Carbon footprint calculator as an instrument for faster green transition: case study-glassmaking tradition meets innovation

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the carbon footprint represents climate change that alters the composition of the atmosphere and is directly or indirectly attributed to anthropogenic activity. Depending on the nature of the activity, different types of carbon footprint can be identified, considering typical annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The individual carbon footprint is based on the consumption habits of the individual and takes into account GHG emissions originating from the use of means of transport, consumption of electricity for heating and cooling residential (and other) spaces, eating habits, consumption of goods and services, recycling habits, etc. The carbon footprint of a product includes emissions of harmful gases from all stages, starting from the extraction of raw materials, the production process, the required energy, the transformation of the product for the needs of other companies, the habits of customers when using the product and its treatment as waste, as well as transportation between all production stages. The corporate footprint includes the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions related to the operations of a particular company. This is the main information basis for identifying both energy efficiency measures at the level of an individual company and joint activities at the level of the entire sector with the aim of reducing the number of harmful gases emitted into the atmosphere. As part of the project ""Glassmaking Tradition Meets Innovation"" financed by the Creative Europe Program, it is planned to create an online carbon footprint calculator for creative practices in the field of handmade glass products/objects. The design and build calculator allow artists, craftsmen and creative entrepreneurs to work with glass to calculate the carbon footprint of a variety of hand-crafted creative expressions of glass. The result of the project mentioned will adapt the green paradigm, that is, it will contribute to the fact that artists and craftsmen in the glass industry become more aware, responsible and equipped for a future without carbon dioxide. This unique calculator is an innovative tool that will directly enable and widely promote the digital and green transformation of the creative and artistic production of glass objects through the development of innovative ways of dealing with the environmental challenges of working with glass and minimizing the impact on the environment. Its original results (in knowledge, technology and art) could significantly change the quality of work with glass in the EU countries, to increase the number of socially responsible creative entrepreneurs, craftsmen and artists working with glass, to reduce CO2 emissions and to achieve zero waste production in the field of handmade glass objects. The methodology of creating the calculator will be based on an interdisciplinary analysis of different types of glass materials (especially glass waste) and ways of their creative processing. The calculator will be used in the evaluation and design of sustainable ideas for work based on the application of the circular economy model.