• Helps small businesses track and report their carbon emissions at lower costs in specific areas.
• The tool allows them to compare their performance with industry standards and assess their progress.

Researchers at the University of Salford have developed a new carbon calculator that helps small businesses bring down their carbon footprint.

The tool is called a sustainability calculator, which will be rolled out later this month. It has been developed by the university's Business School to support businesses in becoming more sustainable while also benefitting the local economy.

Using the calculator, companies can measure their carbon emissions in electricity use, product distribution, financial activities, and employee travel, thus helping them identify and focus on areas where they can reduce their environmental impact. It will allow them to compare to industry standards, track emissions over time, and improve performance.

The aim is to help small companies track and measure their carbon emissions even with lower budgets. It is free for companies working with the university’s Centre for Sustainable Innovation and Salford Business School. It will also provide a benchmarking opportunity by comparing a company's performance against government targets and the performance of other companies.

Dr Ashraful Alam, Associate Professor for Sustainability at the University of Salford’s Business School, said: "Innovation will be instrumental in futureproofing the UK economy but, for many small businesses, balancing getting ideas to market with reducing carbon emissions and operating sustainably can be a challenge.

"We’ve been working on the calculator for some time and are excited to finally bring it to market. We firmly believe it will be instrumental in helping businesses to drive growth through innovation, while ensuring their environmental footprint is front of mind.”

Professor Mandy Parkinson, Professor of Business Innovation at the University, continued: “While we know most small businesses want to prioritise sustainability, it’s often not a key consideration due to budget limitations. We are confident the calculator we have developed will help arm businesses with the tools they need to drive forward their innovations sustainably.”

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Source: Salford University