Inside the Footprint

The “Footprint” has long been a metaphor for authors and poets as a journey worth following. In more recent history is has been a symbol that has in a moment unified humanity: A point of study in the origins of man. An image that captivated the world with the first man on the moon.

Today’s Footprint has a made a new impression in the sand but has the same lasting affect. This globally recognized residual mark provides a basis of common understanding.

The “Carbon Footprint” emerged out of the UK in the early 2000s and has received a lot of attention. Probably the most well known of the footprint terminology, the Carbon Footprint primarily focuses on CO2 waste streams from energy production. An energy consultant might use the term in discussions about Global Warming or Climate Change.

The “Environmental Footprint” measures individual and business impact on the environment. Environmental businesses and consultants speak of it relation to resource consumption, business process impacts, and company waste streams that effect the environment.

The “Ecological Footprint” or “Global Footprint” is the most comprehensive term and is defined as the human demands on our world’s ecosystems. It is used to examine the continuous balance between our consumption of resources and the regenerative forces that create them.

The newest to the group is the “Personal Footprint”. It estimates individual impacts in terms of how much land area it takes to support an individual’s lifestyle.

Like the examples from history, this new footprint is a continuous topic of study and a source for individual inspiration and creativity. Companies and individuals are pouring into this impression on the planet faster than ever before.

As a sustainability consultant, Taiga Company works with clients in all areas of the footprint. From consumption to waste reduction, our professional and personal consulting works to implement solutions that meet specific needs. Understand your impacts and build a sustainability plan.