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What is a carbon footprint, and how is it measured?

In this guide on what is a carbon footprint and how is it measured, we&#8217;ll cover:
<ul>
<li><a href="#what">What is a carbon footprint?</a></li>
<li><a href="#how">How is a carbon footprint measured? </a></li>
<li><a href="#seven">Seven of the best carbon footprint calculators </a></li>
<li><a href="#reduce">How can I reduce my carbon footprint?</a></li>
<li><a href="#ecologi">How Ecologi can help businesses reduce their carbon emissions</a></li>
</ul>

A simple definition is the total amount of greenhouse gases that is emitted directly or indirectly by an entity &#8211; for example, a person, product or business. In other words, it is one measure of the impact their activities are having on the environment, and how much they are contributing to climate change. 
The carbon footprint is usually expressed in terms of tonnes of ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ &#8211; which allows us to account for the emissions of both carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Activities like travel, energy use, producing goods and services all contribute to a carbon footprint, and once you know the measure of it, the goal should be to reduce it as much as possible.
<h3>What are some examples of carbon footprint?</h3>
We usually talk about the carbon footprint of an individual or company, but it could also refer to the impact of an event, like a big music festival or sporting event for example, or of a product throughout its life cycle. 
<h3>Why is it important to measure your carbon footprint?</h3>
Measuring your carbon footprint is important because it helps you understand and take responsibility for the amount of greenhouse gases you’re releasing into the atmosphere through your activities, whether that’s indirectly or directly. 
There are many reasons why that matters, but here’s just a handful:
Heightened environmental awareness  
When you understand your carbon footprint, you become more aware of how your actions are contributing to the big issues of climate change and environmental degradation. And awareness is the first step towards action. You’ll find you become more focused on making better choices for our planet.
More responsibility and accountability
Measuring your carbon footprint encourages personal responsibility. It helps people and businesses recognise the impact they have on the environment, and fosters a sense of accountability for their contribution to climate change.
Easier goal setting
If you know about it, you can do something about it. Once you’ve measured your carbon footprint, the next step is to set goals to reduce it. For businesses it could involve switching energy providers, using more efficient vehicles or working with greener suppliers. For individuals this might involve making changes to your lifestyle or choosing more environmentally-friendly products. 
Competitive advantage for businesses  
Calculating, understanding and reducing your carbon footprint is a collective responsibility for the wellbeing of the planet. Increasingly consumers are aware of this responsibility and are choosing businesses that show a commitment to sustainability. So carbon footprinting is good business! 
Economic savings
Many actions that reduce carbon footprints, like using energy-efficient lightbulbs or electric vehicles, can also lead to cost savings. Reducing energy consumption not only benefits the environment but also lowers bills, so it&#8217;s good for both the planet and profit. Win-win!

Measuring a carbon footprint involves assessing the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual or business, and it’s typically expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

How can businesses calculate their carbon footprint?

Let’s take a look at how to calculate the carbon footprint of a company. The process of calculating a carbon footprint is very complex and methodologies vary. Companies may tailor their carbon footprinting approach based on their industry, location and available data &#8211; and it’s always advisable to work with an organisation with a carbon accounting background, to ensure you’re on the right track. 
Here’s the basic process:
Step 1 &#8211; Define boundaries
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines three types (‘scopes’) of emissions:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g. emissions from company-owned vehicles, or from an onsite gas boiler).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scope 2: Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy (e.g. electricity).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Scope 3: Indirect emissions from the entire value chain, including both upstream and downstream activities (e.g. supply chain, transportation and business travel).</li>
</ul>
As well as understanding the scopes of emissions business must also define the organisational and operational boundaries of the footprint &#8211; to establish which emissions the specific entity is responsible for.
Step 2 &#8211; Identify emission sources
Determine all sources of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the defined scopes. For a company’s carbon footprint, this can include: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Energy consumption, including electricity, fuel, and other energy sources (this includes Scope 1 and 2 emissions).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Transportation, from owned or leased vehicles (Scope 1), as well as emissions from commuting and business travel (Scope 3).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Supply chain emissions, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation (Scope 3).</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Waste management, including emissions from waste generation and disposal.</li>
</ul>
Step 3 &#8211; Collect data 
Next you need to gather data on energy use, fuel consumption, production processes, transportation methods, and any other relevant activities contributing to emissions. 
Our carbon footprinting tool, <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi Zero</a>, simplifies this process. After answering a few essential questions about your business, including your number of offices and employees, you can connect Ecologi Zero to your Xero accounting software to import transaction data and get emissions values for each transaction. Collecting activity data about your energy usage, vehicles, and other parts of your business will refine your carbon footprint as well. 

Step 4 &#8211; Convert data to CO2e 
Different greenhouse gases have different ‘global warming potentials’, so the next step is to convert the activity or expenditure data for each emission source into emissions (measured in CO2e), so you have a standardised measure. 
This is done using emissions factors, which are values that represent the average amount of emissions produced per unit of activity. Using these factors you can convert the data about how your business runs, into a total amount of emissions, in CO2e.
Step 5 &#8211; Calculate the carbon footprint 
Then all you need to do is multiply the activity data by the appropriate emission factor to calculate the emissions for each source. And once all these emissions are added together, voila, you get your total carbon footprint.
Step 6 &#8211; Report the carbon footprint 
Show your commitment and build trust by transparently reporting your carbon footprint and sharing your progress (even if you&#8217;re not perfect). Subscribers to Ecologi Zero Premium get an annual report included in their plan. 
Step 7 &#8211; Set goals and take action
Once the carbon footprint is measured, businesses can identify their emissions hotspots and set goals to reduce them. This might involve switching to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, or making changes in the supply chain. Identifying hotspots and setting goals is another feature included in Ecologi Zero Premium.

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Seven of the best carbon footprint calculators 

Looking for a helping hand? Here’s seven tools that can do a lot of the hard work for you: 
<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/zero">Ecologi Zero </a>
Ecologi Zero makes it quick and simple for UK-based SMEs to calculate their carbon footprint by integrating with Xero accounting data. Premium users can also get tailored advice to identify hotspots and benefit from an annual report to share with their community. 
<a href="https://ghgprotocol.org/">GHG Protocol</a>
Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol provides a comprehensive framework for businesses to measure and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. It offers standards and guidance for both corporate and product life cycle accounting.
<a href="https://www.carbontrust.com/">Carbon Trust</a>
Carbon Trust offers a suite of tools and calculators for businesses and individuals. Their individual calculator considers energy usage, transportation and lifestyle choices, providing a comprehensive overview of your carbon footprint. Their Footprint Expert software helps businesses measure and manage their carbon emissions, providing insights into areas where emissions can be reduced.
<a href="https://eightversa.com/services/net-zero-carbon/carbon-footprint-for-business/">Eight Versa </a>
Eight Versa is a sustainability consultancy that works with all kinds of businesses. They provide expert carbon footprinting and carbon reduction support, guiding organisations through Scopes 1, 2 &amp; 3 and creating a roadmap of decarbonisation solutions. Their methods are in-line with international standards such as ISO 14064, the Science Based Targets Initiative and GHG Protocol. 
<a href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/">Global Footprint Network</a>
The Ecological Footprint calculator by Global Footprint Network not only calculates carbon emissions but also considers other ecological factors. It also provides an estimate of how many Earths would be needed if everyone lived like you.
<a href="https://www.myclimate.org/en/">My Climate Carbon Footprint Calculator</a>
My Climate offers a carbon footprint calculator that considers various aspects, including travel, energy and consumption. It also facilitates users to support climate protection projects.
<a href="https://myemissions.green/food-carbon-footprint-calculator/">MyEmissions </a>
MyEmissions is a leading provider of food carbon labelling, working with some of the largest food companies in the world. They’ve also published a free food carbon footprint calculator so everyone can see the impact of what they eat.

For both businesses and individuals alike, knowledge is power when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint. By going through the process of calculating your carbon footprint you’ll get a clearer idea of where your hotspots are, and therefore where you can make the biggest impact in reducing them.
For individuals it&#8217;s about making conscious lifestyle choices. For businesses it involves a combination of strategic planning, operational changes, and employee engagement. 
Ecologi Zero Premium customers receive in-depth technical guidance on how to reduce their emissions &#8211; which can vary from business to business. Here’s ten general tips that both individuals and businesses can use to minimise their environmental impact:
For businesses:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Be more energy efficient: Conduct an energy audit and invest in energy-efficient technologies and appliances.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Switch to renewable energy: Consider switching to renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage cleaner commuting: Encourage hybrid working and offer staff incentives to use public transport, carpool, or bike to work.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Green your supply chain: Work with existing suppliers to reduce emissions and prioritise new suppliers who have strong climate creds.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Reduce waste: Encourage employees to minimise paper use, invest in digital technologies, and choose suppliers that use minimal packaging.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Go circular: Consider circular economy principles like product refurbishment and recycling.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Engage your team: Create a culture of environmental awareness among employees and provide training on sustainable practices.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Assess life cycles: Conduct life cycle assessments of products and services to identify opportunities for improvement, considering the impact from design to disposal.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Get certified: Seek third-party certifications like ISO 14001 for environmental management.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Collaborate and advocate: Work with industry peers to share best practices and advocate for sustainable policies.</li>
</ol>
For individuals:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Power down: Use energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, turn off lights and electronics when not in use, and unplug chargers! </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Drop the diesel: Choose public transport, start a carpool, or even better, get on a bike.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle: Reject single-use plastics, recycle what you can, and donate or sell items when you’re done with them.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Embrace plant power: Switch to a plant-based diet (or at least eat less meat), choose locally-sourced and seasonal foods, and be mindful of food waste.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Every drop counts: Fix leaks and think about how you can limit water use (even switching off the tap while brushing your teeth helps!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Buy green: Shop for products with minimal packaging and support eco-friendly brands.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Make your home more efficient: Insulating your walls, installing energy-efficient windows and doors, and using programmable thermostats can all make your home that little bit smarter.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Switch to renewable energy: Switch to an energy supplier that uses renewable sources, and consider installing solar panels on your property if you can.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Travel lightly: Choose direct flights to reduce emissions and consider eco-friendly accommodation. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Go minimal: Embrace a minimalist lifestyle to reduce consumption and waste.</li>
</ol>
Remember, every small effort counts, and collectively these actions will all add up to a big reduction in your carbon footprint. You have to start somewhere, so choose the changes that are easiest to get going with and you can gradually incorporate more and more sustainable switches into your day to day. 
<h3>What are the biggest causes of carbon emissions for businesses?</h3>
The biggest causes of carbon emissions for businesses can vary from industry to industry, but here’s some of the usual culprits that most businesses will need to tackle: 
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Energy consumption, including energy-intensive processes for manufacturing, heating and powering equipment, which involve burning fossil fuels.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Transportation, including fleet vehicles and the daily commuting of employees.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Supply chain, including raw material production and logistics.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Waste management, including generation and disposal.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Product manufacturing, including carbon-intensive manufacturing processes and product transportation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Buildings, including construction, maintenance, heating, cooling and lighting.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Technology, including data centres powered by non-renewable energy sources, and the disposal of electronic equipment.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Water, including waste water treatment.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Business travel, particularly by air!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Financial Investments, particularly if a business has investments in fossil fuel industries </li>
</ol>
Understanding the main sources of emissions allows businesses to be more strategic in pinpointing their sustainability efforts. If in doubt, start where you can make the biggest dent with the least effort!
<h3>What are the biggest causes of carbon emissions for individuals?</h3>
For individuals, the causes of carbon emissions are also very lifestyle dependent, and stem from various comings and goings of people’s daily lives. Here’s some of the main offenders:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Energy consumption, including heating, cooling, and powering homes.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Transportation, including driving and air travel. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Diet, including meat consumption and choosing food that has been transported long distances.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Waste generation, particularly the disposal of single-use plastics and sending waste to landfills.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Shopping, particularly fast fashion and excessive consumption.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Water use, including heating water for showers, laundry, and dishwashing, along with excessive water usage.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Technology, including the production and disposal of electronic devices and internet use.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Financial choices, particularly through investments in fossil fuel industries (which your pension provider could be doing without you even knowing!)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Events, particularly large scale events and celebrations, which might involve a lot of travel and consumption.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Lack of awareness about sustainable practices can sometimes be a big cause of unintentionally high carbon footprints.</li>
</ol>
Ultimately it&#8217;s all about balance, and doing what you can. No-one would want to totally give up all of the above, or even be able to, but being aware of the impact of each choice is the first step to making good decisions where possible. And often there’s a win-win, as making a greener choice can also save your money or be better for your health and wellbeing.

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How Ecologi can help businesses reduce their carbon emissions

From tree planting, to funding certified climate avoidance projects, through to calculating your company’s carbon footprint, we&#8217;re your trusted partner in taking climate action. We offer a range of products and services to businesses of all sizes.  
<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/zero">Ecologi Zero </a>
It’s quick and simple to calculate your carbon footprint with Ecologi Zero. We take the legwork out of calculating your emissions through simple integrations, so you can focus on reducing them. Ecologi Zero is suitable for service-based small and medium businesses using Xero (other options available to larger businesses)
<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/business/business-signup">Custom climate action</a>
For larger businesses looking for a custom climate impact solution, or for those who are not sure where to start, our team of experts can create a tailored solution to suit your needs. They can support your business and find the right solution to suit your needs including calculating your business’s carbon emissions through one of our specialist partners.

To get started select your business size

Start calculating your business' carbon footprint today

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Meet our Impact Team

Ecologi’s mission is to inspire and empower businesses to accelerate global climate action. In everything we do, we’re guided by our company values:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Planet first</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Always accountable</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Change-makers</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Act, together.</li>
</ol>
Because of our values, we put impact for our climate, nature and people, right at our heart: and this is driven by our Impact Team.

<h2>Meeting the Impact Team </h2>
The Impact Team is responsible for directing our efforts toward meaningful climate action aligned with the latest science and industry best practice. The team’s role encompasses several key areas, including:
<ul>
<li>Ensuring adherence to best practice through our research bases, rigorous due diligence processes, and expert understanding of key sustainability frameworks.</li>
<li>Building and managing relationships with some of the world’s leading implementation partners to facilitate the delivery of high-impact climate solutions.</li>
<li>Delivery of emissions measurement and reporting projects, assisting customers with data collection, emissions calculations, and helping them identify effective decarbonisation strategies.</li>
<li>Engaging with academia, including the stewardship of the Ecologi Climate Committee — our advisory network of academic and industry experts on topics relevant to our work.</li>
<li>Providing climate and sustainability expertise and strategic guidance to align our products and services with the latest in environmental science and industry best practices and to guide our internal policy.</li>
<li>Driving our industry forward through participating in industry advisory groups, policy advocacy groups, consortia and alliances with Ecologi’s peers and partners in corporate sustainability, </li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
In this article, we’ll meet the team making it all possible!

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<h2>Sam Jackson, Director of Climate Science &amp; Impact</h2>
MSc, MA, PIEMA REnvP, FRSA
Sam is department lead for Impact at Ecologi, and a member of Ecologi’s senior leadership team. He is responsible for providing climate and sustainability expertise and strategic guidance to the business, with the priority of aligning Ecologi’s products and services with the latest in environmental science and industry best practice. Sam is an advisor to a number of industry groups and a regular speaker at sustainability industry events.
Sam has a varied background in climate science, international operations, development, and environmental governance. In his early career, he worked primarily in the charity and sustainable tourism sectors before moving permanently into climate and corporate sustainability. Sam holds Master’s degrees in International Relations and Climate Change Science and Policy from the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol. He is a Practitioner Member of IEMA, a Registered Environmental Practitioner with the Society for the Environment, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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<h2>Eleanor Turner, Climate Solutions Manager</h2>
MSc, BSc, PIEMA 
Eleanor has a senior role within the Impact team, helping to guide our strategic direction and shape our theory of change, as well as supporting the team across all Impact functions. Eleanor leads much of our external engagement with academia, including managing the Ecologi Climate Committee: our advisory network of academic and industry experts across a wide range of topics relevant to our work. She also works cross-functionally around the business, to drive much of Ecologi’s own internal sustainability efforts.
Eleanor holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of York, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geography. Eleanor’s career began as a sustainability consultant within the engineering and construction industry, focusing on BREEAM assessments and decarbonisation across the public sector. Eleanor then moved to an in-house sustainability role within the consumer goods industry, focused on internal sustainability strategy and greenhouse gas inventory management, before joining Ecologi as our Climate Solutions Manager.

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<h2>George Gibson, Senior Carbon Accounting Manager</h2>
George provides technical expertise to support the development of the carbon accounting methodology underpinning our Ecologi Zero platform for businesses. George also leads the consultative delivery of emissions measurement and reporting projects with our customers, guiding them through data collection and helping them to identify decarbonisation strategies. Key to his role is ensuring compliance with the relevant standards and that the tool provides a comprehensive and accurate account of a business’ emissions.
With a degree in Economics and Management from Cardiff University, specialising in economic development, George has previously worked as a sustainability consultant providing insight into compiling greenhouse gas inventories to measure and report emissions, developing decarbonisation strategies, setting Science-Based Targets and supporting businesses in attaining B Corp certification.

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<h2>Katie Pownall, Impact Partnerships Manager</h2>
MBiol, MRSB, ACIEEM
Katie works closely with Ecologi’s reforestation and other implementation partners, ensuring that funding from our community goes to the best projects, and sharing stories about the projects with the Ecologi community. As Ecologi continues to grow, Katie is helping to identify new types of impact projects, enabling Ecologi customers to fund cutting-edge climate action with some of the most well-respected organisations around the world.
Katie has a Master’s degree in Biology from University of York, where she focused on ecology and conservation, and during which she worked in the North York Moors National Park’s Conservation department, where she gained knowledge about protected species, habitat management, and on-the-ground conservation work. This  hands-on experience combined with her understanding of the theory of conservation and ecology helps Katie to guide Ecologi’s decisions so that we optimise our positive impact on people, biodiversity, and the planet.

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<h2>Lucy Gemmell, Carbon Portfolio Manager</h2>
In her role as Carbon Portfolio Manager, Lucy drives our in-house due diligence to identify top-tier carbon avoidance and removal projects, manages our relationships with project developers, and helps to educate customers in ensuring they are communicating about their impact correctly. In her work, she manages our relationships with a number of our key strategic impact partners including Sylvera and Earth Blox. Lucy originally joined Ecologi in 2022 as part of our Commercial team and spent a year working cross-departmentally, immersing herself in the voluntary carbon market before transitioning permanently into the Impact team. 
Lucy has a diverse background, having managed a boutique real estate brokerage in her earlier career and chaired the board of an education-based NGO in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is currently pursuing a Master&#8217;s degree in Climate Change and Development, following the recent completion of an ESG Specialisation from the Corporate Finance Institute.

Alongside the Impact team, we have some incredible individuals who assist us in reaching our goals and supporting our work. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, and their contributions help us stay on track and maintain momentum.

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<h2>Monsoon Modi, Commercial Operations Executive</h2>
Monsoon originally joined Ecologi in 2022 as part of our Customer Success team and spent a year working cross-departmentally before moving into the Commercial team, now as an Operations Executive. 
Key to her role is optimising commercial projects, building commercial resources and providing support for small businesses along their sustainability journey. Monsoon also supports the Impact Team with internal educational material, project reports and administrative tasks. 
With a degree in Politics and International Relations, Monsoon is currently pursuing a Master&#8217;s degree in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh.

<h2>Climate Committee </h2>
Ecologi’s Climate Committee was founded in 2021 to bring together industry experts and research professionals who sit outside of the business to bring specialist knowledge and support to maximise our climate impact. Our committee members bring best-practice thinking, and ongoing developments with regard to global climate science, carbon accounting methodology, nature-based projects and the voluntary carbon market through our three working groups, Nature, Climate and Policy.
The committee supports the Impact team through providing expert knowledge across specialist fields which help shape the future of the team, and the wider business. In turn, this improves our internal decision-making and strategy development through staying at the forefront of industry developments and innovation.

Schedule a call

Case studies

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Case study: the Focusrite Group

<h2>About the Focusrite Group </h2>
<a href="https://x.ecologi.com/focusritegroup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Focusrite</a> is not your average audio technology group. This passionate bunch is united by a single objective: to smash through barriers and unleash boundless creativity in the world of sound.
Founded in 1985 and based in High Wycombe, this team of over 500 is on a mission to remove barriers to creativity. And they believe that technology can play an important role in breaking down other barriers too, including geographical, social, economic, and even environmental. 
Focusrite is an organisation that’s driven by purpose, with a keen desire to be a force for good in the world. Responsible practices are an essential part of how they do business, and that includes keeping a keen eye on their impact on the environment.

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<h2>Issue</h2>
Focusrite has been working to reduce its environmental impact for many years and in 2020 developed a carbon accounting process that now provides near real-time data on Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions.
This progress has allowed the team to set goals, but they are in the process of applying to set Science Based Targets (SBT) to replace them. In the meantime they are already aligning their approach with SBT guidelines. 
As a UK-based company, Focusrite is committed to 2050 as the ultimate deadline for net-zero, but they want to get there quicker. So their approach is not to set a net-zero target year until they have gone through the SBT application process by 2026 at the latest, and instead use carbon reduction metrics and targets to set them up for long-term success.

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<h2>Challenges</h2>
The team at Focusrite use emissions data to guide action, and their emissions are largely dominated by their hardware products, which account for 96% of GHG emissions. 
They have already made good progress in reducing the use of aluminium, plastic, and product packaging, with many more areas under review. As they roll out changes across their product range, the team aims to increase the pace of their reductions, with any new products being designed from more sustainable materials from the start.
Focusrite is striving to become a sustainability leader in its industry, setting the standard for peers to emulate. Environmental stewardship is a big part of that, and the message from the entire employee base is that they want to support nature beyond their value chain. This is why they reached out to Ecologi to help them do more good for our planet.

<h2>Solution </h2>
Focusrite has worked with Ecologi since 2021. Ecologi supports the team to fund tree planting for internal initiatives like employee charity fundraising, but also to offset the wood used in their products. The wood used is already FSC certified, so by planting trees with Ecologi they replace more than they consume. 
Focusrite also works with Ecologi to support projects to mitigate any remaining Scope 1 and 2 emissions they can’t avoid. So far they have funded 17 projects, including a solar power project in Morocco, supplying high efficiency cookstoves in Somalia, and preserving Amazonian rainforest in Brazil.
The team isn&#8217;t shy about sharing Focusrite’s success. They talk about their climate impact prominently in their annual report and employee newsletter, and dive into the details in their dedicated environment and climate reports. 
Taking such positive climate action has boosted Focusrite’s reputation with customers and colleagues alike. They have enjoyed press coverage for their tree planting, which positioned them as a leader in their industry, and they have even had employees join the company purely because of their environmental sustainability programme.

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<h2>Outcome</h2>
Since 2021, the Focusrite Group has funded the planting of 89,080 trees, supported the prevention of 132 tonnes of CO2e from being emitted, and funded the removal of 81 tonnes of CO2e from the atmosphere. In total 17 different projects have been funded.

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<h2>Is your business ready to take climate action?</h2>
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What happened at COP29

This year’s Conference of the Parties is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan and will run until the 22nd of November. Our team at Ecologi are monitoring the daily events to give you real-time analysis and reactions to the developments and agreements taking place. 
What is COP29? Click <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/articles/uncategorised/what-to-expect-at-cop29" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> for a comprehensive guide to all things COP29. 
What happened at COP28? Click <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/articles/blog/whats-happening-at-cop28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to read a full report of the event in 2023.

<h2>Overall sentiment &#8211; COP29 wrap-up</h2>
The overall sentiment at COP29 reflects a little bit of progress and an awful lot of frustration. As is often the case at the climate COPs, any progress that does get made is often overshadowed by the missed opportunities – and this one is no exception on that front.
The largest positive from this COP is in the agreements made on operationalising carbon market standards under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This consensus signals hope for greater transparency, higher standards, and clear opportunities for businesses to engage in global climate action projects, in a new carbon market managed under the UN framework. These draft documents on Article 6 were published on the first day of the COP and have stayed relatively static since then – indicating that agreement was achieved early. They did come under criticism though, with the Presidency offering up documents to be accepted as-is, with no opportunity for countries to scrutinise the wording.
The COP as a whole, and its broader negotiations on a range of other topics, have been marred by tensions, frustrations, and geopolitics. Proceedings were thrown somewhat, by world leaders disappearing from the world leaders’ summit at the conference and reconvening in Brazil (next year’s COP host country) for the G20 – leading to <a href="https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/media/18-11-2024-declaracao-de-lideres-g20.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a multilateral G20 declaration</a> which seemed to both celebrate and chastise the country negotiators back in Baku. 
Geopolitics making things difficult – COP29 has taken place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions between a wide range of countries, which have diverted attention and resources away from climate action and have complicated negotiations. Add to that the problems coming from the COP itself – from country boycotts, to backhanded oil and gas deals, to threats to drop out of the Paris Agreement by Argentina (a threat which was later clarified as rescinded) and by the USA (which is likely to be upheld under the incoming administration) – and it’s easy to wonder how nearly 200 countries can be convinced to agree on anything at all. Let alone an issue with the gravity, urgency, and complexity of climate change.
Poor management by the Presidency – if you’ve followed our daily coverage you’ll have spotted over the past two weeks how this COP has felt quite chaotic and frenetic. It hasn’t really felt throughout proceedings that the Presidency is in control of things – and this applies on the diplomatic level but also in a practical sense, with uncomfortable stories coming out of the conference centre about poorly-managed bathroom facilities and catering. On the draft decisions, the Presidency’s strategy has been cavalier and uncharitable, with something of a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ attitude to negotiations which isn’t helpful or conducive to compromise. On the last day of the COP, the Climate Action Network awarded the Azerbaijani Presidency their Fossil of the Day award because it “doesn’t understand the gravity of the Presidency, or for that matter the value of civil society”. This is a damning assessment, but one which is hard to disagree with.
Somehow, fossil fuels are still the elephant in the room – we heard from UNEP before COP29 started that <a href="https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global emissions are still rising</a>, driven by continued fossil fuel use – and yet COP29 has failed to advance any fossil fuel reduction commitments. In Dubai last year, we saw the agreed cover text mention the “phase-down of unabated coal power”, the “transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems” and the “phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” (which was pretty weak in itself). This year, the fossil fuel lobby was typically massive – with over 1,700 fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence showing that fossil fuels must stay in the ground, the dominance of fossil fuel interests has continued to undermine progress, with the Arab Group in particular this year refusing to back any texts that reference the phasing out of fossil fuels. The COP29 texts on the UAE dialogue and the Mitigation Work Programme (which ought to have been used to further the outcomes of last year’s Global Stocktake) were meant to enhance climate mitigation. The final version of the MWP fails to mention the transition away from fossil fuels, the 1.5ºC warming goal or the Global Stocktake and its outcomes, and the UAE dialogue on how to proceed on the Global Stocktake wasn’t adopted at all. Interestingly, the earliest drafts did mention the 1.5ºC warming goal and the seriousness of 2023 being the warmest year on record. As the drafts progressed this messaging was removed, despite many calling for the final text to be more ambitious and specific. A deal on the MWP was adopted during the closing plenary session without any intervention. 
Article 6 and UK government provide a few reasons to be positive for businesses 
Whilst the overall sentiment at this year’s COP29 has been disappointment, particularly regarding the pace of global climate action and the lack of firm commitments from key global players, there are still some glimmers of hope for businesses. Among the more promising developments is the aforementioned progress on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the UK government’s climate commitments. The outcomes on Article 6 pose a step forward for businesses. By advancing frameworks for international carbon markets, COP29 has created a clearer pathway for companies to engage in high-quality carbon offsetting and trading, fostering transparency and credibility in the process. This opens up new opportunities for organisations globally to progress towards net-zero targets whilst supporting climate action projects and global emission reductions. 
The UK government’s renewed focus on climate policy has created incentives such as increased funding for green technology, support for nature based projects and streamlined regulation for sustainable investment, catalysing innovation and market growth. The developments at COP29 have reinforced the role of businesses as a key actor in the fight against climate change when world leaders fall short on agreeing ambitious climate goals. Through embracing innovation, adopting bold emission reduction targets and funding climate action, companies can fill the leadership gap and accelerate progress where governments falter.

COP29 - Daily updates 

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The two-week conference, scheduled for November 11th-22nd will bring together representatives from all countries that have agreed to be bound by the UNFCCC. The conference takes place annually to negotiate new measures, develop policy and review progress against the goal of limiting climate change.
Azerbaijan, the host nation, has received its fair share of criticism for becoming this year’s COP president. Oil and Gas make up 92.5% of the country’s GDP per capita, and President Ilham Aliyev has stated his support for oil and gas producing nations to continue investing in the sector, clashing with last year’s COP28 outcome in which all nations called for accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.

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<h2>The key talking points and priorities in the run up to COP29</h2>
This year, priorities are focused on climate finance, with COP29 being coined the Finance COP, this is reiterated by the programme of scheduling with Finance, Investment and Trade taking priority spot on the first day of discussions.
Energy and Science are also high on the agenda, while Nature and Biodiversity and Oceans and Coastal Zones take more of a back seat, only being scheduled for the final day before negotiations; naturally, this comes as a disappointment as this signals these areas of discussion are considered lower priority when compared with energy and finance.
It is likely momentum and attendance will decrease by the end of week two and could undermine the urgency needed to address the implications of climate change on nature globally and reduce their integration into wider climate strategies.
The following key priorities are expected to lead discussions at COP29;
<h3>New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)</h3>
Developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change, require substantial financial support to transition to green economies and adapt to climate impacts. COP29 aims to agree on a new commitment to provide annual climate finance to developing countries, replacing a goal of $100 billion per annum set in 2009 at COP15. The World Economic Forum states that ‘the NCQG must be ambitious yet realistic, balancing the financial capacities of developed countries with the urgent needs of developing nations’.
<h3>Growing the loss and damage fund</h3>
Established and operationalised at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, the loss and damage fund acknowledges the disproportionate burden that climate change places on vulnerable nations. It is a financial mechanism that helps countries cope with the loss and damages they face due to climate change – this includes loss of life, damage to infrastructure and displacement.
At COP29, there is hope to see significant progress in the fund’s operationalisation and funding. Countries are expected to make substantial pledges to the fund to ensure it can meet the needs of developing countries. To date, major contributors include the UAE, Germany and the United States. Other big-emitting countries such as China and Saudi Arabia are yet to announce their intention to contribute to the fund.
<h3>Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)</h3>
At COP29, nations will be encouraged to commit to more ambitious and robust Nationally Determined Contributions; these are climate action commitments made by countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation, aligning with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
NDCs are submitted every 5 years to the UNFCCC, and with the next global stocktake approaching NDCs are to be put forward by February 2025, demonstrating increased ambition and concrete action plans. At COP29, there is likely to be a push to provide financial and technical support to developing countries to enable them to outline and implement NDCs of their own.
<h3>Article 6 of the Paris Agreement</h3>
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement aims to promote the use of carbon markets to achieve their climate targets. At COP29 we can expect discussions with regards to how a robust and well-regulated international carbon market can be developed and maintained. A key goal of COP29 is to finalise the rulebook for Article 6, which will provide clear guidelines for its implementation, and address concerns with regards to the quality of carbon credits, double counting and sustainable development.

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<h2>Who is attending COP29</h2>
With just 2 months to go until COP29 kicks off, there has been minimal discussion with regards to which World Leaders we can expect at the event.
From the UK, Ed Miliband, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, is confirmed to be leading UK negotiations for COP29. However, with the USA election taking place just 5 days before COP29 begins, it is unlikely that the President will be in attendance. As the event draws closer, we can expect more countries to confirm which delegates will attend.

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<h2>What to expect during COP29</h2>
An anticipated 40,000 participants are heading to COP29, almost half the number of attendees than at <a href="https://x.ecologi.com/articles/blog/whats-happening-at-cop28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP28</a> in Dubai last year; this poses the question of if bigger is necessarily better, fewer attendees reduce the environmental impact of the conferences, with the UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell <a href="https://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/04/24/peak-cop-un-looks-to-shrink-baku-and-belem-climate-summits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying he hopes to see fewer people attending COPs </a>as size does not necessarily translate to the quality of outcomes.
COP29 still presents a crucial opportunity to make significant strides in climate action, by focusing on climate finance and reaffirming climate goals, countries can collectively work together to provide the funding and tools necessary to shape the trajectory of global climate efforts.

<h2>Partner with us for COP29 and beyond</h2>
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If your business is interested in a partnership to help scale climate action or starting its climate journey during COP29 or beyond, get in touch.

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