As investors, consumers, and regulators increasingly value sustainability and corporate governance, carbon accounting has become a necessary practice for business operations. Carbon accounting has many benefits, including its underutilized potential to boost brand reputation.
What is brand reputation and why is it important?
Brand reputation refers to the collective perception of a company’s image amongst the market, stakeholders, and consumers. The brand reputation is influenced by what a company promotes, customer experiences specific to their operations, public relations, and past actions. It is a critical aspect of a brand’s identity and has a significant influence on the success of the brand.
A good brand reputation can create opportunities, build customer loyalty, and considerably increase the value of the brand and its products or services. A poor brand reputation may compromise public support, negatively affect the consumer base, and decrease stock value, among other repercussions.
How does carbon accounting boost brand reputation?
Carbon accounting impacts brand reputation because it is valuable to stakeholders, consumers, and regulators. Companies that invest in carbon accounting and ESG initiatives are likely to gain a competitive edge, enhance their brand image, and mitigate reputational risks.
Brand Image
Carbon accounting can boost a brand’s image because it exhibits an organization’s cognizance of its environmental impacts, thereby promoting trust between consumers and brands. This is more important than ever, as consumer trends shift to reflect the rising importance of sustainability and transparency. According to a Greenprint survey, 77% of consumers are concerned about the environmental impacts of the products they buy and 76% would switch their preferred packaged goods if they were offsetting carbon emissions.
Foster Trust with Stakeholders
Transparent reporting on carbon accounting enhances stakeholders’ confidence in an organization. It demonstrates a willingness to be accountable, honest, and responsible. Trust is important to any brand because “highly trusted companies outperform others by up to 400% in terms of market value”, according to TrustID.
Investors are also increasingly valuing ESG transparency when deciding on investments. A 2024 report by Morgan Stanley reveals that “when making a new investment, nearly 80% of global investors consider a company’s reporting on its carbon footprint and commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” This shows that sustainability investing is not simply a fad but marks a shift in the global market. Sustainability has emerged as a valuable marker of the adaptability and longevity of an organization.
Mitigate Reputational Risks
Carbon accounting and sustainability reporting are key in mitigating reputational risks. As consumers, investors, and regulators place more value on ESG, organizations that are transparent with their ESG communications build confidence and trust, while avoiding the pitfalls that can come with ESG initiatives.
Consumers are put off by organizations that are silent about ESG (referred to as greenhushing) and organizations that misconstrue their actual ESG achievements (greenwashing). These missteps can be avoided by creating clearly communicated and honest ESG reports backed by data.
As ESG continues to be a priority for consumers, regulators, and investors, organizations should consider how ESG initiatives can either harm or benefit their brand reputation. Any business that is looking to reap the benefits of ESG initiatives should consider not only the initiatives but also the way they are communicated to stakeholders.