Making carbon calculations faster, easier and scalable for Acorn Web Offset

The Challenge

Acorn Web Offset already understood the value of product carbon footprint data. The business had been producing carbon calculations for customers for several years, using an existing programme that had worked well.

But as demand for carbon information increased, the process was becoming harder to scale.

Each calculation could take up to an hour to complete, creating a significant administrative burden for the team. As more customers began asking for carbon footprint information, Acorn needed a faster, more efficient way to provide reliable data without adding manual workload.

The business was already using Graphic Communications (formerly Print ePS) Technique MIS ] , which made CarbonQuota’s integration a natural next step. After seeing CarbonQuota present the integration between Technique and CarbonQuota at a customer event, Acorn recognised an opportunity to automate product carbon calculations directly within its existing workflow.

Moving from manual calculation to integrated carbon data

For Acorn, the key driver was integration.

Rather than relying on a separate manual process, the CarbonQuota calculator enables carbon data to be generated through the Technique MIS system. This means product carbon information can be included as part of Acorn’s outgoing estimates, bringing carbon data into the commercial conversation earlier.

That shift is important. Instead of only responding when customers ask for carbon information, Acorn can proactively put it in front of every customer — including those who may not yet realise the data is available.

This creates a stronger foundation for customer engagement. By making carbon footprint data visible at estimate stage, Acorn can start more informed conversations about product choices, print specifications and opportunities to reduce carbon impact.

Results

Although the partnership is still in its early stages, the impact has already been clear.

The most immediate benefit has been a significant saving in administration time. Previously, a single calculation could take up to an hour. Automating that process through CarbonQuota and Technique has removed much of the manual effort, freeing the team to focus on more valuable customer conversations.

Acorn has also received positive early feedback as it starts to promote the new capability to customers. The ability to provide product carbon data in an automated way strengthens Acorn’s sustainability offer and creates a practical point of difference in the market.

For Mark Roberts, one of the most exciting opportunities is the potential to open up conversations with customers who have not previously seen this type of information. By making carbon data more accessible, Acorn can help customers understand their own impact and explore ways to reduce it.

Key Outcomes

• Product carbon calculations automated through the Technique MIS integration
• Manual calculation time significantly reduced, from up to an hour per calculation
• Carbon data can now be included in outgoing estimates
• Carbon footprint information brought front and centre in customer conversations
• A more scalable way to respond to growing customer demand for carbon data
• Positive early response from customers
• Stronger basis for helping customers reduce the carbon impact of their print
• Partnership expanding to include company-wide Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprint recalculations

Putting carbon data in front of more customers

For Acorn, the value of automation is not just internal efficiency. It also changes how the business can talk to customers.

By including carbon data in estimates, Acorn can make sustainability information more visible and useful. This helps customers understand the impact of their print choices earlier in the buying process and creates a more open discussion about reduction opportunities.

Mark sees this as a key benefit of the CarbonQuota approach. With product carbon footprint data available in a more automated way, Acorn can engage customers more consistently and support them in making more informed decisions.

A partnership built on feedback and improvement

Beyond the technology, Acorn has valued CarbonQuota’s collaborative approach.

Mark highlights the way the CarbonQuota team has listened to feedback and looked for ways to improve the solution. This partnership mindset is particularly important as Acorn continues to develop how it uses carbon data with customers.

The next stage of the relationship will build on this foundation. CarbonQuota is now supporting Acorn with recalculating its company-wide Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprints for the last three years. This will give Acorn a clearer picture of its own operational emissions and support future improvement planning.

For Acorn, this creates a joined-up approach: product-level carbon data to support customer conversations, and company-wide carbon footprint data to guide internal progress.

Looking ahead

As customer expectations continue to grow, Acorn is well placed to make carbon data a practical part of its day-to-day commercial process.

By automating product carbon calculations through Technique, the business can provide customers with clearer information, reduce administrative workload and open up more meaningful conversations around carbon reduction.

The partnership with CarbonQuota is also helping Acorn move beyond product calculations and into wider company carbon measurement, giving the business the data needed to identify improvement opportunities across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

For Mark Roberts, the future of the partnership is clear: practical, collaborative and focused on improvement.

If your print business wants to automate product carbon footprint calculations and bring carbon data into customer conversations, CarbonQuota can help.

Contact our team to find out how CarbonQuota can support your product carbon footprints and carbon data goals.