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START YOUR JOURNEY

 

Step 1 · Map your emissions

Before you can calculate, understand where your emissions come from. Write down what causes emissions:

 

• Energy (heating, cooling, lighting)

• Transport (own vehicles, staff travel, guest transfers, excursions)

• Food & drinks (especially meat- and dairy-based items)

• Waste & water

• Purchased goods & services (cleaning, laundry, maintenance, equipment)

 

Sort by scope:

• Scope 1: what you own or control (vehicles, equipment, generators).

• Scope 2: electricity and district heating/cooling you buy.

• Scope 3: everything else (purchased food & services, guest travel, waste).

 

Step 2 · Decide what to measure

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Answer a few simple questions, then pick one clear approach.

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• Operational control: measure everything you directly run: your own buildings, vehicles, kitchens, offices.

• Activity-based: measure per unit of service: per guest night, per meal, per tour.

 

If most emissions come from assets you operate, use an operational-control boundary; if different products or packages matter most, also track per guest night / per tour / per meal.

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Step 3 · Collect your data

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Once you've decided what to measure, gather the activity data you need to calculate.

• Energy use → utility bills, meter readings, invoices

• Transport → fuel receipts, mileage logs, booking systems.

• Food & drinks → supplier invoices, menus.

• Waste → contractor reports.

• Water → bills, meter readings.

• Other purchases → procurement records.

 

Step 4 · Calculate your carbon footprint with the help of  a carbon calculator

 

Focus on these:

• Technical quality (transparency of emission factors and full scope coverage)

• Ease of use & access (setup speed and integration with your booking or accounting systems)

• Extra features & support (training, user guides, or customer help desks)

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Step 5 · Identify hot spots and prioritize

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• Focus on the top 2–3 emission sources where you can achieve the absolute highest reduction impact. Avoid only choosing what feels easy.

• Rank them by effort vs. CO₂ impact to highlight your quick wins and high-value strategic targets.

 

Step 6 · Implement reduction actions

 

Score each idea on:

• One-time cost

• Ongoing cost change

• Revenue impact, payback and CO₂ saved

 

​​​​​​​TOOLS TO USE:​

• Summary Guide to Less Carbon, Double the Fun

• Carbon Calculator Guide

• Business Plan Template

• Business Case Calculator

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​​FAST-TRACK WITH  AI!

f you don't know where to start, use these top-three three starter prompts with the AI ASSISTANT or any AI tool of your choice. For full list, visit the AI Prompt Library.

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1. I want to map, measure and reduce my climate emissions for my travel business. Where and how should I start? Walk me through the first three concrete things to do this week.

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2. Where should a beginner start with emissions reduction in my business? Give me three quick wins  and three medium term wins I  should think about?

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3. Summarize the benefits of climate action for my type of business.  Lead with the financial benefits, then the marketing benefits, and then the regulatory pressure.