Carbon Footprint
Step three - Expert
Carbon footprint calculations help you to see where your major sources of emissions are in your organisation. By this step, you should have calculated your carbon footprint. Now you can use this to see where your quick wins are, such as reducing your energy usage, or sourcing goods and services more locally to reduce your transportation emissions.
Beyond immediate actions, your carbon footprint data provides a foundation for setting long-term sustainability goals. This will help you make informed business decisions that influence future growth, reduce your costs and improve your environmental impact.
Carbon Reduction Plan
A Carbon Reduction Plan is a structured approach to cutting emissions, helping you to embed sustainability across your operations.
Creating a Carbon Reduction Plan will:
- Give you a tool to help keep the organisation accountable.
- Highlight short-, medium- and long-term change to reduce carbon emissions.
- Support future growth in a sustainable way.
Key steps to writing a Carbon Reduction Plan
- Review your emissions data – this will help you to identify where you can make reductions.
- Set measurable targets – include clear and achievable goals, e.g. reducing emissions by 20% by 2030.
- Prioritise your actions – focus on the quick-wins first, such as reducing your energy use, before building up to long-term changes.
- Highlight responsibilities – support change by giving your team ownership parts of the plan that are relevant to them.
- Continuous improvement – regularly review your progress and amend as necessary.
Download our guide for writing your Carbon Reduction Plan.
Sharing your Carbon Footprint & Progress
Sharing your carbon footprint, both internally and externally, can help to showcase the work you’re doing to create a more sustainable business or organisation.
Leading by example and sharing your best practice with others can help to encourage further change within your industry, and positively influence your customer or client base.
Being transparent about your journey can also encourage collaboration and reinforce your reputation as a responsible organisation.
Best ways to share your Carbon Footprint Data
- Case studies – sharing real-world examples of how you have identified and reduced your emissions, and the challenges you’ve overcome helps to inspire others.
- Highlighting on your website – make sure your sustainability efforts are visible to your customers and community. Share your carbon footprint updates on your website, in annual reports and in customer communications.
- Sharing your journey on social media – as a small business, you could be making big waves in your industry. Openly sharing your progress and efforts can help to build trust in your brand and connect with new customers and clients.
- Supply chain engagement – positively demonstrating the changes you’re making, and collaborating with others can inspire them to innovate. Work with your suppliers and key partners to align your sustainability goals and encourage best practice.
Sector spotlight
Matthew Algie are taking steps towards ensuring that their internal operations are net zero by 2035.
Through tracking their carbon footprint, they aim to become net zero across their value chain by 2040.
By working closely with suppliers, the business also aims to accurately measure its supply chain carbon emissions to set out successful strategies for emissions reduction goals.
Read more about their work here.