Purpose

The Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise (SHINE) project is dedicated to improving the scientific basis for transformative environmental, social, and economic positive changes called handprints. Organizations and individuals can create handprints relative to their business-as-usual (BAU) through voluntary reductions in their own footprint as well as in the footprints of others. The novel SHINE handprint framework expands thus the scope, retains accountability for the outcomes, and increases widespread pursuit of net-positive goals.

Methods

Handprints are quantified using the dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA)-based modeling and measured in footprint-related impact units. Like LCA, the SHINE handprint framework includes the goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation. Existing life cycle inventory databases are adopted to promote widespread use of the method. However, in the SHINE handprint framework, the BAU footprint and the actor’s actions and positive changes (handprints) are defined. The scope of the handprint assessment includes changes caused by the action within the system boundary. The BAU footprint is then compared with actual footprint calculated with changes to assess the handprint. An additional element for making comparative claims about net positivity that are meant to be disclosed to the public is an attestation.

Results and discussion

The SHINE handprint framework is demonstrated through a case study collaboration with Interface, a global carpet tiles and flooring manufacturer. Historic handprints are estimated from Interface’s initiative to capture and flare nearby landfill gas and utilize a portion of the captured gas to produce heat in their facility and in a third actor’s facility. The handprints are calculated by dynamic LCA which included Interface’s BAU footprint during the years of landfill gas capture and the amount of natural gas displaced from landfill gas use in both facilities, and the amount flared at the landfill. Results are presented for the years of landfill gas capture and flaring (2003–2016). The results showed Interface could achieve net positive outcomes when all actions leading to positive changes are activated.

Conclusions

While actors’ efforts to reduce their own footprints are essential, this perspective alone may not be enough to encourage the scale of action necessary to face global challenges. The SHINE handprint framework quantifies positive actions and changes caused by an actor, both within and outside the scope of the actor’s footprint. This shift in accounting for change can promote innovation and collaboration by multiple actors, which ultimately creates widespread ripple effects of positive impacts.

中文翻译：

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NetPositive企业手印方法框架的可持续发展健康倡议

目的

NetPositive企业可持续发展与健康倡议（SHINE）项目致力于改善被称为手印的变革性环境，社会和经济积极变化的科学基础。组织和个人可以通过自愿减少自己的足迹以及其他组织的足迹来创建与日常业务（BAU）相关的手印。新颖的SHINE手印框架扩大了范围，保留了对结果的责任感，并增加了对净阳性目标的广泛追求。

方法

使用基于动态生命周期评估（LCA）的模型对手印进行量化，并在与足迹相关的影响单元中进行测量。像LCA一样，SHINE手印框架包括目标和范围定义，清单分析，影响评估和解释。现有的生命周期清单数据库被采用以促进该方法的广泛使用。但是，在SHINE手印框架中，定义了BAU足迹，参与者的行为和积极的变化（手印）。手印评估的范围包括由系统边界内的操作引起的更改。然后将BAU足迹与通过更改计算得出的实际足迹进行比较，以评估手印。提出要向公众披露的关于净积极性的比较性主张的另一个要素是证明。

结果和讨论

通过与全球地毯和地板制造商Interface的案例研究，演示了SHINE手印框架。根据Interface的倡议来估计历史性手印，以捕获和燃烧附近的垃圾填埋场气体，并利用一部分捕获的气体在其设施和第三行动者的设施中产生热量。这些手印是通过动态LCA计算得出的，其中包括Interface在垃圾填埋气捕获年中的BAU足迹，两个设施中使用垃圾填埋气所排放的天然气量以及在垃圾填埋场产生的火炬气量。给出了填埋气捕获和燃烧的年份（2003-2016）的结果。结果表明，激活所有导致积极变化的措施时，Interface可以实现净积极成果。

结论

尽管行动者努力减少自己的足迹是必不可少的，但仅凭这种观点可能不足以鼓励采取行动规模应对全球挑战。SHINE手印框架量化了由参与者在参与者足迹范围之内和之外所采取的积极行动和变化。这种对变更的考虑的转变可以促进多个参与者的创新和协作，最终产生广泛的积极影响的连锁反应。