In 2024, Allbirds began the transition from an Excel-based LCA tool to a new carbon management software that may lead to divergences from emissions figures and targets that Allbirds previously calculated and disclosed.
Goals
Allbirds brought on a summer Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow, Courtney Schrier, to help perform data analysis and research to understand the magnitude and drivers of these differences, how they will impact the company's target modeling, and next steps for effectively managing ongoing changes in carbon measurement.
Solutions
Schrier approached the project through:
1. Data analysis: Compared the carbon measurement across different LCA phases of the company's key footwear products using its previous Excel-based tool and new carbon measurement software.
2. Remodeling: Remodeled the company's carbon reduction plan and targets using data from its new carbon measurement software.
3. Research: Researched communication approaches to manage adjustments and restatements of data and new legislation that will impact carbon measurement.
Potential Impact
Through her data analysis and modeling, Schrier uncovered:
1. The magnitude of the predicted change in carbon measurement of products from the transition and the key drivers of change.
2. The resulting likely impact on the company's carbon reduction plan and 2025 target.
3. Limitations to the carbon measurement software that were relayed to improve the platform for users moving forward. Additionally, through her research and analysis, Schrier delivered three recommendations related to: 1. Future modeling 2. Effective communication of data changes 3. Incorporation of new land-based guidance into future carbon measurement