Businesses are starting to adapt to the prevalence of sustainability by setting targets to reduce their carbon footprint. This has led to a surge in the number of companies offering decarbonisation services. To help find the correct one for your business, this article explores Sustainable Future New’s top picks for the best carbon accounting tools.
There are a significant number of carbon accounting options available, and the “best” software will depend on a company’s specific needs and budget. However, below are our picks for the best carbon accounting tools options that are widely recognised for their capabilities and user-friendly interfaces, that may be worth a look at.
Carbon Intelligence
Carbon Intelligence (formerly Carbon Credentials) is a subsidiary of professional services provider Accenture, and is committed to assisting some of the world’s largest corporations in setting and achieving ambitious sustainability targets.
With a deep understanding of the science-based target setting process, Carbon Intelligence was the first official science-based target partner for the global disclosure not-for-profit, CDP. In 2022, 100% of its clients received A or B CDP scores, highlighting the effectiveness of its services in supporting clients’ sustainability objectives.
At the time of writing, the company has saved 182,000 tons of carbon over the past 8 months and helped set the world’s first 1.5 °C-aligned corporate science-based target for Tesco. Other clients of the company include Aviva, Unilever, BT, Vodafone, PWC, Pukka, National Trust and Yorkshire Water.
Works with: Businesses of all sizes, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations.
Ecologi Zero
Originally named Offset Earth and later renamed, Ecologi was founded in 2018 as a platform to empower consumers and businesses to support climate projects and offset their carbon footprint via a monthly subscription. Since then, it has grown in scale significantly, earned B Corp certification, and even introduced a fresh offering named Ecologi Zero.
Ecologi Zero helps businesses calculate their carbon footprint and identify avenues for reducing their emissions, and the best part – it’s completely free. The innovative app utilises Xero accounting data to provide businesses with a comprehensive overview of their carbon reduction progress, enabling them to chart a course towards achieving their net zero objectives.
As of now, the emissions calculator tool is in BETA and is particularly suited to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 100 employees operating primarily in the services industry. However, Ecologi is continuously expanding its capabilities and working towards making its tools accessible to businesses of all sizes and industries.
Works with: Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) within the services industry.
Greenly
Another start up, only founded in 2019, Greenly makes carbon management simple and intuitive for companies of all sizes and every industry, allowing them to fast-track the transition to a net zero carbon economy.
Greenly enables companies to measure, monitor, reduce and offset their carbon footprint based on international carbon accounting standards such as the GHG Protocol, while engaging their ecosystem, from employees to suppliers, on their climate journey.
Greenly’s technology automates data collection & carbon analytics through integrations with over 100 enterprise software products, including accounting, travel, cloud data, and electricity vendors. As such, the company is disrupting a market typically dominated by large consultancies performing ad-hoc assignments for enterprises.
More than 1000 companies have already worked with Greenly to effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and with a stellar 4.7 rating on Trustpilot, it is no surprise that Greenly has made our list as one of the best carbon accounting tools available.
Works with: Individual consumers as well as businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations.
ENGIE Impact
ENGIE Impact serves as the sustainability consulting branch of the French-based multinational utility firm, ENGIE. The organisation is committed to expediting the shift towards a carbon-neutral planet by promoting energy conservation and eco-friendly solutions.
The ‘Impact’ accounting arm was created in 2019 and now has operations running in North America, Latin America and several European countries, as well as Asia and Australia. ENGIE Impact partners with corporations, governments, and municipalities worldwide to implement the necessary transformations to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their goals on the path to net zero. This includes establishing actionable roadmaps to managing on-the-ground execution.
We recently spoke with Mark Chadwick, managing director at ENGIE Impact, to learn about their latest impact report and his invaluable insights into achieving success when delivering on net zero decarbonisation commitments.
ENGIE Impacts clients include Lego, Capital One, WeWork, and FedEx.
Works with: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations.
Sphera
Sphera is a renowned global provider of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) software, data, and consulting services that specialise in Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHS&S), Operational Risk Management, and Product Stewardship. Formed in 2016, the company was purchased in 2021 by the world’s largest alternative asset management firm, Blackstone.
Their team of experts collaborate with organisations worldwide to identify and mitigate risks, reduce emissions, and foster sustainable practices. With a focus on empowering businesses to manage ESG performance and risk, Sphera provides tailored solutions to help organisations achieve their sustainability goals.
Sphera collaborates with third-party providers, including ERM, pwc, and SAP to deliver unparalleled expertise to end clients. By offering comprehensive decision-making support, consulting services, and value-added implementation services, Sphera ensures that clients receive the most effective solutions tailored to their unique needs.
Works with: Businesses of all sizes, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations.
Which carbon accounting tool should you choose?
There you have it, our picks for the best carbon accounting tools of 2023. However, choosing the right tool for your carbon management needs requires careful consideration of several factors, such as your specific requirements and budget constraints.
Most carbon management organisations share the common goal of helping you measure, track, and reduce your carbon emissions. Additionally, many of them offer offset services to help you neutralise any remaining emissions.
The services offered by these organisations are constantly evolving, as such, it is always best to speak with them directly to understand how they can help your business achieve its sustainability goals.
