Both options are available to SMEs who are on their climate journey, and which one is best for you will depend on where you are on that journey. In Cogo’s view, Carbon Manager is suitable for most SMEs - those who want to get started on their climate journey, and those that are already on it and want to continue to learn and improve.
Carbon Manager enables any SME to get started on measuring their footprint, and to easily and quickly achieve a full footprint estimate through direct integration with accounting data. This encourages SMEs to keep measuring their footprint, and most importantly frees up time and energy so they can start taking action to reduce. Carbon Manager’s approach is aligned with the international standard for footprinting: the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, so you can be confident that the reported footprint is credible. The report function enables SMEs to easily share their footprint with corporate clients as needed, or for inclusion in tenders. The report essentially contains a ‘self-reported’ business footprint.
Certification essentially requires a higher-detail carbon footprint that has been independently audited and verified as accurate and complete, against a recognised standard e.g. ISO14064. Certification may also require additional information on the business’ carbon reduction targets and reduction plans. Certification is primarily targeted at larger businesses who either need it to win business and/or want to position strongly on sustainability. The higher level of auditing and the brand value of the certification logo mean that certification has a higher cost to achieve, as well as ongoing recertification costs. Historically, only a small percentage of businesses have voluntarily achieved carbon certification due to the time and money required to complete the audit. There are numerous carbon certifications available, but some of the most credible are Toitū (NZ), Climate Active (Australia), and Carbon Trust (UK).