Accounting

An effective sustainability strategy needs to be informed by a solid evidence base. Our impact accounting services enable you to baseline your impacts across multiple sustainability metrics and to account for nature's hidden services (and risks) to your business. Our advanced Natural Capital Accounting profiling and integration services have been co-developed with finance directors and accounting teams to ensure real world relevance to corporate financial systems.

Carbon footprinting

BFF have been servicing client needs in carbon footprinting since 1997. We have contributed to the development of the GHG Protocol and Scope 3 Corporate standards, PAS 2050 and Global Footprint Network standards. We’ve advised on PAS 2060, ISO14064-1, ISO14067 and a host of others. Members of our team have worked with the Carbon Disclosure Project and developed the early supply chain disclosure project.

We’ve developed standards and specific sector guidance for packaging, agriculture, hospitality and events; we are working with BSI and London 2012 to develop a new standard for global events. Many of our consultants and analysts are Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) accredited. 

Ecological footprinting

The ecological footprint of an individual, organisation, product or region measures the bioproductive area (land and sea) required to sustainably maintain current consumption. Globally, our ecological overshoot means 1.5 planets are now required to support our use of resources. The ‘deficit’ is made up by depleting fish stocks, forests and other resources, and by building up carbon dioxide and waste. 

Best Foot Forward is a world leader in ecological footprinting; our founders Craig Simmons and Nicky Chambers co-wrote the core textbook 'Sharing Nature's Interest' with Mathis Wackernagel. The approach enables businesses to evaluate resource availability and associated risk. We've calculated ecological footprints for organisations such as Defra, the NHS, Radiohead and Duchy Originals. 

Water footprinting

Many companies face freshwater shortages in their supply chain which limit the water they can use. Damaging communities or the environment through water extraction and pollution is no longer an option for companies who want to retain their ‘social’ licence to operate. Government regulation and voluntary commitments such as the Water Disclosure Project and Natural Capital Accounting are creating new challenges for business. 

As members of the Water Footprint Network, we have a library of best practice methods to hand. Our network of experts with a global perspective will give you insight into industry specific challenges and your local context. We recommend measuring your water footprint as part of an integrated approach.

Multi metrics

Different businesses rely on different resources. We can look broadly at your resource use and measure what matters to you and your stakeholder communities. We provide support for your wider business strategy through considering both trade-offs and synergies between key metrics: carbon, energy, raw materials, waste and land use (ecological footprinting). 

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