Carbon Accounting for E-Commerce Businesses
Track emissions with confidence.
Build a sustainable, compliant brand.
Why Carbon Accounting Matters for E-Commerce
- Retail partners are asking for it and larger retailers and platforms (like Amazon, Shopify) are moving toward supplier sustainability requirements
- Customers expect transparency. Greenwashing won’t cut it. Real numbers matter, especially for Gen Z and eco-conscious buyers
- Investors and lenders want climate risk data, especially if you’re raising or planning an exit (internal link to service)
- UK SECR, EU CSRD may be extended to smaller and medium companies in the future
- Carbon offsetting isn’t a strategy without measurement, you need data before you can reduce or credibly offset emissions
What We Measure and How It Applies to Your Business
Built around the way ecommerce actually works — not a generic sustainability checklist.
You don’t run factories or burn fuel on-site. But your business still has a carbon footprint, and most of it comes from how your products move, how your suppliers operate, and how customers receive their orders. We focus on the emissions that show up in your ecommerce workflows.
Scope 1
Direct emissions
Typically low for ecommerce brands — but we still check.
- Own vehicles or fuel use
- Relevant if you run a warehouse or fleet
- If not, we document that clearly
Scope 2
Indirect energy use
Energy-related emissions tied to the power you pay for
- Electricity, heating, cooling
- Covers offices and warehouses
- We use actual data or smart estimates
Scope 3
The ecommerce footprint
This is where most of your emissions live
- Shipping, returns, packaging
- Cloud services (Shopify, Amazon, etc.)
- Supplier activity and fulfillment
- Final-mile delivery
What You get with Elver’s Carbon Accounting and Reporting Service
Everything you need to measure emissions and report them with confidence.
- A clear, audit-ready carbon footprint report (Scopes 1–3 where applicable)
- Emissions breakdown by category
- Executive summaries for stakeholders
- Recommendations for reductions and offsets that make sense for your model
- Optional support for preparing for regulations (CSRD, SECR, etc.)
- Provides solid foundation for obtaining Amazon Climate Friendly Badge
How Elver Carbon Accounting Works
A streamlined, accountant-led process. No separate agency needed.
- We review your current data: Shipping providers, platforms (Shopify, Amazon, etc.), returns, warehousing, etc.
- We build a carbon data model for your business
- You get a detailed, verified carbon report, ready to present to investors, platforms, regulators
- We help you set targets and track improvements over time
Words from Our Customers
Why Ecommerce Brands Trust Elver
- Deep experience with ecommerce workflows
- Seamless integration with financial and operational data
- No bloated agency fees or irrelevant recommendations
- Optional tie-in to financial forecasting and sustainability planning
Set up a non-obligatory consultation to see how our Carbon Accounting and Reporting team can support your eCommerce growth.
FAQs About Carbon Accounting for E-Commerce
Why should I start carbon accounting now?
Major platforms (like Amazon and Shopify) are moving toward supplier sustainability requirements. Investors and lenders increasingly ask for emissions data. Starting now means you’ll be ready — not scrambling later.
Do small ecommerce businesses need carbon reporting?
Even smaller brands face pressure from platforms, retailers, and eco-conscious customers. Regulations like SECR and CSRD are expanding, and early preparation helps you avoid rushed, expensive fixes later.
How accurate are your reports if we don’t have perfect data?
We combine your available data (e.g., order volume, shipping providers, warehouse energy) with verified emissions factors. When data gaps exist, we use transparent, industry-standard assumptions, all documented for audit readiness.
Will this help us reduce emissions or just report them?
Both. Once we’ve measured your footprint, we can recommend smart, ecommerce-specific ways to reduce it, without slowing down fulfillment or blowing up your margins.
What’s actually involved — how much of my time will this take?
As your accountants we are well placed to deliver carbon accounting reporting as much of the underlying data required to deliver carbon reporting is readily available from your accounting data. This minimises the amount of input we require from you.
