The rise of carbon benchmarking
Many companies have calculated their carbon footprints and perhaps report them every year. Although some basic comparisons are possible (CO2 per $ of turnover or CO2 per employee), these footprints do not provide a reliable indication of relative performance; crude comparisons can be misleading.
The only credible method of measuring carbon performance is to compare against similar companies, using sector-specific performance indicators that correct for extraneous variations between companies to allow like-for-like comparisons to be made. By using this method, participants can not only see how well or badly they are really doing but also to pinpoint opportunity areas for carbon and cost reductions.
The ENDS Carbon approach is to assemble peer groups made up of companies operating in a similar field such as airlines, banks, advertising agencies, mining companies, supermarkets or sportswear companies. These peer groups typically range from four to 10 companies. ENDS Carbon's most recent benchmark report was for the supermarket sector — participants included Asda, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose.
The sector-specific indicators are developed according to where typical carbon hotspots are located. In supermarkets they included direct emissions indicators for in store energy use f-gas leakage in refrigeration and distribution emissions. We also established management quality indicators for supply chain and customer carbon management.
ENDS Carbon provides participating companies with detailed reports of their performance against the peer group on each of the performance indicators selected by the participants. Detailed carbon performance information of this kind can include confidential information which ENDS Carbon will protect. Our benchmark reports can be produced on a private,, anonymised basis.
ENDS Carbon plans to repeat each sector benchmark on an annual or biennial cycle to allow companies to track their performance over time.
