EcoVadis has introduced the Carbon Estimator, a powerful new feature of its Carbon Action Manager (CAM), designed to enhance how enterprises and their suppliers engage in decarbonisation. With over 3,500 businesses already utilising the tool, EcoVadis has gained critical insights into the challenges companies with lower carbon maturity face, particularly in meeting customer demands for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data. The Carbon Estimator provides an easy-to-use solution, especially beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them estimate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and take their first steps in the decarbonisation process.
Offered at no additional cost to EcoVadis Ratings customers, the tool empowers businesses to meet growing demands for carbon transparency while enabling larger enterprises to engage their entire supply chain, regardless of its maturity level. The Carbon Estimator is set to play a pivotal role in helping companies adapt to the increasing pressure for environmental accountability and transparency.
“The latest Carbon Action Report highlights a significant gap: nearly half of large companies report Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions upon first assessment, but fewer than 20% of SMEs do the same. This reveals the real challenges smaller companies face—not just in accessing data, but in knowing where to even begin with carbon calculations,” said Julia Salant, General Manager, Carbon Solution, EcoVadis from EcoVadis.
Salant added, “The Carbon Estimator is designed to change that. It guides lower maturity companies step by step in establishing a carbon baseline, without needing prior expertise or activity data like energy consumption or material properties. This tool empowers businesses of all sizes to take meaningful action, turning what often feels like an overwhelming task into a manageable first step toward a lower-carbon future.”
The Carbon Estimator lays the groundwork for advanced carbon reporting and emissions tracking throughout the supply chain for procurement teams aiming to engage suppliers, including SMEs, in reducing GHG emissions. Aligned with top carbon accounting standards, it enables businesses to initiate their carbon management efforts.
The Carbon Estimator enables companies to assess their GHG emissions across operations without needing specific activity data, lowering participation barriers for businesses with limited carbon management resources or expertise. Designed to match a company’s data availability and decarbonisation readiness, the intuitive questionnaire streamlines the estimation process, allowing firms to focus on actionable insights rather than complex calculations. Additionally, to support meaningful decarbonisation, the tool offers full coverage of Scope 3 emissions, delivering a complete view of GHG emissions across the supply chain.
The launch of the Carbon Estimator effectively addresses several critical challenges businesses face in their decarbonisation journey. For companies just starting out, traditional GHG emissions tools often require extensive data, which can deter participation. The Carbon Estimator overcomes this hurdle by offering a simplified approach with tailored data requirements, making it easier for beginners to get involved and contributing to more comprehensive GHG data collection. Additionally, the tool provides valuable insights into Scope 3 emissions, allowing companies to better understand and manage their entire carbon footprint, a crucial step in advancing decarbonisation efforts. By offering the Carbon Estimator free of charge to all companies participating in a carbon or sustainability assessment, EcoVadis reinforces its commitment to customer success and sustainability, fostering greater alignment with decarbonisation goals.
Understanding GHG emissions is a crucial first step toward implementing meaningful sustainability changes. The EcoVadis Carbon Estimator provides SMEs with the essential tools to embark on their decarbonisation journey, even if they are new to carbon management. By simplifying the process and offering comprehensive coverage, the tool enables companies to gain a complete understanding of their carbon footprint. Extensively beta-tested since August, the Carbon Estimator has already been used by over 3,600 EcoVadis Rated customers, demonstrating its effectiveness and ease of use.
