Large companies and institutional players are challenged to assess and calculate their carbon footprint. But they typically have the means to hire experts – in-house or consultants – and buy licenses of useful tools.
In the SME sector only the clearly medium-sized companies also find dedicated support, again in the shape of consultants or tools that specialise in supporting companies of their very specific size.
But what about distincly small companies or indeed even individuals? How can they get a guestimate on their carbon footprint, and possibly even some pointers how to do better going forward?
After having talked to a good number of small enterprises about their measurement actions, and even more individuals about their private and business insights on the topic, I have come to the following conclusion: most individuals and small enterprises do understand that the way they live, the way they conduct business, has carbon footprint implications. They even have a reasonable idea what might likely be the biggest footprint driver. And yet – hardly has anyone gone off and used one of those simple, ballpark-figure carbon calculators made available on the net by reputed companies and NGOs.
Hence, here a short list of such calculators, both for individuals as well as for small companies.
Nearly all listed calculators are also linked to qualitatively high-standing offsetting schemes.
Why?
I do not in principle advocate offsetting – reduction is the name of the game.
BUT: small players and individuals do not always have the clout necessary to go the whole hog, and implement all required changes. Rental and housing contracts are what they are for example. Or buying your groceries in a super market of the global north already comes with a very significant embedded footprint, which is neigh impossible for a private person to impact significantly.
This is where quality offsetting kicks in. It is a surprisingly affordable approach to make amends for those attributes of your life – and business style where reductions are hard to implement or will take some time to realise.
One caveat: all of the following tools typically only focused on Scopes 1 and 2, and – sometimes – some aspects of Scope 3 included in everyday consumables. An ‘accessible’ Scope 3 estimate remains – from my research – elusive.
Carbon Calculators for Small Businesses (Scopes 1 and 2):
- MyClimate’s Business Calculator * **
- Climate Hero Business Calculator *
- CarbonTrust SME Footprint Calculator
- Carbon Footprint’s for Micro SME Calculator *
- Zellar’s SME Carbon Calculator
This calculator is promoted by Business Lincolnshire
Carbon Calculators for Individual (Scopes 1 and 2, w/ components of Scope 3 e.g. for groceries:
- Global Footprint Network’s Calculator
- MyClimate’s Personal Footprint Calculator *
- My Climate’s Household Calculator *
- Climate Partner Calculator *
This calculator offers the option to create an account and keep track of your carbon footprint over time via your web browser or a mobile app. - Climate Hero Carbon Calculator *
Climate Hero is a collaboration with the We Don’t Have Time network. - Carbon Footprint’s Carbon Calculator based on actual household data *
Legend:
* Includes possibility to offset
** Includes possibility to obtain a carbon neutral certificate
For the details:
Offsetting methodologies, standards, credentials by the above mentioned providers:
– MyClimate: Here and here
– Climate Partner: here
– Climate Hero: here
– Carbon Footprint: here
