CO2 calculator for companies in comparison 

There is a mosaic of ways to calculate a company's carbon footprint. CO2 calculators for companies are often used for this purpose. But which approach to CO2 calculation and which CO2 calculators for companies are actually available? Which CO2 calculator is best suited to my company's requirements? We have tested and compared various CO2 calculators for companies. In this blog article, we show you which CO2 calculators could be interesting for you.

Contents

• Calculating a company's carbon footprint: two different approaches
• Advantages and disadvantages of CO2 calculators for companies
• How CO2 calculators work for companies
• What is the best CO2 calculator for companies?
• CO2 calculator for companies in comparison
• Brief description of the CO2 calculator for companies
• Conclusion

Calculating a company's carbon footprint: two different approaches

The measurement of the CO2 footprint, also known as the greenhouse gas balance, climate balance, CO2 balance or specifically the corporate carbon footprint (CCF) (see also FAQ on the CO2 balance in companies) are a fundamental building block for developing measures for CO2 reduction and CO2 compensation within the company.

In principle, there are two approaches to calculating a company's carbon footprint:

1. Internal: The company prepares its own carbon footprint in order to calculate its climate impact.

This requires the necessary human resources to familiarise the person responsible with the topic. In order to create a good and credible carbon footprint, expertise in recognised standards (e.g. Greenhouse Gas Protocol or ISO 14064) and process knowledge. Process knowledge includes where and how to obtain which data in the company and how it can be scientifically converted into CO2 equivalents. If sufficient time and human resources are available, nothing stands in the way of the company carrying out its own carbon footprinting. We have provided instructions for this in our blog article 3 steps to a CO2 balance in the company compiled.

2. External: The company uses a CO2 calculator for companies, i.e. a tool or software for calculating CO2 equivalents.

The aim of CO2 calculators for companies is to calculate the company's CO2 footprint and thus the company's impact on the climate, thereby revealing potential for CO2 reduction. There are numerous CO2 calculators for companies. In principle, every CO2 calculator can be used by companies. However, we recommend keeping an eye on the selection of the CO2 calculator for companies, because on the one hand, CO2 calculators for companies differ in terms of their quality, timeliness, accuracy and credibility. On the other hand, the requirements for a CO2 calculator differ from company to company depending on the industry, size, added value, product or service. We describe which CO2 calculators for companies are suitable for youhere.

Advantages and disadvantages of CO2 calculators for companies

From our experience, we have discovered the following advantages and disadvantages for both approaches. You are welcome to weigh up for yourself which advantages and disadvantages are most important for your company. Then decide which approach is best for you.

A mixed form is also possible: work out the carbon footprint yourself internally and seek external advice if you have any queries. Do you have questions about your carbon footprint, the calculation or estimation of individual scopes and emission categories or the selection of CO2 calculators for your company? Then please do not hesitate to contact us:

How do CO2 calculators for companies work?

No matter which approach you choose: The most important thing is to get started. If you decide to use the CO2 calculator for companies, we will briefly explain how it works here.

A CO2 calculator queries various data - for example on electricity and heat consumption in the company, mobility, business travel or paper and water consumption. The scope and level of detail of the data requested can vary greatly. The more data and details are requested, the more differentiated the result. The calculator converts the data into an amount of CO2 for each entry. This sum then gives the CO2 footprint.

Note: If it turns out that the CO2 calculator was not suitable for your company and your requirements, you can switch to a different tool in subsequent years. You will retain your expertise!

What is the best CO2 calculator for companies?

It is not possible to make a general judgement as to which is the best CO2 calculator for your company. This depends on the requirements of your company. We recommend that you break down your company's requirements for a carbon footprint. What is important for your company? To do this, you can go through the following criteria and check which criteria apply to you and how important they are. Once you have decided what is important to you, choosing a CO2 calculator for your company will be child's play.

Criteria for selecting a CO2 calculator for your company

• Costs
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol-compliant
• Breakdown by scope (in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol)
• Scope and accuracy of the issue categories
• Suitable for production companies / service companies
• Traceability of the data sources of the emission factors
• Compensation

Comparison of 8 CO2 calculators for companies

CO2 calculator for companies put to the test! We have compared several CO2 calculators for companies and have gone through exactly these criteria as described above. We tested nine largely free CO2 calculators for companies. The table gives you a good overview of these CO2 calculators for companies. For more details on the nine CO2 calculators for companies, we briefly describe each of the calculators in two to three sentences at the end of the table.

Brief description of the CO2 calculators presented for companies

EcoCockpit

With the EcoCockpit, the Efficiency Agency NRW offers a free CO2 calculator for companies (CCF) and products (PCF). It can also be used by manufacturing companies. The calculation is GHG-compliant. Data sources of the emission sources are traceable.

KlimAktiv

The KlimAktiv CO2 calculator calculates corporate carbon footprints (CCF), especially for small and medium-sized companies. The calculation is GHG-compliant. The free trial version is initially sufficient for service companies. As soon as more emission categories are to be balanced (for service providers and producers), the tool is subject to a charge. Data sources of the emission sources are official, but not directly traceable. The CO2 calculator for companies was funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety as part of the National Climate Protection Initiative.

Plan A

The Plan A calculator calculates CO2 emissions for Scopes 1 and 2 as well as parts of Scope 3 for companies (CCF). In the free version, the calculation is very rough and therefore inaccurate. Good for an overview. Data sources of the emission sources are not traceable. The test does not show whether the calculator is GHG-compliant.

ClimatePartner

ClimatePartner offers CO2 calculators for companies (CCF) and products (PCF). The calculation is GHG-compliant. Data sources of the emission sources are not directly traceable. In our view, very suitable for medium-sized to large companies. Too anonymous for small companies with up to 100 employees and data collection not accurate enough (fewer customisation options).

myclimate

Myclimate is a Swiss CO2 calculator that provides an initial overview of the carbon footprint for companies (CCF) in terms of heat consumption, electricity, mobility, hotel accommodation, waste and goods and services (catering, paper, technology). Good for an overview. Data sources are not traceable. The test does not show whether the calculator is GHG-compliant.

Wilderness International

The Wilderness International CO2 calculator calculates corporate carbon footprints (CCF), especially for small (and medium-sized) companies. There are specialised calculators for (business) travel, medical areas or office operations. Excellent for an overview of the CO2 balance. There is no division into scopes. It is not clear whether the calculator is GHG-compliant and the data sources of the emission sources are also not traceable.

ClimateNeutralGroup

Climate Neutral Group is a Dutch CO2 calculator that provides an initial overview of the carbon footprint for companies (CCF) in terms of heat consumption, electricity, mobility and goods and services (paper) and events can also be viewed. Good for an overview. Data sources are not traceable. The test does not show whether the calculator is GHG-compliant.

Schools for Earth Greenpeace

Greenpeace and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu) have developed a free CO2 calculator especially for schools to determine the climate footprint of schools. The calculator is very accurate and detailed and could be transferred to service companies. There is no division into scopes. Data sources of the emission sources are traceable.

Conclusion onCO2 calculators forThe company

The list of CO2 calculators for companies is long. Making a decision as a company is certainly not easy straight away. It therefore makes sense to clarify the most important requirements for the tool in advance.

Our comparison of 8 CO2 calculators, which we have evaluated according to various criteria, provides some orientation. This can help you to define your own requirements for CO2 calculators for companies and make a solid selection using our comparison table. We hope that our test of CO2 calculators for companies has shown you which CO2 calculators could be of interest to you.

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