What is carbon accounting?
Carbon accounting is the process of measuring and tracking your business’s greenhouse gas emissions. This helps your business understand environmental impact, comply with regulations, and identify opportunities to reduce costs and emissions.
Why carbon accounting matters for SMEs
- Win new business: Many larger clients now expect suppliers to demonstrate climate action.
- Meet regulations: Reporting requirements are expanding globally. Even if you’re too small to have to report, your larger clients may need carbon data from you so that they can report on their emissions (which includes you).
- Save money: Lowering emissions can reduce energy and resource expenses (although not always!).
- Boost your reputation:Â Depending on your sector, sustainability may be increasingly valued by your customers and employees.
How to choose the right carbon accounting platform as an SME
Selecting the best carbon accounting platform for you depends on your business’s specific needs, resources, and goals. Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you make a confident decision:
- Identify your main objective
- Just starting out? Look for platforms with simple onboarding, guided setup, and free trials
- Need to comply with regulations or win public contracts? Prioritise platforms that offer these specific reporting templates and compliance support.
- Want to engage your team or community? Choose options with community features.
- Assess your technical setup
- Already using accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks? Shortlist platforms with direct integrations to automate data collection.
- Prefer manual data entry or have simple needs? Consider platforms with easy input forms and step-by-step guidance.
- Consider level of support needed
- Limited in-house expertise? Opt for platforms with hands-on support, live chat, or dedicated advisers.
- Confident with DIY tools? Platforms with clear guides and templates may suffice.
- Set your budget and timeline
- Looking for free or low-cost options? Explore platforms with free trials, freemium models, transparent pricing, or use free calculators for one-off calculations.
- Ready to invest for advanced features? Compare pricing for platforms offering analytics, scenario modeling, or custom action plans.
- Test before you commit
- Book demos or start free trials with your top choices.
- Ask about customer support, training, and upgrade paths.
- Check for up-to-date user reviews or testimonials from SMEs in your sector.
7 carbon accounting platforms to consider for SMEs
| Platform Name | What they do in a nutshell |
|---|---|
| Arbor | Carbon accounting platform for product-based companies |
| The Green Link | Comprehensive ESG platform: strategy design to implementation |
| Sustainability Network | Comprehensive ESG reporting and analytics platform |
| Ecosostenibile.eu | All-in-one approach for achieving low carbon and circularity |
| RyeStrategy | Affordable Carbon Accounting and Climate Disclosure Solutions |
| Greenly | One-stop-shop for sustainability, making compliance easy & precise |
| Seedling | Carbon accounting software for SMEs |
