Nordic handprint on a global market

Led by CLC.

"Carbon handprint" is a positive climate impact indicator. In contrast to footprint, which refers to the negative environmental impact caused by greenhouse gas emissions during a product's life cycle, the term handprint refers to the positive environmental impact of a product throughout its life cycle. The handprint concept helps a company to develop products and services that enable their customers to reduce their carbon footprint. The quantification methodology for carbon handprint was developed by VTT Technical Research Center for Finland and LUT University in 2018 and updated in 2021. Climate Leadership Coalition supported the development of the handprint.

The handprint concept is primarily aimed at companies. However, national regulations affect the factors of how well a company can implement its potential handprint.

The workstream aims to:

  • Clarify the concept of handprints among Nordic companies and to help companies understand what handprint potential they have
  • Identify the policy changes needed to improve the Nordic business and innovation environment and accelerate the export of solutions and products with low carbon dioxide emissions
  • Develop the handprint concept so that it can be used as part of the Nordic companies' strategic planning and development
  • Get the companies to use the handprint concept in their operations to reduce the carbon footprint and implement the concept in their strategic processes

In May 2022, CLC arranged a webinar with the topic "Leveraging the carbon handprint methodology for the benefit of your business", with a focus on introducing the handprint methodology to Nordic companies and public actors. Afterwards, a survey about the concept was send to Nordic businesses.

The final report was published in February 2023. Read the report "Nordic handprint on a global market" and main insights here

Contact: Senni Raunio: