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Carbon Footprint

As a small business, understanding and managing your carbon footprint is a vital step toward building a more sustainable future. It not only helps reduce your environmental impact but can also enhance your reputation, meet customer expectations, and prepare for emerging regulations.

What Is Carbon Footprinting?

A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly or indirectly by your business. This includes emissions from energy use, transportation, supply chains, and even waste. By calculating your carbon footprint, you can identify areas to reduce emissions and create actionable goals for sustainability.

Introduction to Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

Identify Key Emission Sources

  • Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g., company vehicles, heating).

  • Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heating, or cooling.

  • Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, such as supply chain activities, employee commuting, and product use.

  1. Collect Data

    • Gather information on energy bills, fuel consumption, transportation usage, and supply chain emissions.

  2. Use Conversion Factors

    • Apply GHG conversion factors (e.g., DEFRA factors for UK businesses) to translate your data into measurable emissions in CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e).

  3. Summarize and Analyze

    • Add up your emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 to determine your total carbon footprint.

Recommended Tools for Carbon Footprinting

There are several accessible tools and platforms designed for small businesses:

  • GHG Protocol Calculator: A widely recognized tool for calculating emissions across all scopes.

  • Carbon Trust Footprint Calculator: A free, user-friendly tool tailored for small businesses.

  • EcoAct Carbon Calculator: A comprehensive platform for emissions reporting and reduction planning.

  • MyClimate: Offers calculators for specific areas, such as travel, energy, and products.

Take the Next Step

Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step toward meaningful change. From there, you can develop strategies to reduce emissions, such as improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy, or streamlining your supply chain.

If you’d like tailored support for calculating your business’s carbon footprint or creating a reduction strategy, get in touch today. I can help you navigate the complexities of emissions management, ensuring your business aligns with sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.