Complete guide · Greenhouse gases
ISO 14064 in Romania
The standard for quantifying and verifying greenhouse gas emissions: how to build a carbon inventory that is credible, verifiable, and accepted by the market and by regulators.
What is ISO 14064?
ISO 14064 is the international standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is structured in three parts: Part 1 (organisation-level inventory), Part 2 (reduction projects) and Part 3 (verification and validation).
The current version is ISO 14064-1:2018. The standard sets out the principles and requirements for designing, developing and managing a GHG inventory — the accounting equivalent of your emissions, aligned with the GHG Protocol.
Unlike management system standards, ISO 14064 is not "certified" — the inventory is verified by an accredited independent body, which issues a verification statement. That statement is the evidence your carbon figures withstand scrutiny.
Why companies need ISO 14064
As sustainability reporting becomes mandatory through CSRD and ESRS, a verified GHG inventory moves from advantage to necessity.
Foundation for ESRS E1
A verified GHG inventory feeds directly into the sustainability statement required by CSRD
Figures that hold up
An independent verification statement gives credibility with your auditor and the market
Value-chain demands
Large customers ask for Scope 3 emissions data — a solid inventory answers them in a standard format
Credible targets
You cannot reduce what you do not measure — the inventory is the starting point for any net-zero target
Access to green finance
Banks and funds increasingly require verified carbon data
Anti-greenwashing
Independent verification protects you against accusations of unsubstantiated claims
How a GHG inventory is built under ISO 14064
Defining boundaries
We set the organisational and operational boundaries — which sources and which scopes (1, 2, 3) enter the inventory. Duration: 1–2 weeks.
Identifying sources
We map every emission source: combustion, purchased energy, value chain, processes, fugitive emissions.
Data collection
We gather activity data — fuels, electricity, transport, purchasing — and select the appropriate emission factors.
Quantification
We calculate emissions per scope and category, documenting the methodology and the uncertainty.
The GHG report
We compile the inventory into a report conforming to ISO 14064-1, ready for verification.
Independent verification
An accredited body verifies the inventory and issues the verification statement — the proof of credibility.
What a verified GHG inventory costs
Cost depends on how complex your value chain is and how many Scope 3 categories must be covered. A Scope 1 and 2 inventory is substantially simpler than a full one. Indicative figures:
Scope 1 + 2
Own operations
EUR 4,000–7,000
Inventory + verification readiness
Scope 1 + 2 + partial 3
Major categories
EUR 7,000–12,000
Medium complexity
Full inventory
All Scope 3 categories
EUR 12,000–22,000
Extended value chain
✅ Costs cover building the inventory and preparing for verification. The verification itself is carried out by an accredited independent body. For CSRD reporting, a verified inventory is the foundation of the entire environmental statement. See the GHG calculator →
How long a GHG inventory takes
Data collection is the part that consumes time, especially for Scope 3. The average is 2–5 months to an inventory ready for verification.
Scope 1+2
4–8 weeks
Consumption data available, clear perimeter, no complex value chain.
Standard
2–4 months
Includes the major Scope 3 categories, with data to collect from suppliers.
Full
4–6 months
All 15 Scope 3 categories, extended value-chain screening.
Frequently asked questions about ISO 14064
What is the difference between ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol?
They are complementary and broadly compatible. The GHG Protocol is the global reference methodology for emissions accounting; ISO 14064-1 is the standard that formalises the requirements for the inventory and makes it verifiable by an accredited body. In practice they are used together.
Is ISO 14064 certified?
No. A GHG inventory is not "certified" — it is verified. An accredited independent body examines the inventory and issues a verification statement confirming that emissions were quantified correctly and in line with the standard.
Do I need ISO 14064 for CSRD?
ESRS E1 requires reporting of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. It does not explicitly mandate ISO 14064, but an inventory built to the standard and independently verified is the most robust way to meet the requirement and to pass limited assurance.
What is ISO 14067 and how does it differ?
ISO 14064 quantifies emissions at organisation level. ISO 14067 quantifies the carbon footprint of a specific product across its life cycle. Different standards for different purposes — organisation versus product.
Who carries out the verification?
An accredited verification/validation body, independent of whoever built the inventory. Golden Audit Consulting® builds the inventory and prepares you for verification; the verification statement is issued by the accredited body.
Other ISO standards for your company
Verifiable credentials
IRCA Lead Auditor for integrated systems
CQI | IRCA certified courses, taken with RINA: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 45001See the certificates →Want a carbon inventory that can be verified?
We build the GHG inventory to ISO 14064, with documented methodology and ready for independent verification. The first conversation is free.