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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://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://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://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://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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Climate Commitments Survey 2024

Our Climate Commitments 2024 report surveyed 1,400 business owners and decision-makers to businesses with 1-1,000 employees spanning all regions of the UK and 28 professional sectors. 
There were three clear themes that emerged this year. Despite the continuing economic downturn, businesses are still making sustainability a core part of their strategy and reaping the benefits. Whilst more and more businesses are starting their net-zero journey the majority are not on course to hit their targets by 2050. Key barriers around investment, time and tools still remain as well as a lack of government support to accelerate the transition to the net zero economy.
<h3>Read the full report </h3>
<div class="ecologi-video-full-width"><iframe src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20240415131731/Climate_Commitments_Survey.pdf" width="595" height="841" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
 📁 Download the PDF report <a href="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20240415131731/Climate_Commitments_Survey.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

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<h3>1. Despite the continuing economic downturn, businesses are making sustainability a core part of their strategy and reaping the benefits.</h3>
76% said becoming more environmentally sustainable is a core business strategy for their organisation in 2024.
Despite the current cost of living crisis nearly two thirds (64%) say that the economic downturn is having a positive or no impact at all on their sustainability commitments with only a third (29%) saying it is having a negative impact. As a result 81% are planning on either increasing or maintaining their investment in sustainability initiatives.
Changing business practices are wide-ranging and have seen nearly half of respondents increasing rates of recycling (49%) or reducing energy consumption (48%) while over a third (37%) have taken the step of using ‘greener’ suppliers and products, been educating employees on best practices to reduce climate change (35%) and increased their use of renewable energy (35%).
For the two thirds of businesses (63%) who have set sustainability targets, they are reporting multiple business benefits. These range from improved brand reputation (34%), reduced costs (31%), increased productivity and/or innovation (30%), attracting more eco-conscious customers (28%), employee loyalty and/or motivation (28%), competitive advantage (22%) and increased revenue and/or market share (22%).

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<h3>2. More and more businesses are starting their net-zero journey but are not on course to hit their targets</h3>
72% of businesses have either measured their footprint consistently over the past few years (35%) or in the last year (37%) demonstrating the momentum in the first step on a net-zero journey.
Around a third have calculated their carbon footprint (30%), set emissions reductions targets (35%), achieved emissions reductions (30%) and funded climate action (35%) but less than a third (27%) were on track to reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner.
Businesses still recognised the role of carbon offsetting as an effective way for businesses to contribute to global climate action (21%) when used as part of a wider strategy (17%) after reducing emissions as much as possible (17%). Funding tree planting still tops the list as businesses’ number one favoured climate action solution (46%), followed by renewable energy (38%), habitat conservation &amp; restoration (37%), rainforest conservation (32%) and carbon dioxide removal (31%).

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<h3>3. Barriers around investment, time and tools still remain, as well as a lack of government support.</h3>
Over a third of UK businesses cited financial constraints (32%), the cost of tools or technology (28%), lack of government support in the form of incentives (25%), time constraints (25%) and the lack of the ability to measure their carbon footprint (20%). 
The business sector is calling out for more support from the government.  Nearly eight in ten (79%) of UK businesses feel that the government should provide more support to improve their environmental affairs, three quarters (76%) feel that the government investing in the green economy would be good for business, creating jobs and lowering their running costs while 73% feel more government support is key to their business increasing its sustainability targets.
With less than half (49%) of businesses yet to apply for government funding to make their business greener there’s a clear desire for more funding (45%) and incentives (44%) to be made available as well as clearer information (40%) on how to access these.

<h3>Businesses can lead the sustainable revolution</h3>
Ecologi remains committed to supporting businesses on their climate journey through our all-in-one platform allowing organisations to calculate their carbon footprint, set targets and reduce their emissions whilst funding high quality climate action projects. Our mission is to inspire and empower businesses to accelerate global climate action.
We’re trusted by over 20,000 businesses. Why not add yours to the list? If you want to make your business greener, better, faster, stronger, speak to our expert team.
You can access the full data set <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vR2QZj3JAUk_f4suOMmd653C6AEiytUp_T5WhBnUOypIkW9Wf9yT61C9TzQ4_GMwQ/pubhtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

Speak to our expert team to make your business greener, better, faster, stronger

Ecologi Impact Report 2023: Another year of impact for our planet

Impact Reports

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Impact Report 2023: Another year of impact for our planet

Read our 2023 Impact Report to discover the incredible achievements of the Ecologi community.

It’s that time of year again, when we share our annual Impact Report to highlight the scale of the impact funded by our community, and the incredible achievements of the impactful projects that Ecologi has supported over the past twelve months.
Read the full report below, or stick with us here, as we summarise some of the top facts and figures from 2023.

<h2>Over 75 million trees funded</h2>
…in fact, nearly 77 million! As of the end of the year, the Ecologi community has funded the planting of 76.9 million trees in eighteen countries around the world – from Argentina to Tanzania.
This includes 20.6 million trees which were funded by the Ecologi community in 2023, representing 27% of our overall count of trees funded to date.
We also now support reforestation projects in all four nations of the United Kingdom, and have planted 300,000 trees here at home.

<h2>Over 38,000 livelihoods supported through reforestation and agroforestry projects</h2>
We are constantly working on improving our understanding of how our funding for reforestation projects supports local people and communities.
Thanks to improved data visibility across our projects this year, we can report that the reforestation projects we fund support at least 38,000 people – for example through training, employment, investment in micro-businesses, or the provision of healthcare and wellbeing services.

<h2>New habitat restoration projects already showing results</h2>
In October, we launched our first-ever dedicated habitat restoration project – called <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/wildflowers-wetlands-and-wildlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildflowers, Wetlands and Wildlife</a>. This project supports the Future Forest Company’s projects restoring and conserving habitats and ecosystems that are important for native biodiversity in the United Kingdom – costing only a few pounds per square metre of habitat restored.
In just the last quarter of 2023, our community funded it’s first 5,000 m2 of habitat restoration, and the sites are already seeing some exciting signs that this restorative effort is working – with the return of the Northern brown argus (Aricia artaxerxes) to Stirlingshire, and elusive pine martens (Martes martes) spotted at Dumyat.

<h2>Another half a million tonnes of carbon avoidance</h2>
Our community funded another 565 ktCO2e this year, bringing our all-time total of emissions avoided to 2.96 MtCO2e (million tonnes).
This year, we saw increased demand for a wide range of projects that feature lots of co-benefits, with Community-based projects (like cookstoves and boreholes) averaging 7.25 validated benefits for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Nature-based projects averaging 5.38 SDGs.
The voluntary carbon market has received a lot of attention and scrutiny this year, which has helped to expose some of the poor-quality projects on the market, as well as increasing transparency, due diligence and quality standards across the board. This year, we joined the <a href="https://cmif.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon Markets Innovation Forum</a>, to join up with other startups in the carbon markets who are dedicated to supporting only high-quality projects.
Thanks to all these positive changes, as well as a huge demand for high-quality projects, the market is starting to bounce back – and high-quality projects are starting to receive the attention (and funding) they deserve. You can read more about how we review projects before funding them <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/funding-carbon-credits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

<h2>Our first 1,000 tonnes of carbon removal</h2>
Late in the year, we launched our first carbon removal projects onto our <a href="http://ecologi.com/impact-shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Impact Shop</a>, enabling our community to <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/biochar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fund biochar projects</a> for the first time, and our community funded our first 1,056 tonnes of removals.
Carbon removal projects are those which take carbon dioxide (CO2) which is already in the atmosphere, remove it, and store it somewhere in the biosphere (like in forests) or the geosphere (like underground). These tend to be much more expensive on the market than carbon avoidance, and so the volumes are modest. This year, we began to fund projects with durable storage – <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-biochar-carbon-removal-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biochar carbon removal</a> – as well as those with nature-based storage, through <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-certified-blue-carbon-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blue carbon</a> and <a href="https://ecologi.com/impact-shop/support-certified-afforestation-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">terrestrial afforestation (ARR)</a>.
Around 10% of our community’s carbon removal tonnes funded this year went towards biochar, with 40% for blue carbon and 50% for green ARR.

<h2>Read more stats and stories in our full Impact Report 2023</h2>
We’ve collected just a few of our favourite stats in this article, but you can read more – and more in-depth stories from all the projects supported – in the full report, <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSGPflji-t40_-gNYvj9Nam45ZQbcrU8EEFo9uuTk--SakI9khZ_kb3F42lxKq8JlwNzxAqyHK9vOz_/pub?start=false&amp;loop=false&amp;delayms=60000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which you can view here</a>.
As ever, we extend our heartfelt thanks to every member of the Ecologi community who supported these wonderful projects in 2023, as well as all our partners and suppliers and other organisations who we have worked with this year.

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey.

Case studies

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Case study: How EET Group is embedding sustainability

Case study: How EET Group is embedding sustainability into IT distribution 

<h2>About EET Group</h2>
EET Group is a value adding IT distributor. They pride themselves on providing expert industry knowledge, tailored logistics solutions, unique sales services, and innovative marketing tools to support their partners&#8217; success.
Founded in 1986, operating in 23 markets across Europe and shipping to over 70 countries, EET Group offers an extensive portfolio of more than 1,100 brands. Their team of 750 employees works collaboratively to deliver unparalleled value to partners and customers.

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<h2>Issue</h2>
The distribution of spare parts was EET Group’s initial business focus and remains a cornerstone today, even as they have expanded their business into other areas. With a 30-year heritage in spare parts distribution, environmental purpose is embedded in their DNA.
Their mission is to extend the lifespan of electronic equipment, including printers, laptops, mobile phones, and servers, thereby diverting them from landfill. They give tech products a second life, before they become electronic waste. The team is already making significant progress in their climate journey, having calculated their carbon footprint and set emissions reductions goals. Their next step involves setting Science Based Targets.
EET Group was looking for a trusted partner capable of assisting them in making a greater positive impact on our planet while enhancing transparency. EET Group&#8217;s decision to collaborate with Ecologi was driven by a desire to attract employees, suppliers, and customers, as well as to enhance brand reputation and drive business growth.
The team also saw the benefit of joining a community that’s working together to collectively tackle the climate crisis, and connecting with other like-minded businesses through initiatives like the Million Tree Pledge.

<h2>Challenges</h2>
There were some barriers to overcome, such as a lack of knowledge about the appropriate climate action, and concerns about potential greenwashing accusations. However, Ecologi’s expert team was available to provide assistance in addressing these challenges.
EET Group was reassured by Ecologi&#8217;s credibility, demonstrated through our trusted relationships with over 20,000 businesses and the fact that our climate experts employ state-of-the-art data and monitoring capabilities throughout the verification and due diligence process. They were also reassured that we regularly update our transparency page with evidence of our strategy, impact ledger and financial information.
EET Group was also confident that Ecologi’s business toolkit and communication guidelines are available to offer practical assistance in using the correct language and avoiding the pitfalls of greenwashing.

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<h2>Solution</h2>
EET Group’s climate journey began by selecting the right portfolio from Ecologi&#8217;s extensive list of high quality carbon avoidance projects. The team introduced ‘climate conscious outbound shipping’, which involved purchasing carbon credits to mitigate emissions from outbound carriers.
Then, at the beginning of 2021, EET Group took the Million Tree Pledge and committed to planting one million trees by 2025. Since then, they have planted one tree for every five shipments leaving their warehouses. With around 1.1 million outbound shipments a year, they have planted more than 220,000 trees annually – that’s an area the size of two tennis courts every single day! EET Group actually smashed their 2025 target and fulfilled their million tree pledge in April 2023.
EET Group has already implemented circular practices and eliminated virgin plastics from their own private label eStuff Infinite consumer products. Now, they are focusing on reducing the environmental impact of their B2B products as well. In the future, they plan to collaborate with Ecovadis and the SBTI to introduce more sophisticated tracking of Scopes 1,2 and 3 emissions, thereby improving the accuracy of their measurements to date.

<h2>Outcome</h2>
EET Group has already funded the planting of a staggering 1.43 million trees and, through purchasing and retiring certified carbon credits with Ecologi, has prevented the emission of over 26,300 tCO2e.

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By sharing EET Group’s impact with customers, suppliers and employees, Ecologi has added even more value to the partnership.
Ongoing sustainability initiatives are discussed at every ‘town hall’ and board meeting, with regular updates on trees funded for planting. The partnership has truly become a part of the corporate culture. EET Group also regularly reports its environmental impact through dedicated company web pages. And to increase awareness of their reforestation initiative, every physical shipment notice includes a marketing message highlighting that for every five shipments, the planting of a tree is funded. They also link directly to both Ecologi and the Million Tree Pledge through their website and social media channels.
The team is regularly invited to talk about their reforestation efforts at customer and supplier events, and they have completed several annual initiatives with suppliers, inviting them to stand together and grow the EET Group forest by contributing trees to the cause.
At Ecologi, we believe that sharing impact is fundamental to the climate journey. Our badges, business toolkit, and communication guidelines have made it easier and more effective for the team at EET Group to share their good work.

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Kristian Lading, Group Chief Products and Solutions Officer at EET Group, is building something of a reputation for his sustainability efforts, both at home and at work. His colleagues fondly refer to him as the “Tree Man” and his daughter describes his job as “selling electronic spare parts and planting trees”. We fully endorse that job description! 
<blockquote>Making a positive impact on the environment and contributing to the fight against climate change is something we at EET take great pride in. We will continue to work with Ecologi and our valued customers and suppliers to grow the EET Forest and support reforestation efforts around the world. It helps us engage with customers and suppliers, and attract new employees, as everybody understands that planting trees is great for our planet.</blockquote>

<h2>Want to make your business greener, better, faster, stronger?</h2>
If this article has inspired your business to start its climate journey, talk to our team today.

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