- Three frameworks coexist: the GHG Protocol (international), the Bilan Carbone® method (France, ADEME and ABC) and the ISO 14064 standard, plus the regulatory BEGES.
- All rest on the same logic (activity data × emission factor) and the same scopes 1, 2 and 3.
- No certification is required, including for the BEGES: the reference methodology is set by article R229-49.
- For an SME, the GHG Protocol and the Base Empreinte let you start without a license, then go further.
What are the carbon footprint methods?
Three main frameworks coexist, plus the French regulatory framework. All rest on the same calculation logic (activity data × emission factor) and the same scopes 1, 2 and 3, but they differ in origin and in use.
| Method | Maintained by | Reach | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHG Protocol | WRI and WBCSD | International | The most widespread standard, the basis of most reporting |
| Bilan Carbone® | ADEME and Association pour la transition Bas Carbone (ABC) | France | The French reference method, with training and a license |
| ISO 14064 | International Organization for Standardization | International | Quantification and verification standard, useful for audit |
| Regulatory BEGES | French State | France | Legal obligation above 500 employees |
The choice depends on your context and your obligations. For the wider picture, go back to our article on the company carbon footprint.
What is the Bilan Carbone® method?
The Bilan Carbone® method is the French method for greenhouse gas emissions accounting, maintained by ADEME and the Association pour la transition Bas Carbone (ABC). It covers scopes 1, 2 and 3, relies on the emission factors of the ADEME Base Empreinte, and comes with tools and training. Its licensed use is reserved for organizations and consultants trained by the ABC.
It is the most widespread method in France, and the historical reference for structuring a footprint. It is not the only permitted path: other recognized methods also produce a valid footprint.
What is the difference between Bilan Carbone® and the GHG Protocol?
Both measure the same emissions, but with different vocabulary and a different organization. The GHG Protocol, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is the international standard: it structures emissions into scopes 1, 2 and 3 and forms the basis of most reporting, including CDP and CSRD. The Bilan Carbone® method uses those same scopes but proposes its own category breakdown and its own paid tools, calibrated to the French context.
In practice, the GHG Protocol prevails as soon as you look beyond France or answer frameworks such as CDP or CSRD, which build on it. It is the common language of carbon accounting worldwide, which makes your data easier to compare and to recognize outside France. The Bilan Carbone® method stays anchored in the French context. Results are comparable from one method to the other, because the factors and the scopes are shared.
What is the ISO 14064 standard?
ISO 14064 is an international standard that frames the quantification, monitoring and verification of greenhouse gas emissions. Its part 1 covers the inventory at organization level. Unlike the GHG Protocol or the Bilan Carbone® method, it does not provide emission factors: it sets requirements for rigor and traceability, useful when the footprint has to be verified by a third party. It is often used alongside a calculation method, not instead of one.
Do you need a certification to produce a carbon footprint?
No. No certification is required to produce a carbon footprint, including the regulatory one. The reference methodology for the BEGES is set by regulation, in article R229-49 of the French Environmental Code, and relies on ADEME factors, but it does not require the licensed Bilan Carbone® method. Other recognized methods, such as the GHG Protocol, meet the obligation. The detail of the obligations is in our article on the mandatory carbon footprint (BEGES).
For an SME starting out, the license and training of the Bilan Carbone® method carry a cost, and that complete method is not always the best entry point when you are establishing a first measurement. An approach based on the GHG Protocol and the public factors of the Base Empreinte lets you start without certification, then go further. That is the standard Ditto relies on.
Which method to choose with Ditto
The right choice is not the most complete method, but the one you can maintain from one year to the next. Ditto relies on the GHG Protocol and the public factors of the Base Empreinte, structures your inventory by scope and by category, and keeps your calculations consistent from one cycle to the next. A dedicated coach teaches you the method so you can run it yourself in the next cycle. And when you are starting out, a platform like Ditto saves time, but a clear method and well-chosen factors are enough to produce a reliable footprint.
Choose the right method for your footprint
A Ditto expert helps you choose the method that fits your size, your obligations and your goals.
Carbon footprint methods: key takeaways
| Element | Summary |
|---|---|
| Main methods | GHG Protocol (international), Bilan Carbone® (France, ADEME and ABC), ISO 14064 (verifiable standard) |
| Common ground | Same scopes 1, 2, 3; same activity data × emission factor logic |
| Certification | Not required, including for the BEGES (methodology set by R229-49) |
| SME choice | GHG Protocol and Base Empreinte to start without a license, then go further |
| Simplified version | Encouraged by ADEME for 50 to 500 employees, on a voluntary basis |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bilan Carbone method?
It is the French method for greenhouse gas emissions accounting, maintained by ADEME and the Association pour la transition Bas Carbone. It covers scopes 1, 2 and 3, relies on Base Empreinte factors, and its licensed use is reserved for organizations and consultants trained by the ABC.
What is the difference between Bilan Carbone and the GHG Protocol?
Both measure the same emissions over the same scopes. The GHG Protocol is the international standard, the basis of most reporting (CDP, CSRD). The Bilan Carbone® method is the French reference, with its own tools, training and license. Results are comparable.
Is the Bilan Carbone method mandatory?
No. No licensed method is imposed, even for the regulatory footprint (BEGES). The reference methodology is set by article R229-49 of the French Environmental Code and relies on ADEME factors; other recognized methods, such as the GHG Protocol, meet the obligation.
Do you need a certification to produce a carbon footprint?
No, no certification is required to produce a footprint, including the regulatory one. Certifying or licensing a method remains a choice, useful for recognition and verification, but not a legal condition.
