What's your number?: Navigating the shifting landscape of ICT carbon footprint labels and standards

Firms may have a number of motivations for understanding the carbon footprint of an information and communication technology product. Meeting corporate sustainability targets, complying with emissions reductions mandates, or achieving “green” products rankings are frequent motivators, but, increasingly, eco-label schemes are beginning to pressure early adopters and laggards alike to calculate and understand their product's carbon footprints. However, the rules by which carbon footprints are calculated continue to evolve as the understanding of the science behind calculations improves. This document provides an overview of several leading information technology labels and standards, as well as the European Union's efforts to refine and validate the associated measurement methodologies.