The 10 Best Carbon Accounting Software
Charlotte Anne Whitmore
01 July 2025
•
5 MIN READ
Introduction
Sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration in corporate strategy—it’s a central pillar. Businesses across industries are being called to measure, reduce, and report their greenhouse gas emissions in line with evolving climate regulations and investor expectations. As environmental transparency becomes a key driver of brand trust and competitive advantage, carbon accounting software has become an essential asset for organizations.
But not all platforms offer the same depth, precision, or focus. Some specialize in enterprise-grade reporting, while others cater to startups or manufacturers with complex supply chains. This guide explores several leading carbon accounting platforms helping companies meet their climate goals, streamline regulatory compliance, and engage stakeholders more meaningfully.
What is Carbon Accounting?
Carbon accounting is the process of measuring and tracking the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions a company produces through its operations, energy use, and supply chain. It helps businesses understand their carbon footprint and take steps to reduce it.
Emissions are usually grouped into:
Scope 1
Direct emissions from company-owned sources like vehicles or factories.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions from purchased electricity or energy.
Scope 3
All other indirect emissions like suppliers, product use, or transport.
By using carbon accounting, companies can stay compliant, set sustainability goals, and show climate responsibility to customers, investors, and regulators.
Why Businesses Need Carbon Accounting Software
Carbon accounting software helps businesses track emissions accurately, meet compliance standards, and reduce their environmental footprint. It highlights key sources of emissions, supports smarter resource use, and strengthens sustainability strategies. Companies that take this step not only reduce risk but also gain credibility with eco-conscious investors and customers.
What to Look for in a Carbon Accounting Platform
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Scope 3 Coverage | Scope 3 often makes up the majority of emissions — tracking it is essential. |
| Automated Data Capture | Reduces manual work and ensures accurate, real-time tracking. |
| Regulatory Readiness | Helps you stay compliant with CSRD, GHG Protocol, and SEC climate rules. |
| Scalability | The platform should grow with your business and evolving sustainability needs. |
The Best Carbon Accounting Software Platforms
Choosing the right carbon accounting software can significantly affect how effectively your business tracks, reduces, and reports its emissions. Below is a curated list of platforms making a real difference for companies across industries.
Carbalyze
Carbalyze is a next-generation carbon accounting platform built specifically for companies that deal with physical products, raw materials, and complex supply chains. Unlike generic tools, Carbalyze analyzes your Bill of Materials (BOM)—not just financial data—using its proprietary Caly AI engine to instantly generate a detailed emissions report.
What Makes Carbalyze Unique?
BOM Upload
Simply upload your raw materials list. Caly AI parses every component to calculate embedded carbon.
AI-Powered Tracking
Get instant product-level carbon footprints without manual data entry.
Scope 1, 2 & 3 Breakdown
See emissions from operations, energy use, and supply chains in one dashboard.
Real-Time Supplier Data
Auto-updated database with verified emissions factors from suppliers.
ESG & Regulatory Compliance
Generate audit-ready reports aligned with CSRD, GHG Protocol, and SEC rules.
Persefoni
Persefoni is a leader in carbon accounting, recognized by Forrester for its precision and alignment with the GHG Protocol, PCAF, and SEC climate rules. Its AI-powered Calculation Engine automates Scope 1–3 tracking, while the Footprint Ledger ensures transparency for audits. The platform excels in Scope 3 data collection, critical for financial institutions and corporates with complex supply chains. Persefoni’s advisory board includes architects of global standards like TCFD and SASB, reinforcing its credibility.
Watershed
Watershed combines emissions measurement (Scopes 1–3) with science-based reduction strategies, including supplier engagement and carbon removal projects. Its polished dashboards simplify reporting for frameworks like CDP, SBTi, and TCFD, making it a favorite for brands like Etsy and Roche. Unlike generic tools, Watershed offers expert-led advisory services to bridge the gap between data and execution.
Emitwise
Emitwise is an intelligent carbon accounting platform that automates emissions tracking and reporting for businesses with complex operations. Designed to simplify sustainability management, it provides actionable insights to help organizations measure, understand, and reduce their carbon footprint effectively.
Normative
Normative is a science-driven carbon accounting platform that enables businesses to measure, analyze, reduce and report their carbon footprint with complete value chain transparency. Built on GHG Protocol methodology, the solution provides enterprise-grade emissions calculations to support credible climate action.
Greenly
Greenly provides an intelligent carbon management platform that simplifies emissions tracking and reduction for businesses of all sizes. The solution combines automated data collection with expert insights to deliver a complete view of organizational carbon footprints.
Sinai Technologies
Sinai stands out for internal carbon pricing and cost-impact analysis of mitigation strategies. Its platform models low-carbon scenarios for sectors like manufacturing and logistics, aligning emissions data with financial planning. While resource-intensive to implement, Sinai’s asset-level tracking is unmatched for precision. Pricing is quote-based, targeting energy and industrial firms.
CarbonChain
CarbonChain specializes in asset-level emissions tracking for mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Unlike estimation-based tools, it uses verified supplier data to calculate Scope 3, critical for EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reporting. The platform also supports sustainability-linked financing with bank-ready disclosures. Pricing is tailored for enterprises with complex global supply chains.
Plan A
Plan A’s TÜV-certified platform delivers scientifically validated carbon footprints and SBTi-aligned decarbonization pathways. It specializes in Scope 3 supplier engagement, with tools for real-time data collection and scenario modeling. Clients like BMW and Chloé benefit from its granular EU regulatory support, including automated CSRD and CDP reporting. Pricing is custom, with emphasis on European SMEs and corporates.
Sweep
Sweep is a collaborative carbon management platform that empowers businesses to measure, reduce, and report emissions across their entire value chain. Designed for seamless teamwork, it bridges the gap between sustainability goals and operational execution by engaging stakeholders at every level.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right carbon accounting software depends on your business size, industry, and regulatory needs. Prioritize platforms that:
Automate data collection for accuracy
Cover Scope 3 emissions (critical for compliance)
Align with frameworks like GHG Protocol, CSRD, or SBTi
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