How major consumer brands measure and cut their carbon footprint

What does corporate carbon accounting actually involve?

Edie's Green Room podcast recently featured Colgate's chief sustainability officer Ann Tracy, discussing how one of the world's largest consumer goods companies approaches carbon measurement and reduction. Tracy's insights reveal that corporate carbon accounting is far more complex than simply measuring factory emissions. It involves mapping emissions across manufacturing, logistics, product use, and end-of-life disposal.

For consumer brands, the supply chain represents a significant portion of total emissions. Colgate, like many major manufacturers, must work with hundreds of suppliers to understand their individual carbon footprints. This requires standardised measurement protocols and transparent reporting from partners. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, developed by the World Resources Institute and the Carbon Trust, provides the framework most large corporations use to categorise emissions into Scope 1 (direct operations), Scope 2 (purchased energy), and Scope 3 (value chain).

Scope 3 emissions, which include everything from raw material extraction to retail transport to consumer use of products, often account for 70% or more of a brand's total footprint. For personal care products like Colgate's toothpaste, measuring consumer use is particularly important since billions of tubes are sold globally each year. Understanding this complexity is essential for setting realistic reduction targets and identifying cost-effective interventions.

Why carbon accounting matters for UK businesses right now

The UK has legally binding climate targets and the largest economy in Europe to decarbonise. The Climate Change Committee, which advises the government, has made clear that corporate emissions reporting is fundamental to meeting the UK's Net Zero target by 2050. Larger firms are already required to disclose climate-related financial risks under TCFD guidance, and this obligation will extend to smaller businesses in coming years.

For UK companies, understanding their carbon footprint is no longer optional. Investors increasingly demand emissions data, customers expect sustainable products, and supply chain partners now routinely audit each other's environmental claims. A business that cannot measure its emissions cannot reduce them credibly, and investors penalise greenwashing with lower valuations and reputational damage.

The practical value is also immediate. Emissions measurement often reveals energy waste, inefficient logistics, or redundant processes that cost money. Companies that measure and reduce emissions frequently report lower operational costs alongside environmental gains. Additionally, businesses that set science-based reduction targets and track progress are more likely to retain skilled employees and win new contracts.

How offsetting complements corporate carbon strategies

Whilst corporations focus on reducing emissions at source, offsetting plays a complementary role. Offset Britain helps UK businesses integrate verified carbon offset projects into their sustainability programmes. Offsetting is not a substitute for reduction, but a way to neutralise emissions that are difficult to eliminate in the short term, such as certain manufacturing processes or essential transport.

A credible corporate carbon strategy follows this hierarchy: measure all emissions, reduce where technically and economically feasible, and offset the remainder through verified projects such as renewable energy, reforestation, or methane capture. This approach demonstrates genuine commitment to stakeholders and can support regulatory compliance. For UK businesses with Science Based Targets, offsetting can help bridge the gap between current performance and longer-term goals.

If your business wants to start measuring and reducing emissions, Offset Britain offers solutions tailored to company size and sector. Business carbon offset plans start from £566 a year, and they include measurement guidance and verified offset credits. Smaller firms can begin with a simple emissions inventory, identify quick wins, and gradually build a comprehensive strategy.

Sport and carbon: today's matchday footprint

Football fixtures continue across the globe, with international tournaments generating measurable environmental impact. Today's fixture list includes one match with significant travel distances and associated emissions.

This fixture is held in Mexico, meaning spectators and teams travel intercontinental distances. International football tournaments are increasingly scrutinised for their carbon footprint, particularly when venues require long-haul travel. Emissions are calculated using a blended figure of approximately 80 kg CO₂e per attending spectator, covering travel (the dominant component), stadium operations, catering, and broadcast infrastructure.

Written and reviewed by the Offset Britain editorial team. Last reviewed 14 July 2026.

Sources & Methodology

1. Edie, In the Green Room podcast with Ann Tracy, Colgate's chief sustainability officer
2. World Resources Institute, Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards
3. Carbon Brief, Scope 3 emissions guide
4. Offset Britain, business carbon offset plans
5. Climate Change Committee, UK net zero advice
6. FIFA per-spectator tournament footprint analysis and BASIS domestic matchday emissions methodology: 80 kg CO₂e per spectator (international fixture)

Photo by Andrei Simon Amisi.