As carbon border regulations tighten worldwide, energy-intensive industries, such as steel, aluminum, and cement, face a growing challenge: proving the credibility of their carbon footprint data. Unfortunately, many companies still operate without access to internationally recognized background databases or consistent emission factors, creating serious compliance and trade risks.
The problem lies in fragmented carbon accounting systems. While global carbon reporting standards such as ISO 14067 emphasize traceable, life-cycle-based emission data, many developing or transition economies lack harmonized databases that meet these expectations. This creates a “carbon data recognition gap”where even well-intentioned reporting may be rejected across borders due to format, granularity, or lack of third-party verification.