Choosing the best carbon accounting platform for your business can be a daunting task, especially with the variety of options available in the market. It can be difficult to select the one that is a perfect fit for your needs.
In this article, we’ll review the 12 best carbon accounting platforms for SMEs and enterprises in 2024. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, comply with regulations, or simply track your emissions more effectively, we’ve got you covered.
So, let’s get started.
What is Carbon Accounting?
Before getting straight to the best Carbon Accounting Platforms, it’s essential to first understand what is Carbon Accounting.
Well, carbon accounting is the process of measuring and tracking the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (primarily carbon dioxide) that are being released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities.
Fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes are major sources of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to take action to reduce these emissions and ensure a sustainable future for our planet.
Carbon accounting is crucial for businesses and organizations looking to manage their environmental impact and mitigate climate change.
Companies can effectively reduce their carbon footprint by precisely measuring their carbon emissions, establishing emissions reduction goals, and monitoring their advancement over time.
Now you know the basics of Carbon Accounting. It’s time to learn about Carbon Accounting platforms.
What is the Carbon Accounting Platform?
A carbon accounting platform is a software solution that helps businesses and organizations measure, manage, and report their greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon footprint tracking platforms usually come equipped with a variety of tools, including emissions calculators, data collection features, reporting templates, and analytics dashboards, that enable users to track their carbon footprint effectively and with precision.
Carbon accounting platforms are designed to streamline the carbon accounting process, making it easier for businesses to identify emission sources, monitor progress toward emissions reduction goals, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Platforms can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint by adopting sustainable practices and investing in energy-efficient technologies.
Overall, carbon accounting platforms are essential tools that enable businesses and organizations to take significant steps toward reducing their environmental impact and combating climate change.
Watch this video by Fifth Wall to learn more about Carbon Accounting:
Carbon Accounting Platform Features
Carbon Accounting platforms offer a range of features that aid businesses in efficiently handling their carbon emissions. Some of the common features found in these platforms include:
1. Data Collection: Tools for collecting data on energy consumption, transportation, waste generation, and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Emissions Calculation: Calculators and algorithms to estimate greenhouse gas emissions based on the collected data and emission factors.
3. Reporting: Templates and tools for generating standardized emissions reports for internal and external stakeholders, as well as for regulatory compliance.
4. Analytics: Dashboards and data visualization tools to help users analyze their emissions data, identify trends, and track progress toward emissions reduction goals.
5. Scenario Analysis: Tools for modeling different scenarios to assess the potential impact of emissions reduction strategies and make informed decisions.
6. Inventory Management: Features for managing emissions data, including data storage, retrieval, and version control.
7. Compliance: Tools to help businesses comply with carbon reporting regulations and standards, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol or the Carbon Disclosure Project.
8. Integration: Capability to integrate with other systems, such as accounting software or sustainability management platforms, to streamline data sharing and reporting processes.
9. Auditing: Features to facilitate internal and external audits of emissions data and reporting processes.
10. User Management: Tools for managing user access and permissions, as well as for assigning responsibilities and tracking progress.
The selection of a carbon accounting platform should be done carefully, considering the specific requirements and priorities of businesses, as the features can differ depending on the platform.
Now, let’s discuss the top 12 best Carbon Accounting Platforms you can consider using.
12 Best Carbon Accounting Platforms
Greenly
Greenly offers a comprehensive carbon accounting platform that enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to track and manage their carbon footprint effectively.
With an easy-to-use interface and integration with popular business tools like Xero, QuickBooks, and Salesforce, Greenly simplifies the process of carbon accounting for businesses looking to make sustainable choices.
Integrations: Xero, QuickBooks, Salesforce
- Carbon footprint tracking
- Sustainable insights
- Integration with business tools
- Customizable reports
- Support for regulatory compliance
IBM Envizi ESG Suite
IBM Envizi ESG Suite is a comprehensive platform designed to help enterprises manage their environmental impact. It provides tools for carbon accounting, environmental data management, and sustainability reporting.
The suite integrates with various data sources, allowing organizations to collect and analyze environmental data from across their operations.
With its advanced analytics and reporting features, IBM Envizi ESG Suite helps organizations improve their environmental performance and achieve their sustainability goals.
Integrations: Integrates with various IBM and third-party data sources and platforms.
Carbon accounting and tracking
Environmental data management
Sustainability reporting
Integration with IBM and third-party data sources.
Advanced analytics for environmental insights
Microsoft Sustainability Cloud
Microsoft Sustainability Cloud is a robust platform that helps organizations track, analyze, and report on their sustainability initiatives. With integration capabilities with Microsoft’s suite of services, it offers a seamless experience for data management and reporting.
The platform enables businesses to set and track sustainability goals, manage their carbon footprint, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Integrations: Microsoft 365, Power BI, Azure, and other Microsoft services for seamless data management.
Sustainability goal setting and tracking.
Carbon footprint measurement and management.
Data visualization and reporting.
Integration with Microsoft services.
Regulatory compliance support.
Normative
Normative is a carbon accounting platform revolutionizing how businesses collect, report, and understand carbon emissions. Its carbon accounting engine provides clear and actionable insights and assists companies in defining a sustainable growth trajectory.
Normative empowers businesses to plan emissions reductions and lead the charge into the net-zero frontier.
Integrations: Scope 3 supply chain emissions and all data management tools
Comprehensive carbon calculation.
Expert support.
Audit and compliance-ready.
Risk Management.
Stakeholder, Supplier, and Sustainability Management.
Water Management.
Persefoni
Persefoni is a leading carbon accounting platform empowering businesses to track, manage, and reduce their carbon emissions effectively. With a user-friendly interface and powerful features, Persefoni helps organizations of all sizes achieve their sustainability goals.
The system smoothly incorporates diverse data sources, allowing for immediate access to information on carbon footprints and emission patterns.
Integrations: Integrations with popular data sources and platforms such as ERP systems, IoT devices, energy management systems, and more.
Comprehensive carbon accounting
Real-time emissions tracking
Data integration with various sources
Customizable reporting and analytics
Regulatory compliance support
Plan A
Plan A is an all-inclusive platform for managing projects that aims to simplify processes and promote effective teamwork. With a focus on simplicity and efficiency, Plan A offers a range of features to help teams manage projects effectively. The platform integrates seamlessly with popular project management and communication tools, allowing teams to work seamlessly across different platforms.
Plan A is a user-friendly project management tool with comprehensive features that enhance productivity.
Integrations: Integrates Asana, Trello, and Jira, as well as with communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Task management and tracking.
Team collaboration tools.
Integration with widely used project management and communication tools.
Customizable workflows.
Reporting and analytics.
Time tracking.
Document management.
Salesforce Net Zero Cloud
Salesforce has developed a sustainability management platform called Net Zero Cloud. This platform is designed to assist organizations in managing their environmental impact and monitoring their progress toward achieving net zero emissions.
It provides tools for carbon accounting, emissions tracking, and sustainability reporting, covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The platform is built on Salesforce’s robust cloud infrastructure, offering a comprehensive solution for environmental data management and reporting.
Integrations: Integrates with various Salesforce services and external data sources for comprehensive environmental impact management.
Data Gap Filling Log using AI to flag inconsistencies and estimate missing data.
Pre-populated with globally recognized emissions factors for accurate carbon footprint calculations.
Executive-ready dashboards for visualizing energy patterns and emission trends.
Supplier Scorecard for tracking supply chain carbon accounting and sustainability objectives.
Net Zero Marketplace for buying and selling carbon credits to support climate action initiatives.
Integration with various Salesforce services for seamless data management and reporting
Sinai Technologies
Sinai Technologies offers a carbon accounting platform that enables businesses to measure, analyze, and manage their carbon emissions effectively.
With a focus on data-driven insights, Sinai Technologies provides tools for tracking emissions across all scopes, identifying reduction opportunities, and reporting in compliance with global standards.
Integrations: Integrates with various data sources for comprehensive emissions tracking.
Comprehensive emissions tracking across Scope 1, 2, and 3.
Advanced analytics for identifying reduction opportunities.
Customizable reporting for compliance with global standards.
Integration with various data sources for accurate emissions calculation.
User-friendly dashboard for monitoring and managing carbon footprint.
Sphera
Sphera provides an integrated software solution for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management, including carbon accounting.
It helps organizations track their emissions, manage compliance with environmental regulations, and improve their overall sustainability performance.
Integrations: Integrations with various data sources and systems for seamless data management.
Emissions tracking and carbon accounting across all scopes.
Regulatory compliance management for environmental reporting.
Risk assessment and management for sustainability initiatives.
Data management and integration for accurate reporting.
Customizable dashboards and reporting tools for stakeholder engagement.
Sweep
Sweep is a carbon management platform that enables businesses to track their emissions, engage their partners, and drive collective action towards reducing their carbon footprint.
It offers tools for measuring emissions, setting targets, and tracking progress collaboratively.
Integrations: Integrates with various data sources for comprehensive carbon tracking.
Emissions tracking and measurement across all scopes.
Collaboration tools for engaging suppliers, partners, and employees.
Target setting and progress tracking for carbon reduction initiatives.
Customizable reporting for transparency and stakeholder communication.
Integration with various data sources for accurate emissions calculation.
Sustain.Life
Sustain.Life offers a sustainability management platform that helps businesses measure their environmental impact, set sustainability goals, and track progress.
It provides tools for carbon accounting, waste management, and energy efficiency, among other features.
Integrations: Integrates with existing business systems for seamless data management.
Carbon footprint calculation and tracking.
Goal setting and progress tracking for sustainability initiatives.
Waste management and energy efficiency tools.
Integration with business systems for data accuracy.
User-friendly interface and reporting capabilities.
Watershed
Watershed is a climate platform that helps companies measure their carbon footprint, set science-based targets, and take action to reduce emissions.
It provides tools for tracking emissions across the supply chain, purchasing renewable energy, and investing in carbon removal.
Integrations: Offers integration with various data sources for comprehensive emissions tracking.
Comprehensive carbon footprint measurement across all scopes.
Science-based target setting and progress tracking.
Renewable energy purchasing and carbon removal options.
Supply chain engagement for collective climate action.
Data-driven insights and reporting for transparency and accountability.
How to Select the Best Platform for Your Organization?
Selecting the best carbon accounting platform for your organization involves considering various factors to ensure that the tool aligns with your sustainability goals and operational needs. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision:
1. Define Your Objectives: Clearly outline your sustainability goals and objectives. Determine what you want to achieve with the carbon accounting platform, such as compliance with regulations, reducing your carbon footprint, or enhancing your sustainability reporting.
2. Assess Your Needs: Evaluate the specific needs of your organization, including the scope of emissions you need to track (Scope 1, 2, and 3), the complexity of your operations, and any industry-specific requirements.
3. Consider Integration Capabilities: Consider searching for platforms that can seamlessly integrate with your current systems , including ERP, HR, and financial software. Seamless integration ensures accurate data collection and minimizes manual data entry.
4. Evaluate Features and Functionality: Compare the features of different platforms to see which ones align with your needs. Key features to consider include emissions tracking, data management, reporting capabilities, analytics, and support for regulatory compliance.
5. Check for Scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your organization. It should be able to handle increased data volume and complexity as your sustainability efforts expand.
6. Look at User-Friendliness: Ensure that the platform is easy to use and understand. A user-friendly interface will encourage adoption among your team members and stakeholders.
7. Review Support and Training: It’s important to take into account the level of customer support and training offered by the platform vendor as they play a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation and seamless use of the platform.
8. Analyze Cost: Compare the pricing models of different platforms. Consider both the initial investment and the ongoing costs. Ensure that the platform offers value for money and fits within your budget.
9. Research Vendor Reputation: Look into the reputation and experience of the platform provider. When looking for a vendor, make sure they have a solid history of sustainability and carbon accounting.
10. Request Demos and Trials: Before making a final decision, request demos or trial versions of the platforms you are considering. This will give you hands-on experience and help you assess their suitability for your organization.
By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select a carbon accounting platform that meets your organization’s sustainability goals and operational needs.
Conclusions
Selecting the right carbon accounting platform for your business is a crucial step toward managing your environmental impact and achieving your sustainability goals. Whether you’re a small or medium-sized enterprise or a large corporation, there’s a platform out there that can meet your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a carbon accounting platform?
A carbon accounting platform is a software tool that helps businesses measure, track, and report their carbon emissions, enabling them to manage and reduce their carbon footprint.
How do these platforms benefit SMEs and enterprises?
They provide accurate emissions data, streamline regulatory compliance, identify reduction opportunities, support sustainability reporting, and enhance corporate transparency and reputation.
What features should one look for in a carbon accounting platform?
Key features include real-time data tracking, customizable reporting, integration with other business systems, user-friendly interfaces, and tools for emissions reduction planning.
How can these platforms help in achieving sustainability goals?
By providing insights into emissions sources, offering recommendations for reduction, facilitating compliance with environmental regulations, and helping to set and monitor progress towards sustainability targets.
What are the challenges businesses might face when implementing a carbon accounting platform?
Challenges include data accuracy and collection, integration with existing systems, training employees to use the platform effectively, and keeping up with changing regulations and standards.
References:
Climateanalytics.org: When will global greenhouse gas emissions peak?
Minimum.com: What are carbon reporting regulations?