Companies need to communicate the environmental excellence of their products and services. In order to substantiate claims reliably, transparently and based on science, a uniform and comparable way to calculate positive environmental impacts is needed. The Handprint Guidelines developed by VTT and LUT University provide the tools for this.
It all started in 2016, when the Carbon Footprint project focused on climate impacts. In the next phase, the perspective was expanded to include resource handprints, air quality, and water and nutrient handprints, and at the same time from the product and service level to organizations and cities. The last project, which ended this year, focused on the positive impacts of circular economy solutions and the carbon neutrality perspective.
“The calculation of the footprint utilizes existing standards, such as life cycle assessment,” says Senior Researcher Katri Behm VTT reports.
“A new solution is always compared to a situation that best describes the circumstances that would prevail if the offered solution were not on the market. The new product can even be made of a different material, as long as it fulfills the same functionality as the product it is being compared to.”
Even if a product has a handprint, it always also has a footprint.
"Different indicators are reported separately, and the footprint is also reported separately alongside the handprint - so, for example, the difference between the handprint and the footprint is not calculated."
A model for pioneers
The Handprint model is suitable in principle for any industry, but only the most environmentally advanced products or services can have a Handprint.
“For example, reducing your own footprint is not enough, the positive impact must extend to the customer,” says Behm.
The Handprint model is suitable for pioneering companies that develop new environmentally friendly technologies and exceed basic legislative requirements.
"Companies have been very interested in the handprint model, and there is a great need for it. Next, we will aim to spread the instructions abroad. For example, the USA and Germany have developed their own models, but our model is the most concrete - it provides clear instructions on what and how to measure a handprint."
Three projects
The Handprint research project has included three projects: Carbon Handprint (2016 – 2018), Environmental Handprint (2018–2021) and Carbon Neutrality Empowered by Handprint (2021-2024).
The project has been funded by Business Finland, corporate partners, VTT and LUT University. From the project website www.handprint.fi Among other things, you can find scientific publications related to the project and presentations from the final seminar.
