Frequently Asked Questions

We've designed Hortiplanet to be as intuitive and user-friendly as possible.  However, we appreciate that users may have questions or are looking for advice on how to get the best from the service.  These FAQs address the common questions we receive.

Carbon ImpactHortiplanet

Has it been independently certified?

The calculator has been reviewed by an independent consultancy. Its alignment to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and PAS2050 has been assured.

How does it work?

All carbon calculators estimate emissions from so called "activity data" (such as litres of fuel consumed) by multiplying this by an appropriate "Emissions Factor". For example, we know that about 2.5 kg CO2 is emitted for every litre of diesel burned. All you need to do, is enter the consumption data that is relevant for your business. The calculator does the rest, yielding summary reports for Carbon, Water, Waste and Biodiversity.

If I offset my carbon footprint does that make my business carbon neutral?

Yes! If you use this tool to calculate your annual Scope 1 and 2 Carbon Footprint, and then offset these emissions through an official carbon trading platform, then this will make your business carbon neutral for that year.

If I offset my Scope 1 and 2 Carbon Footprint, does that make my product Carbon Neutral?

Not quite! A product carbon footprint is more complex and requires an understanding of all indirect (Scope 3) emissions that relate to your produce, such as emissions from the manufacture of fertilizer, or from haulage of produce by other businesses. This calculator does allow you to estimate Scope 3 emissions. But we propose offsetting your Scope 1 and 2 emissions and inviting your suppliers to do the same. In that way, addressing the climate crisis becomes a collective effort across value chains. Each of us must do our bit.

Is it internationally relevant?

It includes emissions factors for various countries.

Is my data confidential?

Your data is only visible to your allocated reporting champions and the overall site administrator. Through aggregation with data submitted by other growers, any use of your data for the reporting of sector benchmarks is anonymous.

What if my farm uses a type of fuel which is not listed in the calculator?

Get in touch. We will propose an interim solution and will note the need for ongoing improvement. We will update with new emissions factors annually.

Where do I get the data from?

A variety of sources, such as utility bills, invoices, and farm management records. Inevitably, the process of data collection will highlight areas where record keeping is currently lacking. Setting up a system to record the key numbers monthly may take some time in the beginning - but is soon worthwhile.

If you have any further queries and cannot find an answer here, please drop us a line and we'll do our best to give you an answer.

Arrange a demo

If you'd like a trial of Hortiplanet, please provide us with a few details. We'll contact you to arrange a brief walk-through, and will then issue log-in details so that you can evaluate the service in your own time.