Carbon accounting software will be very essential in 2024, given that companies are slowly becoming eco-conscious, and so are the consumers. The software will help businesses identify ways they can use to reduce carbon emissions. It will also help them monitor the actions taken, and further report to the concerned people.
Why Carbon Accounting Software is Essential in 2024?
All governments and regulatory bodies are coming up with stricter regulations. Following this, companies also need to raise their standards and genuinely address their emissions. They are expected to track and reduce their emissions efficiently and this can be done using carbon accounting softwares.
The software makes it easier for companies to ensure compliance and be sustainably responsible.
Best Carbon Accounting Software for the Fashion Industry
Why Fashion Industry Needs Specialized Carbon Accounting Software
The fashion industry comes across various challenges when controlling its emissions. These challenges revolve around complex supply chains, diverse materials, and global manufacturing processes. These areas often create trouble while tracking emissions. Specialized software can help handle detailed data and offer fashion-specific judgment.
Companies can reduce their carbon footprint, comply with regulations, and follow sustainability through these platforms.
Detailed Reviews of the Best Carbon Accounting Software
Persefoni
Key Features
Persefoni is one of the leading carbon accounting software, recognized by Forrester. It focuses on transparency, preciseness, and efficiency in carbon accounting and sustainability. Persefoni makes use of the GHGP- and PCAF-Aligned Calculation Engine to smooth out calculations across all scopes of emissions.
This software also utilizes AI to detect errors and irregularities along with providing technical support. Persefoni focuses on integration of emission factors and collaboration tools for effective sustainability initiatives.
Benefits for Businesses
Persefoni helps businesses, regardless of their size. Not just businesses, it also helps financial institutions and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to track their emissions. Persefoni simplifies the process of Scope 3 data collection and management for companies.
User Experience
Something that sets Persefoni apart is its user-friendly interface. Their scalability and enterprise-grade support makes it accessible to both large and small companies. Their transparency is in with how Fortune 500 functions, building trust for its data and reporting.
Pricing and Support
Persefoni tailors its pricing models based on businesses and their needs. Their ‘Pro’ version is free of cost, but their ‘Advanced’ version comes with a price depending on needs and scale. Their pricing models are available upon request.
The software provides strong customer support. To vouch for that, they have partnerships with industry giants like Deloitte, Bain & Company, and AWS.
Microsoft Sustainability Cloud
Key Features
Microsoft Sustainability Cloud makes use of Microsoft’s resources to its full potential. Microsoft Sustainability Manager, under the same, provides data transparency and useful insights. It also uses AI and Advanced Analytics to evaluate ESG data and offer in-depth insights.
Microsoft Sustainability Manager utilizes mixed data ingestion methods. This helps simplify the process of data ingestion, integration, calculation, and reporting.
Benefits for Businesses
Microsoft Sustainability Clouds provides a range of ESG tools for companies to stay ahead in the sustainability race. Both large companies and mid-market/SMB customers enjoy its accessible approach to data integration and reporting.
User Experience
The software fits right in with other Microsoft platforms with a comfortable and intuitive interface. It makes it easy to manage and evaluate ESG data. This is possible due to its efficient data collection and standardization processes.
Pricing and Support
The trial version for Microsoft Sustainability Manager Essentials is free. As per pricing models, the Basic tier costs US$4,000 per tenant, per month. The Microsoft Sustainability Manager Premium costs US$12,000 per tenant, per month, including the essentials.
They also offer robust support, like onboarding, training, and ongoing assistance.
Net Zero Cloud by Salesforce
Key Features
Net Zero Cloud is built on Salesforce’s platform, and so it makes use of its integration and automation features. Net Zero Cloud’s key features include the use of a dashboard for monitoring and reporting emissions data. It also fits in smoothly with other languages and Salesforce tools.
Benefits for Businesses
Businesses can have a better hold on their carbon emissions through Salesforce. It simplifies the process of accounting and the dashboard offers useful insights. This software can help businesses work on their climate goals and achieve them.
User Experience
Net Zero Cloud goes well with Salesforce’s ecosystem. This provides the users with a comfortable user experience. The dashboard clearly showcases all the emissions data in a structured manner. However, Salesforce’s current data schema does not align well with emissions reporting/ This might hinder the flexibility of Net Zero Cloud due to its dependence on Salesforce.
Pricing and Support
For Enterprises, they go from $165 USD/User/Month to $500 USD/User/Month. SMBs can be charged somewhere from $24 USD/User/Month to $165 USD/User/Month. All these packages come with a free trial version.
Salesforce offers detailed support with the help of extensive partners, like Accenture. Businesses can get a quote by Salesforce depending on their needs and scale.
IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite
Key Features
IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite makes use of IBM® Geospatial Foundation Model technology to offer geospatial insights. It also provides a dashboard that displays all the visualizations, geospatial data, and alerts. This can help in tracking important job sites.
Businesses can develop their customized models and monitoring tools. They can easily access and merge environmental data into their operations based on specific needs.
Benefits for Businesses
Businesses can maintain their sustainability and operational resilience with IBM. Companies can have a proactive approach to risk management and analysis with the help of IBM’s dashboard and geospatial analytics.
User Experience
The user experience for IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite is engaging yet familiar. They have a wide variety of tools and solutions, tailored according to needs, With so many options, it is still easily navigable and understandable by non-tech people.
Pricing and Support
Their pricing model begins with Essentials at USD 500 per month, Standard at USD 3,750 per month, and Premium at USD 10,000 per month. All these product options include a free trial version.
IBM comes up with robust customer support, especially for big companies. They are guided into every aspect like onboarding, training, and ongoing assistance.
Sphera
Key Features
Businesses are welcomed to a positive environmental reputation by Sphera. It focuses on breaking down information barriers by having reporting, data, and management tools in one place. This will help teams work together efficiently on sustainability plans. Sphera acquired Thinkstep in 2019 and uses its sustainability software expertise to strengthen what it offers.
It offers a combined platform to handle ESG data. This is where all the environmental, health, safety, and sustainability efforts are perfectly merged.
Benefits for Businesses
Sphera focuses on safety and sustainability for companies to manage their emissions effectively. The software fosters collaboration, which reduces liability and boosts the company’s environmental reputation.
User Experience
Sphera offers a user-friendly interface that has all elements of ESG management in one place. The software ensures all information is accessible for companies to make informed decisions.
Pricing and Support
Sphera’s pricing details are available upon contacting them directly. Their models are tailored based on needs, preferences, and scale.
Sinai Technologies
Key Features
Sinai Technologies helps companies design their own sustainability model and devise ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Companies can also set decarbonization milestones to make sure they achieve their goals. The software fosters company growth while maintaining GHG emissions.
Moreover, Sinai comes with tools that can evaluate the financial impact of decarbonization plans. This helps companies make informed decisions.
Benefits for Businesses
Businesses can devise strategies and successfully reduce their emissions through Sinai. Their analytics tools also push companies to focus on the financial impact of their strategies. They can set milestones and maintain their growth.
User Experience
Sinai’s tools are tailored for businesses committed to sustainability. The software may require some resources to execute, but companies can effectively manage their emissions.
Pricing and Support
Sinai’s pricing details are available upon contacting them directly. They offer quotes based on needs, preferences, and scale.
Emitwise
Key Features
Businesses are offered a platform where they can centralize their data. This helps the team track and manage their emissions. The software also has expertise in the tracking of emissions throughout the supply chain. This way, companies can work on achieving net-zero targets.
Emitwise makes use of automation to track emissions in real time. Businesses can use detailed reports generated by Emitwise to understand and reduce their carbon footprint.
Benefits for Businesses
Companies can reduce their carbon footprint by making use of Emitwise’s automated emissions tracking and centralizing data. They can also make informed decisions with strategic planning with the help of detailed reports. ‘
User Experience
Emitwise has an easy-to-use interface that allows companies to manage emissions efficiently. It is a smaller company as compared to its peers, but it comes off as a user-friendly and straightforward software. It’s well-suited for companies committed to emissions reduction.
Pricing and Support
Emitwise offers pricing based on a company’s objective, needs, and scale. Companies need to directly get in touch with them for a quote.
Emitwise provides personalized support for companies to implement their goals effectively.
Greenly
Key Features
Greenly, based in France, makes use of automated carbon tracking. This makes it easier for SMBs to track their environmental impact. The software integrated with different tools simplifies data analysis and reporting. It also measures emissions across all Scopes to offer an overall picture of the company’s carbon footprint.
Greenly offers a personalized dashboard so that companies can focus on important metrics. It also provides help from climate experts for businesses to reduce their emissions.
Benefits for Businesses
Greenly supports SMBs so that they can easily reduce their CO2 emissions. The software’s integration and automation qualities save a lot of time and resources. Additional value for companies is the support provided by climate experts.
User Experience
Greenly is accessible and better designed for SMBs. It may not always work for large enterprises, but works seamlessly for smaller businesses, especially in Europe.
Pricing and Support
Greenly has various plans, depending on a company’s needs and size. These plans are available upon request.
Diligent
Key Features
Diligent is a governance and compliance software company. It offers ESG data management, reporting, and compliance, all in one place. It also offers a certification program to support and acknowledge strong climate stewardship.
Businesses can manage compliance and maintain a clear audit trail to adhere to regulatory standards.
Benefits for Businesses
Diligent provides a combined approach where companies can monitor their emissions as well as manage their ESG data. This helps in keeping the sustainability goals in line with regulatory standards. Businesses can also boost their reputation with one of Diligent’s certifications.
User Experience
Diligent offers an easily navigable interface for executives, non-profits, and governments. It may not have an expertise in detailed carbon tracking like other platforms, but it streamlines carbon accounting and ESG management.
Pricing and Support
Diligent provides customized pricing models based on a company's needs and preferences. These pricing models are accessible upon request.
It provides robust customer support for people to make full use of Diligent’s potential. Companies looking for detailed solutions related to governance, risk, and compliance, with an emphasis on sustainability.
Sweep
Key Features
Sweep emphasizes on collaborative task management, promoting teamwork. Teams can monitor, visualize, and manage all information in one place as Sweep centralizes data. Companies can customize the platform according to their own needs. This is because Sweep offers a flexible structure to companies.
Benefits for Businesses
Businesses can easily manage their GHG emissions by fostering collaboration. Companies can easily access carbon management as Sweep streamlines task management and data visualization. It offers a straightforward solution with an affordable pricing.
It may not provide advanced reporting or high scalability but it does offer a platform for a company’s sustainability goals.
User Experience
Sweep provides a user-friendly interface and is well-suited for teams new to carbon management. It fosters collaboration across teams but may cause a hindrance in advanced reporting or scalability.
Pricing and Support
Sweep offers affordable pricing models based on the type of company and its needs. These models can be accessible upon request.
Sweep offers detailed support to companies for effectively managing emissions. However, it may not be as comprehensive as offered by other platforms.
Top Picks for Fashion
Carbon Trail
Key Features
Carbon Trail is a comprehensive carbon accounting software customized for the fashion industry. It acknowledges the challenges faced by the industry and offers solutions. These solutions include helping companies calculate their corporate and product impact. This is done through primary supply chain data, for precise and useful insights. Some of its key features include:
Gap Analysis: Carbon Trail automates gap analysis in your company-level activity data, ensuring no detail is overlooked. When documentation like bills is missing, Carbon Trail steps in by filling those gaps with reliable proxies.
Custom Dashboards: With Carbon Trail’s custom dashboards, you can view your company’s carbon footprint with unparalleled clarity. High-level statistics on Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are easily accessible, allowing you to monitor primary data percentages and emission trends over time.
Scope 3 Emissions: It dives deep into Scope 3 emissions and provides accurate data through meticulously calculated Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). This ensures comprehensive environmental accounting, covering every indirect emission in your value chain.
Benefits for Businesses
Carbon Trail integrates with ERP and PLM systems which boosts efficiency and data consistency. Businesses can make informed decisions with a simplified process of Scope 3 accounting.
User Experience
Users find Carbon Trail easy-to-use and efficient. Companies find their workload reduced with our automation and AI-focused insights help manage emissions. It is user-friendly as it seamlessly merges with existing business systems.
Pricing and Support
Carbon Trail offers customized pricing based on needs and scale. Interested companies can get a price quote upon request.
It offers support, from onboarding to technical assistance so that companies can achieve their sustainability goals.
Plan A
Plan A integrates advanced technologies to the latest scientific standards for effective carbon management. It makes use of an automated system to calculate emissions across all Scopes. It also provides tools for planning and implementing carbon reduction plans. Businesses can reduce emissions in their operations and supply chain too.
Benefits for Businesses
Businesses are encouraged to manage everything related to their net-zero journey on a single platform. They receive the guidance required and complex carbon accounting tasks are simplified.
User Experience
Plan A is a detailed and user-friendly software. The merging of carbon management, reduction planning, and ESG reporting into one system by Plan A boosts its usability.
Pricing and Support
Plan A’s pricing models are personalized based on the company’s requirements. Companies can explore them by raising a request for a quote.
It provides detailed support including a group of experts for guidance.
Comparison of the Best Carbon Accounting Software
Feature Comparison Table
| Software |
Key Features |
Target Audience |
Scalability |
Integration |
| Persefoni |
GHGP- and PCAF-aligned Calculation Engine, AI for error detection, transparent Footprint Ledger |
Enterprise, Financial Institutions |
High |
Broad integrations, collaboration tools |
| Microsoft Sustainability Cloud |
ESG tools, Microsoft Sustainability Manager, AI-driven data transparency |
Mid-market/SMBs |
Moderate |
Strong data integration with Microsoft Cloud |
| Net Zero Cloud by Salesforce |
Automation, language support, integration with Salesforce ecosystem |
Enterprise |
Moderate |
Limited due to existing data schema |
| IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite |
AI-driven climate risk analytics, geospatial insights, customizable dashboards |
Enterprise |
High |
Extensive integration options |
| Sphera |
Centralized reporting, data management, safety and sustainability efforts |
Enterprise |
High |
Deep integration with safety and compliance systems |
| Sinai Technologies |
Decarbonization modeling, milestone tracking, growth-focused |
Large organizations focused on decarbonization |
High |
Integration with decarbonization strategies |
| Emitwise |
Centralized data management, carbon accounting across supply chains |
SMBs |
Moderate |
Limited integrations, small staff |
| Greenly |
Automated data analysis, climate expert support, scopes 1, 2, and 3 accounting |
SMBs, European market |
Low |
Moderate third-party integration |
| Diligent |
Governance, risk, and compliance, sustainability reporting, ESG tools |
Governments, non-profits, executives |
Low |
Limited carbon accounting features |
| Sweep |
Collaborative features, task tracking, centralized data system |
SMBs |
Low |
Basic greenhouse gas emissions management |
| Carbon Trail |
AI-powered LCAs, seamless data exchange, primary supply chain data for Scope 3 accounting |
Fashion & Retail |
High |
Seamless ERP and PLM system integration |
Choosing the Right Carbon Accounting Software for Your Business
Factors to Consider
- Business Size and Industry: Companies should always ensure that the software is well-suited for their business size and industry. Some are designed for SMBs, while some are for large companies or fashion-specific enterprises.
- Scalability: The software should be able to handle your company’s growth. It should be able to accommodate increasing volumes of data.
- Integration Capabilities: The software should be able to integrate perfectly with your current systems like ERP, CRM, or supply chain management tools.
- Ease of Use: The software should have a user-friendly and natural interface. This will help teams to easily adopt and use it efficiently.
- Support and Training: Companies should also consider the kind of support and training the platform offers. Robust customer support can help in the execution of reduction plans and seamless use of software.
- Pricing: Companies must ensure their budget is in line with the pricing model of the software. Some platforms may demand investment, while some may be budget-friendly.
Tips for Implementation
- Clear Goals: Businesses must clearly define what they wish to achieve using the software. It could be reducing emissions, enhancing reporting accuracy, or adhering to regulatory standards.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Companies should take into consideration various departments’ inputs for smooth implementation. These departments could be IT, sustainability, finance, etc.
- Data Preparation: Always remember to structure and organize your data before integrating it into the software. This will ensure accurate calculations and reporting.
- Pilot Testing: Companies should conduct a pilot test with a small group of people before extending it to company-wide. This will help identify any inconsistencies or adjustments.
- Monitor Progress: Businesses should constantly track their progress on the software. They should be aware of how the software is working or its impact on your goals. They should also make adjustments to boost efficiency.
Conclusion
In this blog, we looked at the Best Carbon Accounting Software in 2024. There are a wide variety of options out there and companies should make their decision based on their needs, scale, preferences, and objectives. Every software brings something unique to the table. Some cater to small businesses while some are better suited for big enterprises.
Carbon Accounting will be a crucial tool in 2024 and beyond. Businesses must choose the right tools for carbon management. This is to ensure they stay compliant in an era where regulations are becoming stringent. With the right software, businesses can not only reduce emissions but also foster sustainable growth.
