While the European Union strengthens its legal framework with stricter targets for 2040, companies in the food industry, sector organizations and public administrations They are deploying decarbonization plans, digital tools, and best practice manuals. The common goal is clear: to move towards climate neutrality, reduce energy consumption, invest in renewables and make informed decisions based on reliable data about the carbon footprint.
A stricter European framework to reduce the carbon footprint
The European Parliament has given the green light to a new binding target of a 90% reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases by 2040This intermediate goal reinforces the path towards climate neutrality by 2050, which is already a legal obligation for all Member States.
This regulatory leap represents a profound transformation of the European energy, industrial and transport modelIt is not just about setting a figure, but about forcing countries to adapt their public policies, national energy and climate plans, and sectoral incentives to a decarbonization scenario that is much more demanding than the current 2030 target.
The reform of the European Climate Law makes this objective central reference for emissions reduction strategies In the medium term, decisions regarding infrastructure, aid to energy-intensive sectors, and the renewal of the building and vehicle stock must align with this new climate red line.
Aware of the differences between economies and production structures, community institutions have introduced flexibility mechanisms for StatesFrom 2036 onwards, countries will be able to resort to high-quality international carbon credits to cover up to five percentage points of the required reduction, always under safeguards that prevent unreliable projects or practices of greenwashing.
From scope 2 to scope 3: measure better to reduce more
To achieve these goals, European organizations are forced to improve the measurement of your carbon footprint at all levelsThe usual framework distinguishes between three scopes of emissions: direct (scope 1), indirect through purchased energy (scope 2) and indirect throughout the value chain (scope 3).
The so-called Scope 2 encompasses the emissions associated with electricity and other purchased energy by a company. This includes the electricity consumption of offices, industrial buildings, and fleets, as well as the purchase of heat, steam, or cooling. In sectors like manufacturing, where electricity expenditure is high, this consumption becomes a critical point for designing strategies for savings and substitution with renewable sources.
In an industrial example, scope 2 would include the electricity required for lighting, auxiliary machinery or basic facility services, from production lines to office equipment. Reducing the footprint at this level involves 100% renewable energy contracts, photovoltaic self-consumption and high-efficiency technologies.
More complex is scope 3, a true “catch-all” category that accounts for most of the carbon footprint of many organizationsThis includes emissions related to raw material production, supplier transportation, customer use of products, and end-of-life disposal. In sectors like automotive and food, this part of the footprint is usually the largest and, at the same time, the most difficult to control.
Decarbonization experts point out that the complexity of supply chains, the lack of homogeneous data, and the diversity of methodologies make it difficult Precise range measurement 3Even so, they stress that delving deeper at this level is an essential condition for approaching net-zero emissions goals, encompassing everything from goods and services purchased to the use and recycling of products sold.
Decarbonization plans in the food industry
In parallel with the strengthening of European regulations, more and more companies in the Spanish food sector They are implementing specific decarbonization plans to reduce their carbon footprint in the short and medium term. These programs are usually based on a detailed analysis of their baseline emissions and roadmaps that prioritize energy efficiency and the transition to clean energy.
In the thermal sector, companies are working on improvements to boilers, industrial ovens and air conditioning systemsThese measures are accompanied by energy consumption control and monitoring solutions. Actions such as reinforcing the thermal insulation of cooking and drying areas or zoning production spaces allow for reduced heat loss and better adjustment of actual energy demand.
Regarding electricity, decarbonization plans often include the contracting of supply of 100% renewable originThe project includes replacing existing lighting fixtures with LED technology, upgrading electric motors to high-efficiency versions, and installing intelligent control systems. Special attention is also being paid to cold storage facilities, a major energy consumer, by implementing energy optimization solutions and preventive maintenance.
In terms of transport and machinery, companies are moving towards fleets with less environmental impact, optimized logistics routes and the use of alternative fuels, supporting these measures with training in efficient driving. The gradual combination of all these actions, according to industry estimates, could translate into reductions of close to 10% in the carbon footprint in the timeframe of a few years.
Some companies have also begun to strengthen their self-consumption through high-power photovoltaic plantsMass replacement of light fixtures, water purification, and the use of packaging with high percentages of recycled plastic are among the measures being implemented. The logic behind these decisions is not solely environmental: integrating efficiency criteria into industrial activity is now seen as a factor in competitiveness and regulatory risk management.
Livestock and beef: digitalization to cut emissions
The European agricultural and livestock sector, and beef in particular in Spain, is under increasing pressure to reduce your carbon footprint and demonstrate measurable progress in sustainability. In this context, interprofessional organizations are promoting specific programs to better measure emissions and facilitate the transition to more efficient production models.
Among the most notable initiatives is the development of a web app designed to calculate the carbon footprint of beef cattle in Spain. This tool will allow farmers and industries to more accurately determine their greenhouse gas emissions, both in the livestock production phase and in the industrial part of the value chain.
The application, whose launch for farms is planned for the short term, will connect with farm management systems and ERPs via API interfacesIn this way, the data needed for the calculation will be obtained automatically, quickly and with a greater level of detail, reducing the administrative burden for the producer and improving the quality of the information available.
In a second phase, the implementation of a version geared towards the meat industryThe aim is to extend emissions measurement and self-monitoring across the entire value chain, from primary production to processing and distribution. This comprehensive approach seeks to enable the European beef sector to move towards the climate neutrality targets set by the European Union for mid-century.
These digital tools are part of European-wide campaigns that They combine environmental measurement, technical training, and outreach.Through seminars at universities, presence at specialized fairs and activities with the media, the message is being conveyed to both the public and the livestock sector itself that reducing the carbon footprint is compatible with maintaining the competitiveness and economic viability of farms.
Filming and culture: the carbon footprint reaches the audiovisual sector
Sustainability is also making inroads in a less obvious area: that of film and television shootsIn Spain, and specifically in the Valencian Community, the pressure from international standards and platforms has led to measuring the carbon footprint and designing reduction plans becoming part of the daily routine of productions.
In cities like Alicante, film attraction offices offer technical advice based on national guidelinesEspecially those developed by the Spain Film Commission, which include criteria for sustainable mobility, energy consumption, waste management, and responsible contracting. Currently, there are no specific municipal regulations or financial incentives linked to environmental performance, but there is logistical and training support.
The most structured impetus comes from infrastructures such as Ciudad de la Luz, managed by the Valencian Regional Government, which has developed a corporate sustainability manual or “green book” for filming at their facilities. This document offers guidelines for planning, measuring, and reducing climate impact at all stages of production, from project design to set dismantling.
For many production companies, especially those working with international platforms, to have studies and services aligned with carbon footprint reduction criteria It is an increasingly decisive factor when choosing a location. Although the lack of specific green incentives limits the immediate reach of these initiatives, sustainability is becoming established as a competitive requirement rather than simply a voluntary gesture.
The Spanish audiovisual sector is thus going through a kind of intermediate phase: There are European guidelines, training, and frameworksHowever, economic incentive systems that directly reward productions most committed to reducing emissions are not yet widespread. Nevertheless, the trend suggests that the integration of climate criteria into public funding for audiovisual works will increase.
Taken together, the new European target of 90% by 2040, the expansion of digital tools to calculate the carbon footprint in sectors such as beef, and decarbonization plans in industry and culture paint a picture in which Measuring, reducing and verifying emissions becomes a basic condition for operating in the European marketFrom the energy we buy to transportation, packaging, or the way we film a series, the carbon footprint has crept into the strategic decisions of companies and administrations, setting the pace for a climate transition that can no longer be postponed.
