Carbon Footprint Measurement & GHG Accounting
A carbon footprint is the foundation of any credible sustainability program. Before you can set targets, respond to investor requests, or build a reduction strategy, you need to know where your emissions actually come from.
What's included
Every engagement is scoped to your business. Most cover all three scopes under the GHG Protocol, the globally recognized standard for corporate carbon accounting.
Scope 1
Direct emissions
Emissions from sources your company owns or controls, like natural gas, fuel used in company vehicles, and refrigerants.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions
Emissions from purchased electricity, steam, and/or heating & cooling, measured on both a location-based and market-based basis.
Scope 3
Value chain emissions
Business travel, employee commuting, purchased goods and services, and supply chain spend.
What you walk away with
A complete GHG inventory in a structured, auditable workbook
Emissions broken out by location, scope and category
A methodology report documenting data sources, emission factors, and calculation approach
Year-over-year comparison if prior data is available
Emissions data formatted for RFPs, investor questionnaires, and reporting frameworks
This engagement is right for you if you're:
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Responding to investor or customer requests for emissions data
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Setting a baseline before committing to science-based targets
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Preparing for formal sustainability reporting (CDP, CSRD, SASB)
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Looking to outsource GHG reporting and focus internal resources on strategy
How I work
I work directly with your team from start to finish. No hand-offs to junior staff, no DIY software. Clients range from companies doing their first inventory to organizations with international operations and complex Scope 3 supply chains.
Most carbon footprint engagements are scoped as fixed-fee projects. Get in touch for a quote based on your company size and scope.
Recent Projects
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Carbon footprint for a public fintech company
Full Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG inventory across domestic and international operations
Client retained for annual reporting.
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Carbon footprint for a PE-backed financial services company
Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG accounting in support of SBTi target-setting.
Carbon footprint included in SBTi submission.
Client retained for annual reporting.
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GHG inventory for a PE-backed pharmaceutical services firm
Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG accounting across international operations.
Full Scope 3 analysis including a supplier spend model using primary and spend-based emissions data.
Client retained for annual reporting.
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Scope 1 and 2 Support for Entertainment Company
Annual support with internal Scope 1 and 2 reporting process, including input review and preparation for external audit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a carbon footprint measurement take?
Most engagements take 6-10 weeks from kickoff to final deliverable. The timeline depends on how quickly your team can pull together data: energy bills, travel records, supplier information, and facility details. Companies with organized data move faster. Companies doing this for the first time typically need a few extra weeks to track everything down.
Do I need to measure Scope 3?
It depends on what's driving the request. If a GP or customer is asking for a carbon footprint, they usually want all three scopes. Scope 3 is where most private companies' emissions actually sit, often 90% or more of the total. If you're just getting started and want a quick baseline, Scope 1 and 2 alone can be a useful first step. I'll help you figure out the right scope for your situation before we begin.
What do I need to provide?
Utility bills, travel data, and a list of your facilities are the starting point. For Scope 3 we'll also look at supplier spend, employee commuting, and business travel. I'll give you a data collection template at the start of the engagement so you know exactly what's needed and who internally needs to provide it.
What if we already use a software platform?
If you're using a platform like Watershed, Persefoni, or Sweep, I can work directly in your system. You get the methodology expertise and hands-on execution without having to train an employee on a new platform. Having an expert review your platform setup also matters: most software tools are only as good as how they're configured. Incorrect emission factors, miscategorized Scope 3 activities, or gaps in data collection won't get flagged by the software itself. Working with someone who knows what to look for saves significant time and avoids having to redo the work later.
How is this different from using carbon footprint software on our own?
Software tools are useful for ongoing tracking once you have a solid baseline. For a first engagement, the value is in the methodology: making sure the right emission factors are applied, Scope 3 categories are correctly identified, and the final numbers are audit-ready and defensible. Software alone won't catch misclassified suppliers or data quality issues. That's where working with someone who has done this before makes a difference.
Can you help us year over year?
Yes. Most clients retain me for annual reporting after the first inventory. Once the baseline is established, annual updates are faster and simpler.
Want to measure your footprint?
Let's find the right approach for your business.