What is it?
Climate change is being caused by humans emitting greenhouse gases which then trap heat from the sun within the atmosphere, resulting in rapid global warming.
To understand your business’s contribution to climate change, you need to calculate your carbon footprint.
Carbon footprints are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), which is a unit of measurement that is used to standardise the climate effects of various greenhouse gases.
There is an accepted global standard meaning only the most important emissions factors are included in the calculation. Once the carbon footprint of a business is known, it can begin to reduce its emissions towards net zero.
DEFINITIONS
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is a measure of an individual or business’s contribution to climate change, measured in CO2e.
Net Zero
Net carbon zero is the situation where your carbon footprint is zero. It can be reached by reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and, if necessary, offsetting what is left.
Downloads
Carbon Calculator Tool
Calculate your carbon emissions with Visit Lincolnshire's simple carbon calculation tool.
Why is it important?
Almost all businesses emit greenhouse gases. Understanding your carbon footprint is important so that you can be aware of your contribution to climate change and act to mitigate and offset your carbon emissions.
DEFINITIONS
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is a measure of an individual or business’s contribution to climate change, measured in CO2e.
There are many business benefits to understanding and managing your carbon emissions, and/ or footprint, once you have calculated them.
Setting reduction targets for waste and energy, for example, helps you to reduce costs linked to resource consumption and waste production.
Communicating your carbon mitigation and offsetting plans can also improve your reputation amongst customers and staff.
Acting to reduce your carbon footprint can also help to future-proof your business. With the UK having a legally binding target to reach net-zero by 2050, businesses will likely be subject to further carbon reduction targets over the coming years and decades.
How can I improve it in my business?
Four steps that you can take to reduce your carbon footprint are presented below.
Calculate your carbon
Calculate your carbon emissions by inputting your energy, water, waste, and transport data into Lincolnshire’s new simple carbon calculation tool.
Develop targets
Once you have calculated your carbon emissions, you can develop targets and communicate them to customers and staff. While some targets could be focussed on reducing your emissions (e.g. reducing your energy consumption by 10% in 2 years), you should also look to address gaps in data so that you can calculate your full footprint more accurately.
Mitigate emissions
Once you have calculated your carbon emissions using the carbon calculator, the first step is to look at mitigating (reducing or removing) your emissions. Mitigating key emissions can be done by following the top tips provided in the energy, water, waste, and transport sections.
Reduce use of harmful chemicals in green areas
For emissions that cannot be mitigated, offsetting should be done using a certified scheme or project. In 2022, many offsetting schemes and projects are focused around supporting projects in developing countries and tree planting. When done well, these are great options.
However, as Lincolnshire-based businesses, it might have a greater impact (and resonate better with staff and customers) to look for positive additional mitigation opportunities closer to home.
While not always certified, there are excellent Lincolnshire projects, managed by reputable organisations and charities, that are focused on carbon sequestration, either through nature-based solutions or innovation in carbon reduction technologies such as:
✓ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust carbon sequestration projects
✓ Woodland Carbon scheme or donations
The simple carbon emissions calculator provides an indication of the financial donation, directly related to your carbon emissions, that you could make.
A case study – Lincoln Castle
Who is Lincoln Castle?
Lincoln Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with Grade 2* Listed status, attracting over 150,000 paying visitors a year.
What is the business doing?
To reduce its impact on climate change, Lincoln Castle worked in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council’s Sustainability Team on the Low Carbon Lincoln Castle project. It began by calculating a carbon footprint to understand its impact. Once the carbon footprint was known, it set yearly carbon reduction targets to ensure the castle would become carbon neutral. It then began taking steps to improve its efficiency, change staff behaviour and invest in energy efficiency upgrades.
What can my business do?
Have you calculated your business’s carbon emissions (or full footprint)? Why not use the carbon calculator in the resources section to understand the key carbon emissions associated with your operations?
‘Calculating our carbon footprint was the first step we needed to take to reduce our impact on climate change. Although we are a listed building, there’s still lots we can do to reduce our impact, and it creates a great story to share with staff and customers too.’
Kimberley Vickers, Lincoln Castle General Manager
#GreenTourism Lincolnshire
Is your business working towards monitoring carbon footprint? Share it on social media with #GreenTourismLincolnshire
