TL;DR With 2030 approaching, pressure on companies to measure and reduce their CO2 emissions is increasing.
To do so, a CO2 assessment is crucial and consists of four steps: Scoping, data collection, data linking, and data analysis. Regreener has developed the Footprint Navigator, our carbon calculator tool that allows companies to independently map their CO2 emissions (Scope 1-2-3).
For those ready to start calculating, Regreener offers a free trial. Prefer more guidance? The premium version provides step-by-step support from Regreener.
Why calculate your CO2 impact?
Measuring your company’s CO2 emissions is the first step towards future-proofing your operations and combating climate change. A CO2 assessment provides several benefits:
Environmental Awareness:
To make a positive environmental impact, you must first be aware of your ecological footprint and its implications. A CO2 assessment helps to make the importance of a sustainability strategy tangible across your entire organization.
Cost Reduction:
Identifying high-emission areas (the so-called "hotspots") not only benefits the environment but also reveals opportunities for cost savings. A circular business model, where products are reused, is often cheaper than continuously purchasing new products. Additionally, sustainable energy is often cheaper than fossil fuels (such as gas), a trend that will likely continue.
Improved Competitive Position:
Consumers increasingly value sustainability in their purchasing decisions. By adopting a sustainable business model, your company can differentiate itself from competitors and attract eco-conscious customers.
Risk Management:
Climate change poses significant risks, such as higher raw material prices disrupting supply chains. By mapping your company’s carbon footprint, you can identify and manage these risks, ensuring the long-term resilience and viability of your business. The website grondstoffenscanner.nl shows how vulnerable various supply chains are to climate change.
Compliance with New and Existing Regulations:
Since 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has been in effect across the EU. It requires large companies to report on the impact of their activities on people and the environment. A company is considered ‘large’ and required to report if it meets at least two of the following three criteria:
More than 250 employees
More than €50 million in annual revenue
More than €25 million on the balance sheet
It is possible that the CSRD will eventually also apply to smaller SMEs. By conducting a CO2 assessment, your company can prepare for future regulations and prevent employees from being overwhelmed by unpreparedness when these requirements take effect.
How does CO2 impact calculation work?
A CO2 assessment follows a structured process of four steps. A good tool for visualizing CO2 emissions and the right guidance in making strategic choices are essential.
Scoping
Before you start measuring, it is important to determine in which category (Scope 1, 2, 3) the various emissions in your business operations fall. This prevents double-counting of emissions.
Data Collection
This phase focuses on mapping your emissions. The key here is to determine what data is already available and what is missing. To do this efficiently, we recommend identifying the different "data owners" (both internal and external). This prevents the process from stalling. Data owners are the people who have access to the required data and can provide it. This includes external suppliers of goods or services to your company or the internal HR department that holds information about employee commuting patterns.
Linking Collected Data to Actual Emissions
Once you have collected the necessary data, you can convert it into the corresponding CO2 emissions. In many cases, this is possible by looking up the lifecycle of a product. For example, take an HP laptop.
If the specific lifecycle of your product is not available, you can also consider the average environmental impact of a laptop.
Data Analysis
We recommend using a smart, user-friendly tool for data analysis. This will provide a clear overview of your company’s carbon footprint. The tool will highlight where the "hotspots" and "benchmarks" lie. Hotspots indicate which business activities generate the most CO2 emissions, and benchmarks provide a reference point to determine how much reduction is possible.
Unlock your full potential with our practical five-step guide to CO₂ assessments.
After the CO2 impact calculation, what’s next?
A CO2 assessment is not an end in itself. It is a tool for developing a strategy to reduce your organization’s footprint. We recommend creating a reduction strategy after completing your CO2 assessment, with targeted steps to lower your footprint. For example, by purchasing more green energy or electrifying your fleet.
Additionally, we encourage contributing to climate projects for emissions that cannot be reduced. Research shows that companies that offset their emissions tend to reduce their carbon footprint twice as fast as those that don’t. This way, your organization can make a significant contribution to achieving climate goals and support development in countries most affected by climate change.
Want to get the most out of your CO₂ assessment? Get familiar with the most common pitfalls to avoid.
How does our carbon calculator, the footprint navigator, work?
Our tool is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the internationally leading standard for companies to map emissions. The Footprint Navigator helps you measure your company’s CO2 footprint per scope (1-2-3):
Scope 1: company facilities and vehicles
Scope 2: purchased energy
Scope 3: upstream and downstream emissions
For the calculation of emissions in each category, we reference various data sources, including CO2-emissionfactors.nl and ICAO. For a more detailed introduction to the three different emission scopes, read this knowledge article.
Our tool offers a fully customized customer environment with tailored emission categories. Our dashboard is intuitive, it pragmatically visualizes the most important data. Additionally, Regreener provides support, guiding you from A to Net Zero in calculating CO2 emissions and determining reduction strategies.
At Regreener, we encourage everyone to start with sustainability. Understanding emissions is the first step to reducing your company’s footprint. That’s why we offer a free trial to everyone that is interested in exploring the opportunities our tool has to offer.
Conclusion
Measuring your CO2 impact not only provides (mandatory) insight into your company’s environmental impact but also forms the foundation for reducing it. A CO2 assessment can lead to more efficient business operations and cost savings.
With the Footprint Navigator and support from our sustainability consultants, Regreener helps you take step-by-step actions towards more sustainable entrepreneurship.
Looking for extra info?
Explore our FAQ guide.
