Carbon handprint

For companies, carbon handprint is a measure (in mass, e.g. tons, of CO2 equivalent) of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction achieved through its products and services when compared to a baseline product or service*. The bigger the handprint is, the better. 

We aim to achieve GHG emission reductions through our portfolio of renewable fuels, e.g. for the transport sector uses, as well as circular solutions for the plastics and chemicals industry. Growing our capacity for renewable and circular products is a key driver towards our carbon handprint target. Through our strategic investments, our production capacity of renewable and circular solutions will expand significantly in the coming years.

At the same time, we need to ensure that our renewable and circular products have as low GHG emissions across their life cycle as possible. Read more about minimizing our emissions across our value chain in the carbon footprint section.

_{*When verified to fulfill the mandatory sustainability criteria in accordance with the biofuel regulation in our markets (e.g. EU RED), including greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements over the fuel’s life cycle compared to fossil fuel.} 

_{*)Neste Annual Report 2025, Sustainability statement, Climate change, p. 106.}

_{**)Life cycle GHG emissions are quantified against fossil references using either biofuel regulatory framework calculations (e.g., EU RED) or critically reviewed life cycle assessments meeting ISO 14040/14044 standards, applied according to product category.}

Carbon handprint for products and services

For products and services, carbon handprint refers to the difference between the GHG emissions caused over the life cycle of a product compared to a reference product representing the baseline. 

Our renewable products have lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over their life cycle compared to fossil alternatives, which can help businesses work towards their climate targets*.

We calculate the GHG emissions of our products over their entire life cycle: from the production of their raw materials to the end use of the final product. For renewable fuels, the life cycle ends in the use phase, and for other (non-fuel) products such as renewable feedstock for new polymers and chemicals, the life cycle ends in the end-of-life treatment and potential recycling. Neste’s renewable products, such as Neste MY Renewable Diesel, Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel, as well as Neste RE, our renewable feedstock for polymers and chemicals production, are lower-GHG-emission alternatives* to fossil alternatives.  When calculating Neste’s handprint, we compare the life cycle emissions of our renewable products to the fossil comparator emission values as defined in the relevant regulation (e.g. EU RED III, LCFS, CORSIA) to evaluate the achieved GHG reductions.

_{*)When verified to fulfill the mandatory sustainability criteria in accordance with the biofuel regulation in our markets (e.g. EU RED), including greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements over the fuel’s life cycle compared to fossil fuel.}