Carbon Accounting Guide
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. That’s what carbon accounting is all about, it helps you uncover how your business affects the planet so you can make smart, sustainable changes.
In this guide, we’ll break it down in plain English: what carbon accounting is and how it works.
How Does Carbon Accounting Work?
Think of carbon accounting like a financial report, but instead of tracking dollars, you’re tracking emissions. It helps you figure out where your biggest environmental impact is so you can make more sustainable choices moving forward.
Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) your business is responsible for.
These gases come from things like:
- Using electricity
- Driving or flying
- Shipping and deliveries
- Making and buying products
- And much more
Carbon accounting helps you measure these emissions so you can reduce them.
What Are the Three Types of Emissions?
When you track your emissions, there are three groups:
- Scope 1 – Emissions from things you own or control (like company vehicles or on-site fuel use).
- Scope 2 – Emissions from purchased electricity or heating.
- Scope 3 – Everything else: emissions from your suppliers, the materials you buy, employee travel, shipping, and even how your products are used and disposed of.
Scope 3 can feel big and messy (and it is), but it’s also where most of your organization’s emissions are.
This image shows the three scopes of carbon emissions and how they connect to different parts of a business.
How Does Carbon Accounting Work?
You don’t need to be an expert to get started. Here’s how it works in five steps:
- Choose what to measure
Are you measuring emissions for your whole business? Just a product line? A single event? Start by setting boundaries. - Collect your data
This includes everything from utility bills and fuel receipts to travel records and vendor lists. - Use emissions factors
Using standardized data, you convert your activity into emissions. - Add it up
You calculate your total carbon footprint. - Make a plan
Once you see your numbers, you can look for ways to reduce emissions and consider using carbon offsets for the rest.
Why Carbon Accounting Matters
More and more, customers, partners, and employees want to support companies that walk the talk on sustainability. Carbon accounting helps you:
- Understand your impact
- Find ways to cut costs and emissions
- Stand out in your industry
- Back up your climate claims with real data
What’s Next?
Carbon accounting doesn’t need to be complicated. Start small. Explore your biggest emission sources. Look for easy wins.
If you want a partner to guide the process, CarbonHero is here to help! We work with companies across all industries to measure, reduce, and offset emissions. And get certified in the process!
Ready to take the next step? 🌱
We’ll help you estimate your impact, reduce emissions, and become carbon neutral.
Carbon Accounting Guide
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. That’s what carbon accounting is all about, it helps you uncover how your business affects the planet so you can make smart, sustainable changes.
In this simple guide, we’ll break it down in plain English: what carbon accounting is and how it works.
How Does Carbon Accounting Work?
Think of carbon accounting like a financial report, but instead of tracking dollars, you’re tracking emissions. It helps you figure out where your biggest environmental impact is so you can make more sustainable choices moving forward.
Your carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) your business is responsible for.
These gases come from things like:
- Using electricity
- Driving or flying
- Shipping and deliveries
- Making and buying products
- And much more
Carbon accounting helps you measure these emissions so you can reduce them.
What Are the Three Types of Emissions?
When you track your emissions, there are three groups:
- Scope 1 – Emissions from things you own or control (like company vehicles or on-site fuel use).
- Scope 2 – Emissions from purchased electricity or heating.
- Scope 3 – Everything else: emissions from your suppliers, the materials you buy, employee travel, shipping, and even how your products are used and disposed of.
Scope 3 can feel big and messy (and it is), but it’s also where most of your organization’s emissions are.
This image shows the three scopes of carbon emissions and how they connect to different parts of a business.
How Does Carbon Accounting Work?
You don’t need to be an expert to get started. Here’s how it works in five steps:
- Choose what to measure
Are you measuring emissions for your whole business? Just a product line? A single event? Start by setting boundaries. - Collect your data
This includes everything from utility bills and fuel receipts to travel records and vendor lists. - Use emissions factors
Using standardized data, you convert your activity into emissions. - Add it up
You calculate your total carbon footprint. - Make a plan
Once you see your numbers, you can look for ways to reduce emissions and consider using carbon offsets for the rest.
Why Carbon Accounting Matters
More and more, customers, partners, and employees want to support companies that walk the talk on sustainability. Carbon accounting helps you:
- Understand your impact
- Find ways to cut costs and emissions
- Stand out in your industry
- Back up your climate claims with real data
What’s Next?
Carbon accounting doesn’t need to be complicated. Start small. Explore your biggest emission sources. Look for easy wins.
If you want a partner to guide the process, CarbonHero is here to help! We work with companies across all industries to measure, reduce, and offset emissions. And get certified in the process!
Ready to take the next step? 🌱
We’ll help you estimate your impact, reduce emissions, and become carbon neutral.