1. Make sure they offer a bespoke service

The world of business is hugely diverse, and each individual company requires a highly tailored approach when it comes to determining their carbon footprint. So, when looking for a carbon auditor for your business, ensure that the companies you talk to offer a completely bespoke service that can take into account any unique requirements that your company may have. Avoid auditors that offer generic, limited or rigidly formulaic services.

2. Only talk to independent carbon auditors

Ensure that the carbon auditors you talk to don't have a vested interest in other services that may compromise your best interests, such as if they sell carbon credits directly themselves. Generally speaking, a carbon auditing company that also sells carbon credits cannot be regarded as wholly independent, and their entire assessment methodology may be skewed to represent their interests over yours.

3. Ask for references or testimonies

A good way to gauge the reputation of a carbon auditor is to ask them for references or testimonials. Even though the information they are exposed to when they audit a company can often be confidential, it's still not unreasonable to ask them for the contact details of some of their past or existing clients in order to verify their claims and/or asserted reputation. Companies who are not forthcoming with this information may have something to hide. Transparency is the key to finding a reputable carbon auditor.

4. Do they have experience in your sector?

As mentioned before, companies come in all shapes and sizes, so a good place to start your search for a suitable carbon auditor is your own sector. See if there are companies which specialise in or who have experience of auditing companies similar to yours, because their familiarity with how your type of business works could save time and result in a more accurate audit of your output. An inaccurate assessment of your carbon footprint could cost you more, so a level of familiarity may well prove highly beneficial.

5. Don't just go for the cheapest option

There's nothing to say that the cheapest carbon auditor you approach won't offer the best service, but you shouldn't make decisions on cost alone. Enquire about methodologies, experience and cost, then make a decision based on which company offers the best value for money overall.