Brown&Co is a UK-based real estate company that provides a range of services, including property consultancy, rural estate management, and agricultural advice. They specialize in helping landowners, farmers, and businesses manage their assets, offering expertise in areas like farm business consultancy, real estate sales, and planning.
Faced with regulatory requirements, growing stakeholder demand, and an internal sustainability imperative, the Brown&Co team knew it was time to tackle its emissions, but they didn’t know fully where to begin. They decided to try the free Persefoni Pro platform, and in 2024, they measured their carbon footprint for the first time.
Preparing for regulations, demonstrating climate leadership
The company’s decision to measure its emissions was driven by three factors. First, the team wanted to prepare for rapidly approaching climate disclosure regulations like Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR). While Brown&Co didn’t yet meet the policy’s revenue threshold for reporting, they knew that would soon change, and they didn’t want to be caught off-guard and scrambling to catch up. “We need to be in front of it as opposed to doing it retrospectively after we tip over into the threshold,” explains Alton Nutile, who oversees climate reporting at Brown&Co.
They also hoped to demonstrate a commitment to climate leadership and transparency —something their clients increasingly wanted to see. “We champion the environment as a service line to our clients, and we wanted to give it the attention it deserved internally,” Nutile says.
Finally, they knew addressing their emissions was the right thing to do. Carbon accounting would allow them to take stock of their climate impact so they could make effective reductions — ultimately accelerating the global effort to drive down emissions.
A simple, cost-effective entry point for carbon accounting
Though they were ready to take the leap, the team had never calculated greenhouse (GHG) emissions before, and they faced several hurdles. They were overwhelmed by the prospect of digging through utility bills from different electricity suppliers at different locations — they worried it would turn into an expensive, time-consuming nightmare. Because they were just starting out, they needed baseline information, not a detailed 100-page dossier from a consultant. “We’re not far on this journey. We wanted to know the highlights as quickly, simply, and cheaply as possible,” Nutile says. “Persefoni was easy to use and really cost-effective in terms of what we need today.”
Automated calculations using spend-based data
The team had experimented with calculating emissions manually in the past but found it cumbersome and confusing. Persefoni Pro’s intuitive, self-guided platform allowed them to use easily accessible information—like spend-based data—to calculate emissions quickly. The platform provided guided recommendations and expert support at every step along the way.
Cutting through scope 3 complexity
For Brown&Co, the perceived difficulty of measuring scope 3 emissions was one of the biggest barriers to getting started. Once the team started using Persefoni Pro, they found measuring scope 3 wasn’t as overwhelming as they had anticipated. They could generate high-quality reports using data on hand, and they realized they didn’t need to fret over minutiae or measure every last gram of carbon.
Confidence in disclosing emissions data
The team was concerned about making sure their climate reporting was accurate and trustworthy. They wanted to avoid greenwashing at all costs and were wary of inadvertently underestimating their impact or diluting their numbers. Using Persefoni eased their worries. Because the platform adheres to global standards and methodologies, they felt comfortable with their calculations. “I felt safer knowing our assumptions were backed up by the platform,” Nutile explains.
A fast-track to climate action
Now that Brown&Co has a clear picture of its carbon footprint, it is shifting its attention to planning high-impact emissions reductions. If the carbon accounting process had been more difficult and expensive, Nutile says, the company likely would have put it off for a year or two. Now, they’ve accelerated their sustainability trajectory.
The information the team got from using the platform sparked internal discussions, ultimately leading them to form an environmental subcommittee. The group is now focused on setting targets for emissions reductions — something they had previously put off. As a result of beginning this journey with Persefoni, Brown&Co has also put itself forward for certification to ISO14001 standards.
Brown&Co is not alone. Many organizations want to tackle emissions but might feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Persefoni Pro was developed to remove these barriers so businesses can launch their decarbonization journeys sooner. “Persefoni democratizes carbon accounting,” Nutile observed. “It enables businesses to do this without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money on bells and whistles when they don’t need them.”
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