Many small businesses want to do something to offset their carbon emissions or build sustainability into their business practices, but it can be hard to know how to begin. It can be overwhelming to tackle; you may be suspicious of greenwashing or not know where to start. Carbon offsetting has a mixed reputation – sometimes for good reason. In this guide, we will explain what offsetting really is – including being honest about what it can and can’t do, and show how small businesses can implement it.
What Is Carbon Offsetting?
Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a natural product of the combustion of carbon, respiration of humans and animals, and photosynthesis. Since the Industrial Revolution, burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas has released way more CO2 into the environment. CO2 and other gases accumulate in the atmosphere and have a ‘greenhouse’ effect, trapping heat and warming the Earth. Carbon dioxide is also stored within the earth, and in plants and trees as they use it for photosynthesis.
Everyone on Earth, and every business, produces carbon emissions. These can be from energy use (from non-renewable sources), manufacturing, transportation, and more. Carbon offsetting means taking action to balance out those emissions. This includes planting trees or wildflowers, habitat restoration, or funding projects that reduce or remove carbon elsewhere. Some carbon offsetting projects work by replacing older tech with newer, more efficient replacements, such as low-emission stoves that run on cleaner-burning fuels.
Why Carbon Offsetting Has a Trust Problem
Carbon offsetting has developed a trust problem in recent years, largely because of how it has been used and communicated. In some cases, businesses have claimed to be “carbon neutral” while continuing with business as usual, relying on cheap or low-quality offsets to balance out emissions on paper rather than making real reductions. Other projects have been criticised for a lack of transparency, short-term protection, or unclear impact, making it difficult to know whether emissions savings are genuinely additional or accurately measured. As a result, many well-intentioned small businesses now feel sceptical or uneasy about offsetting, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t want to be seen as greenwashing.
The Limits of Carbon Offsetting (And Why That’s Okay)
It’s also important to be honest about what carbon offsetting can and cannot do. Offsetting does not eliminate a business’s emissions, fix supply chains overnight, or undo environmental damage instantly. Carbon removal and nature recovery take time, and no single project can solve the climate crisis on its own.
However, these limits don’t make offsetting meaningless; they simply mean it works best as part of a broader approach. When used alongside genuine efforts to reduce emissions, responsible offsetting can be a practical way for small businesses to take action while longer-term changes are still underway.
What Responsible Carbon Offsetting Looks Like for Small Businesses
The best way to start carbon offsetting is to look at ways you can reduce your emissions in the first place. This could include:
- Improving energy efficiency – replace older, less efficient machinery and equipment
- Check that your pension fund is being invested sustainably as opposed to in high greenhouse gas-emitting industries.
- Switch to a green energy tariff or choose a supplier that provides energy from more renewable sources, such as Ecotricity or Good Energy.
- If you have company vehicles, consider switching to EVs.
- Hold meetings online instead of travelling.
- Eliminate single-use plastics where possible in your workplace.
You can find more tips and advice for going carbon neutral with your business here in our blog.
Where My Square Metre Fits (Carefully)
My Square Metre takes a deliberately different approach to carbon action. Rather than selling traditional carbon credits, we focus on nature restoration first, using long-term wildflower habitats to support both biodiversity and carbon capture.
So far, we have:
- Planted 4,950,807 wildflowers
- Covered 9,901 square metres
- Offset up to 29,663kg of carbon
Each square metre is planted and protected for 30 years, reflecting the reality that meaningful environmental impact takes time. This allows businesses to contribute positively to carbon removal and nature recovery without relying on “carbon neutral” shortcuts or overstated claims.
We are:
Transparent – we don’t make any exaggerated claims about the amount of carbon we can offset. Our focus is on biodiversity first, with carbon capture as an added bonus.
Local – well, if you are in Lincolnshire, that is. Our (first) meadow is located in Sturton-by-Stow on land that is unsuitable for farming. If you buy a square metre here, you can look up the exact location on what3words and even come to visit (by prior appointment, the land is private).
Long-term – we don’t just plant and then walk away, we maintain the My Square Metre meadow and will protect it for 30 years. What’s the significance of 30 years? After this time, the land will be a self-sustaining wildflower meadow. Even after this time, it can only be redeveloped into other green projects; it’s never going to become a car park or a factory or something like that.
If you want some advice on carbon offsetting or are ready to work with us, you can get your first square metre here! If you’d prefer to book a chat with us, get in touch here on our Contact page, or send us an email to hello@mysquaremetre.co.uk.
