
announced between 2007 and 2021, encompassing journals, theses, and
books pertinent to the topic of carbon footprint. The findings from this
literature review will serve to determine the factors that affect CO2 emission
values and explore the potential avenues for further research on carbon
footprints.
The first article about the cooling tower waters volatile organic carbon
emission was published in 1981, marking the beginning of carbon emission
research (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Appendix P Sampling
Procedures Manual, n.d.). Following that, a few researchers investigated the
area with little to no impact until the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997.
Even so, following 2007, research on carbon emissions gained popularity,
leading to a notable rise in study papers. Climate change has become a
major global worry due to rising global temperatures, and it is regarded as
the most principal issue facing the world community in the late 20th century
(Lai et al., 2012). After carbon emissions were identified as the main cause of
climate change, research on global carbon emissions grows sharply
(Friedlingstein et al., 2022) .
In the beginning, the purpose of carbon emission research was to capture
around the world emission patterns and behaviors. Researchers have,
however, concentrated on creating strategies to understand and lessen the
consequences of carbon emissions due to the growing significance of
sustainable development (Čuček et al., 2012). Reflecting the environment,
the carbon footprint must be used correctly to provide accurate information.
According to the Internet of Science research database, one of the most
mentioned studies on [Warming Caused by Cumulative Carbon emissions
Towards the trillionth tonne] (Allen et al., 2009). According to the WoS
database, Zhang and Cheng's research paper on [Energy consumption,
carbon emission, and economic growth in China] was it placed as the 4th
most cited article about carbon emission (Zhang & Cheng, 2009).
This study researched China's carbon emissions between 1960 and 2007.
The subsequent topic on the list was [Energy consumption, income, and
carbon emissions in the United State] which was referenced 434 times by
scholars worldwide (Soytas et al., 2007). As a result, major nations like the
US and China are rather afraid about how global carbon emissions may affect
their economies. We may think about ways to support global sustainable
development by looking at the carbon footprint, a crucial indicator of how
human actions impact the environment.
In 2013, the production calcium carbide, soda ash, ammonia, alumina, and
plate glass resulted in the emission of 233 million tons of CO2, establishing
China as the leading carbon emitter globally. (Liu, 2016). By 2040, it will be
predicted that the industrial sector would use more than half of the energy
supplied worldwide. Although many energy-intensive businesses in India are
covered by regulations, coal continues to be used to generate power (Ray &
Kumar, 2018).
Given that over 30% of total carbon emission originate from the
manufacturing sector, the context of “carbon peak” & ‘’carbon neutrality”
presents significant economic and environmental challenges for
manufacturing enterprises (Wang et al., 2021). As awareness of carbon
emissions as a contributing cause to climate change grows, many industries
and businesses are attempting to determine their "carbon footprint" to
determine their contribution to the phenomenon. Several publications go
over the following crucial tactics, for a start, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Assesses the ecological consequences of a product or service at each stage
of its life cycle, from the origin of its basic components to disposal. In
compliance with ISO 14040, life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a
comprehensive method for assessing environmental consequences, including
carbon dioxide emissions (Life Cycle Assessment Best Practice of ISO 14040
Series Ministry of Commerce, 2004).
Second point is the (Input-Output study) by emphasizing the economic
interdependencies across industries, this type of study examines both direct
and indirect emissions. (Miller & Blair, n.d.) point out that by displaying the
indirect emissions brought on by consumer goods, this approach can offer
information on supply chain consequences.
"Emissions per capita" is a third approach of measuring emissions that looks
at how much responsibility each person in a country carry.Since it shows
that,while getting high overall emissions, developing countries emissions per
capita are lower than those of wealthy countries , so emissions per capita
are popular data among them. Many low-population nations with energy-
intensive sectors have huge emissions per person. However, due of their
huge populations, which disperse the overall emission levels, big nations like
India and China do not appear to be major per-capita polluters.
Although carbon footprint analysis has many advantages, it also has certain
challenges like (Data Quality and Accessibility), concludes that their
inconsistent data quality might make estimates less reliable (Henriksen et
al., 2021). Calculations of emissions might differ significantly if they rely on
old or lacking information. Another drawback is emissions source complexity,
comprehensive evaluations are made more difficult by the interaction of
direct, indirect, and established emissions. Understanding this complexity is
crucial to increasing the precision of carbon footprint estimation.
The growing trend of research publications on carbon emissions suggests
that scholars are paying more attention to this area. This is another proof
that the study of carbon emissions has grown to be a very popular field
among experts worldwide. One of the primary causes of this elevated degree
of concern is the rapidly changing global environment.

The future directions like technology innovations, future research may focus
on developing better methodology, cultivating behavioral shifts, and
increasing the quality of data. Carbon footprint evaluations can become
more accurate and efficient The application of large-scale data analytics and
advancements in machine learning technology (Greening the workface: The
Power of investing in human capital, n.d.). Second, Sector-Specific Methods
as Creating specialized techniques for various industries can produce. In
Pakistan's industrial pollution level is quite high and horrible. Large-scale i is
the main factor affecting the health of the local population (Aqib & Zaman,
2023). Thus, industrial green transformation is essential for ensuring the
long-term sustainability of the industrial sector and mitigating the negative
consequences of industrial pollution on both the society & environment
(Ullah et al., n.d.). Excellent technology and development are needed in
Pakistan to speed the industrial shift toward economic growth and a reduced
carbon intensity (Waheed et al., 2018). In the context of terrestrial
ecosystems, climate initiatives, and the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), an environmental sustainability plan has been created. To mitigate
emissions, Pakistan aims to plant ten billion trees within (2018–2023) and
complete the 1 billion tree tsunami reforestation project in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa from 2014 to 2019 (Pakistan Green Economy and green growth
new development framework, n.d.). By safeguarding social values, public
rights, and a habitable environment through tax reforms and the
implementation of environmental regulations, the Pakistani government is
accelerating its efforts to foster a green economy, which promotes
sustainable economic development. Pakistan is also striving for carbon
neutrality by 2050 and aims to dropped net carbon emissions by more than
55% in 2030 to create a healthier environment (Punjab, 2019).
Industrial businesses have been dealing with a lot of issues in minimizing
carbon emissions under the current regulations. One of the fundamental
requirements for industrial firms is to use a model to quantify the total
amount of carbon emissions to manage them. In addition to giving an
additional method for industrial organizations to manage and regulate their
greenhouse gas emissions, measuring the carbon emissions of factories in a
particular region allows power grid companies to emphasize their role in
promoting the regional carbon emission a goal.
The literature review conducted reveals that there are deficiencies in the
results of previous studies that did not account for the carbon footprint when
calculating the overall carbon emissions from settlement operations and
consumptions. There is currently a significant accuracy gap in carbon
footprint computing. The variation between a factory's calculated and legally
accountable carbon emissions is known as the accuracy gap. The accuracy
gap may be huge for many manufacturers, particularly big facilities with
intricate value chains. According to a 2021 poll, leaders from large
companies across nine key industries indicated that their emissions
projections had been mistaken by up to 40%. To analyze trends in national
CO2 emission performance, a number of outcomes have been created and
employed. To evaluate the patterns of evolution of emerging nations with
regards to climate change, for example, he suggests using a "Carbonization
Index" which is the total amount of carbon dioxide emission for every unit of
energy used (Mielnik & Goldemberg, 1999). In the research of climate crises,
he demonstrates that energy intensity, which measures energy consumption
relative to GDP, holds equal significance to the carbonization index. t (Ang,
1999). Emphasizes the significance of CO2 emission intensity in gauging
decarbonization and evaluating national energy programs (Sun, 2005). In the
study, CO2 emission per capita and CO2 emission intensity may both be
seen as a connection between per capita income (Tol et al., 2009).
Energy consumption is constantly related to the carbon leave of human
activities in a region, according to a literature analysis on the subject.
Household demographic information and financial situation have an impact
on how much energy families consume. Prior research findings suggest that
a higher income is associated with a greater carbon footprint due to a more
energy-efficient lifestyle (Higher Income Earners Usually Have Higher
Climate Impact Lifestyles I UmWeltbundesamt, n.d.)
Research on Indonesia's settlement activities' carbon footprint often
distinguishes between region and research factors. There are, however, gaps
in the literature review from prior studies that did not account for home
water usage and waste's carbon footprint when calculating the overall
carbon emissions from community operations. Future studies should include
variable garbage output and home water usage to measure the carbon
footprint of settlement tasks (Rum et al., 2024).

Conclusion:
The study’s goal is to investigate how carbon dioxide emissions affect
industrial sector by looking at the papers research from2007 to 2021.
Considering the outcomes, is to determine the elements that affect the
amount of CO2 emissions and the option of assessing the carbon footprint.
According to many articles, discusses the essential strategies to reduce
carbon emission and it note the difficulties it faces in this matter. The future
directions can be drawn from this study and in specific on industries in
Pakistan. Moreover, there is several gaps the most significant of them is
“Accuracy gap” as discussed above. Nevertheless, because of the growing
awareness of climate change and environmental contamination. Many
wealthy countries have put in place stringent environmental regulations,
such as taxing businesses, making it costly to utilize fossil fuel-based energy
sources, and maintaining environmental laws.

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