Hiilikuri CO2 calculator for tourism industry
About this good practice
To reach the Net Zero, it is essential to measure the current emissions and to understand the biggest emissions sources. Without this knowledge, it is impossible for tourism companies to take impactful action. Hiilikuri, the digital CO2-calculator, comes with user guide, user clinics and customer support, which all lower the threshold and motivate businesses to measure their emissions, leading to emission reductions. The use of the tool does not require previous experience in carbon footprint calculation, but interest and time are certainly needed. The calculator has a reporting tool, which shows the most important emission sources of the company's operations and the factors affecting them. The tool considers the characteristics of different branches of tourism industry. It calculates direct emissions, emissions of energy consumption and all significant indirect emissions, such as travel. The calculator helps to increase companies’ understanding of carbon footprint and their role of it, help enterprises recognize their major sources of emission and guide and encourage companies to reduce their carbon footprint value chain. The calculator can be used with a desktop browser as well as mobile devices. The browser-based calculator makes it easy to share data collection tasks between multiple users. The data is saved for the progress follow-up and action planning in the forthcoming years. Destination level emissions monitoring system is currently being developed.
Resources needed
The pilot version of CO2 footprint calculator was developed in VÄLKKY: the promotion of low-carbon and economically sustainable development in Lapland tourism –project (2019-2022). The overall budget was 476.250 €. The calculator is further developed by Visit Finland and financed by the EU’s RRF.
Evidence of success
The carbon foot print calculator was developed in VÄLKKY-project and is nowadays part of Sustainable Travel Finland program. STF programme is widely adapted by the tourism industry in Finland as the national framework and standard for sustainable tourism. By September 2023, 5 destinations and 367 companies that offer more than 1000 tourism experiences in Finland have already achieved the STF label. According to STF statistics, 27% of businesses with STF label measured their CO2 in 2022.
Potential for learning or transfer
The CO2-calculator is intended for all operators in the travel industry within Finland but it is also in English. Use is not limited to a certain company size or type of organization. Different companies, associations and municipal tourism operators can register for the took and start using it. The tool has prioritized the needs of tourism SMEs, so that as many companies as possible could get support and tools for their climate work, with a low threshold and costs. It is possible to make even complex and customized calculations, as long as the workplace settings are adjusted as desired and, for example, own emission factors are used. Use of the tool does not require previous experience in carbon footprint calculation. With the help of the tool, the emission sources of the company's operations and those influencing factors can be identified. The CO2-calculator helps companies to realize how to improve and measure their activities I order to make more sustainable decisions.