Reliable tracking of environmental footprint data is a global concern for corporations, governments, and consumers.
Accurate data on emissions, material, and energy consumption is essential for mandatory compliance reporting and meeting transparency demands. It is also key in taking action to avoid, reduce, and offset emissions.
Organizations today face many significant challenges when it comes to managing their environmental footprints, including:
- Increasing requirements for reliable environmental disclosure to customers, regulators, and society
- Consistency in data measurement, compatibility, and interoperability throughout supply chains
- A lack of standards for recording and processing environmental footprint data
The Open Footprint Forum will create a common model for footprint-related data covering all types of emissions, consumptions (e.g., water, land, energy), and base calculations to normalize and aggregate data.
Currently, the lack of standards for storing, defining, and accessing Green House Gasses (GHG) scope data, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20), has major business implications. For example, in a value chain with multiple participating companies, when the recipient of the supply chain wants to calculate the total carbon footprint of an end product, it is virtually impossible since each supply chain participant has stored data using their own standards. However, having individual standards is wasteful. The supply chain is just one example; however, there are several other examples where it makes no business sense to have individual standards for GHG data.
The Open Footprint Forum provides an environment for access to one set of standards across ALL INDUSTRIES.(Spanning all industries is very important to the supply chain.) For that, we deliver:
- One flexible data platform (see model)
- One set of data definitions
- One set of metadata definitions
- One API (Application Program Interface) to access the data
Having implemented a copy of the Open Footprint Data Platform, each company will use the same definitions, which means the carbon values can be added together. No time or money is wasted, plus we can focus our time and effort on applications that make use of the data. This creates business value, where we can really differentiate and innovate.
The Open Footprint initiative is more than a set of standards. It is also:
- A Reference Architecture
- A Data Model supporting WEF GHG Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3
- A Data Model supporting World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)/PACT
- An Open Source-based Reference Implementation to be used for Testing, Validation etc. purposes but not to be meant at the moment as an operational set up
Key upcoming deliverables include:
- An OFP Data Model which is evergreened on an ongoing basis to ensure that we are aligned with the latest developments. This OFP Data Model is now at a level that enterprises can use for testing and verification purposes. Documentation is also part of the deliverable. The Data Model is part of the OFP Reference Implementation but can be used in isolation (as part of other supplier platforms).
- An OFP Reference Implementation is expected to be delivered on GCP, AWS, and MS Azure. The code base, all Open Source, is the same on all three platforms and will be made available via The Open Group OFP Gitlab to download to their own set up but pre reg (Open Source) Kubernetes needs to be available.
In parallel, the Open Footprint Forum is in contact with various auditing and reporting bodies (such as ISSB, WEF, GRI, etc.) to explore how we can better align our standards with their auditing/reporting standards. In addition, we are working with the WBCSD to understand how we can load their results seamlessly into the OFP Data Platform.
The Open Footprint Forum welcomes anyone who is interested in joining us, including Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in Business, Auditing, Sustainability, Data, and IT.
Please contact Heidi Karlsson (h.karlsson@opengroup.org), Forum Director of the Open Footprint Forum, for more information.
Data Sheet
By joining the Open Footprint Forum, your organization will:
- Be seen as a leader in the development of open, interoperable environmental footprint measurement standards and solutions benefitting all companies and society at large
- Help to drive down the cost of measuring and managing environmental footprint, for your organization and for your supply chain
- Ensure that the standards and data platform that will emerge from the Open Footprint initiative will meet your organization’s needs
- Gain early access to the emerging standard and data platform
- Become part of the environmental footprint data measurement ecosystem
Without the Open Footprint Forum, organizations would resort to acquiring or building incompatible and expensive custom solutions that don’t interoperate throughout their supply chains.
For a list of our current members please click here.
The Open Group Open Footprint™ Forum regularly presents as part of various conferences and events. Speakers and their presentations at past & upcoming events are below:
The Open Group Virtual Event EA for Sustainability - January 30 - February 1, 2023
- EA Practitioners and Digital Practitioners
- TOGAF Standard, 10th Edition, Series Guides deep dive (Mon pre-con)
The Open Footprint Forum Global Event, London, UK - April 17 - 20, 2023
The Open Group Virtual Event - July 24 - 26, 2023
The Open Footprint Forum Global Event, Houston, TX, USA - October 30 - November 2, 2023
Get Involved and Gain Influence in Defining Open Standards and Certifications
Being a Member of The Open Group gives organizations early access to the latest information and developments regarding open standards and best practices and enables them to participate in our highly influential Forums and Work Groups. We provide a collaborative, vendor-neutral environment where member representatives can:
- Network with a world-class community of peers, experts, and industry leaders
- Have early access to information on industry developments
- Gain insight for future decisions from both major customers and technology suppliers
- Influence outcomes that benefit their organizations
- Grow professionally and enhance their credibility in the industry
- Receive education in best practices
If your organization is not yet a Member of the Open Footprint Forum and would like to get involved, please click below!