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Increasing the bottom line by cutting back on carbon emissions is now easier for businesses, thanks to an online guide and calculator.
With emissions pricing on its way, the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development says it is critical that in the next 15 months businesses measure their emissions.
The council said only 16 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses felt fully informed about impending emissions pricing - and less than 5 per cent had measured their emissions.
"If you don't measure it, you can't manage it," chief executive Peter Neilson said.
Mr Neilson said high level carbon emitters had already measured their carbon output and were adjusting their practices accordingly, but the calculator was aimed at smaller businesses who had a more modest footprint.
Mr Neilson said using the calculator was the first step towards figuring out how a business could adjust its systems to reduce emissions and the associated costs.