TL;DR
With 2030 approaching, the pressure on businesses to measure and reduce their CO2 emissions is increasing. A CO2 assessment is crucial and consists of four steps: scoping, data collection, data conversion, and data analysis. Regreener developed the Carbon Calculator: the essential CO2 calculator for businesses that allows you to independently map your emissions (Scope 1-2-3).
Ready to explore your calculation options? Book a demo here to learn more about our Carbon Calculator and how we deliver tangible results.
Why calculate your footprint with a carbon calculator?
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 evolving regulations
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) officially took effect in 2024, requiring large EU-based companies to report on their environmental and social impacts. A company falls under CSRD scope if it meets at least two of the following criteria:
Over 250 employees
More than €50 million in annual revenue
More than €25 million on the balance sheet
Crucially, pressure on smaller companies (SMEs) is also growing, as many face ESG data requests from clients and partners who are required to report. By conducting a carbon footprint assessment now, your company can stay ahead of these developments and avoid scrambling for compliance later.
Don't wait for the deadline. Start your CO2 assessment with our calculator today!
Step-by-Step: from data to insight with our CO2 Calculator
A CO2 assessment follows a structured process of five steps. A good tool for visualizing CO2 emissions and the right guidance in making strategic choices are essential.
Step 1: 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.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: Data conversion
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.
Step 4: Data analysis
Use a smart, user-friendly tool like our Carbon Calculator for analysis. The dashboard provides a clear overview of your footprint, highlighting "hotspots" (highest emissions) and "benchmarks" (reduction potential).
Step 5: Set targets and take action
With a clear emissions profile, your CO2 assessment transforms from a report into a strategy. You must now set clear reduction targets.
Reduction Strategy: Implement targeted steps to lower your footprint, such as procuring more green energy or electrifying your vehicle fleet.
Offsetting: Contribute to high-quality climate projects for emissions that cannot yet be reduced.
Looking for a more detailed explanation? Read 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.
Our Carbon Calculator: how the tool works
Our Carbon Calculator is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), the leading international standard for mapping emissions. The tool helps you measure your company’s CO2 footprint per scope:
Scope 1: Direct emissions (e.g., company vehicles).
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy (e.g., electricity).
Scope 3: Upstream and downstream value chain emissions (e.g., business travel, purchased goods).
The tool offers a fully customized customer environment with tailored categories and intuitive, pragmatic data visualization. Regreener provides support at every step, guiding you from CO2 calculation to Net Zero strategy.
Proof of Value: One of our SME clients successfully identified their biggest 'hotspot' and achieved a 15% reduction in energy costs within three months of using our calculator.
Book a demo now and explore the opportunities for your business.
Conclusion
Measuring your CO2 impact provides the (often mandatory) insight into your company’s environmental performance and forms the essential foundation for reducing it. A CO2 assessment with our CO2 calculator for businesses leads to more efficient operations and real cost savings.
Looking for extra info on our Carbon Calculator?
Explore our FAQ guide on CO2 measurement and reduction.
