Small World Consulting
Small World Consulting is a UK-based environmental consultancy providing carbon accounting, Scope 3 supply chain measurement, and sustainability advisory services built on its proprietary SWC MRIO emission factors dataset, serving enterprises, landed estates, National Parks, and climate fintech platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLancaster, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Small World Consulting does
Small World Consulting is a UK-based environmental consultancy founded in 2005 by Prof. Mike Berners-Lee of Lancaster University, specialising in carbon accounting and sustainability measurement. The firm's core technology is its proprietary SWC Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) model, which provides spend-based emission factors across 102 sectors and 79 countries with time-series data from 2018-2024, along with a unique hybridisation methodology that combines Product Life Cycle Analyses with input-output models to eliminate the truncation errors inherent in conventional LCA approaches. The company serves large enterprises (BT Group, Sage, Savills, British Land, AMRC, Jude's Ice Cream), landed estates, UK National Parks, local government, and climate fintech platforms (Cogo, Ecologi), with channel reach extending to 1.7M+ end users through its data partners.
The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining bespoke professional services consulting (Scope 3 supply chain carbon footprinting, Big Picture Sustainability assessments, landed estate evaluations, food and menu carbon footprinting), dataset licensing for its SWC MRIO model (Free, Custom from £1,500, Pro from £2,000 annual subscriptions), and training/workshops including Carbon Literacy certification. The MRIO dataset is the firm's primary scalable asset, distributed via self-serve download for SMBs and consultancies while enterprise clients access it through bespoke engagements and partner integrations. In June 2025, Small World launched Carbon Commons, an open-source hybridised emissions factor database co-developed with Sage and British Business Bank, marking a strategic move from proprietary product to industry-standard infrastructure.
Small World markets through thought leadership (research publications, the founder's authored books including 'How Bad are Bananas?'), case studies, LinkedIn and Bluesky social channels, email newsletters, and coalition memberships (Better Business Act, We Mean Business Coalition, Carbon Accounting Alliance). The firm operates as a bootstrapped private limited company with no disclosed external funding, registered at the Lancaster Environment Centre on the Lancaster University campus.
Small World Consulting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Small World Consulting
- Legal name
- Small World Consulting Ltd.
- Website
- https://sw-consulting.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Small World Consulting is a UK-based environmental consultancy providing carbon accounting, Scope 3 supply chain measurement, and sustainability advisory services built on its proprietary SWC MRIO emission factors dataset, serving enterprises, landed estates, National Parks, and climate fintech platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Small World Consulting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability and Environmental Consulting
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Management Consulting Services (54161), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms (EUABAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH), Scope 1–3 GHG Inventory Strategy, Data Governance & Controls (advisory) (EUABAKAD)
Keywords
Where Small World Consulting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lancaster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Small World Consulting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Carbon Accounting Consulting Services: Bespoke carbon footprinting, sustainability advisory, and landscape carbon assessment services delivered by expert consultants. Includes organizational carbon accounting, Scope 3 supply chain analysis, and Big Picture Sustainability assessments.
- SWC MRIO Dataset Licensing: Licensing of proprietary Multi-Regional Input-Output emission factor datasets in three tiers: Free (limited UK 2023 data), Custom (£1500+ annual, multiple countries/years with support), and Pro (£2000+ annual, full 79-country coverage with consultancy time).
- Training and Workshops: Carbon Literacy Training, 'How Bad are Bananas?' game sessions, Climate Action Plan workshops, Introduction to Carbon Accounting, and Carbon Accounting Masterclass delivered in-person or online.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free tier - 102 sectors, UK only, 2023 data |
| Subscription | Annual | Custom tier - UK plus additional countries, multiple years |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro tier - Full 79-country coverage, all years, maximum support |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Small World Consulting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Small World Consulting is an environmental sustainability consultancy that quantifies carbon and resource footprints for organisations, supplies proprietary environmental datasets (notably the SWC MRIO model), and advises on decarbonisation strategy, land use, and supply chain emissions reduction for corporates and estates.
Product overview
Small World Consulting is a sustainability and carbon accounting consultancy offering a portfolio of advisory services and proprietary data products. The core offerings include the SWC MRIO dataset (available in Free, Custom, and Pro tiers) for spend-based supply chain carbon footprinting, the Landscape Carbon Tracker web-based tool for measuring and tracking landscape emissions, and Land Use Opportunity Mapping for spatial analysis of woodland, peatland, and regenerative agriculture opportunities. These are complemented by consulting services for Big Picture Sustainability assessments, landed estate carbon and sustainability evaluations, supply chain carbon accounting, food and menu carbon footprinting, and a suite of Carbon Accounting Training and Workshops (including Carbon Literacy Certification). The Carbon Commons project, launched in partnership with Sage and British Business Bank, is developing an open-source hybridised emissions factor dataset. The company also produces research publications including the National Parks Net Zero Report and UK Farming and Land Use paper.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SWC MRIO dataset A proprietary multi-regional input-output environmental model used to assess economy-wide carbon and resource footprints of organisations, products, and supply chains.
- Landscape Carbon Tracker A tool that monitors and tracks landscape-level carbon stocks and flows across land holdings such as estates and farms.
- Land Use Opportunity Mapping
- Carbon Commons
- Food and Menu Carbon Footprinting
- Training and Workshops
- Big Picture Sustainability Assessment
- Carbon Footprint Consulting Engagements
Quantifiable outcome
- BT Group achieved 26% reduction in supply chain emissions since 2017, targeting 42% by 2031 and net zero supply chain by 2041
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Small World Consulting
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Small World Consulting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Small World Consulting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- SageflagshipSage, a leading British enterprise software company providing cloud-based business management solutions for SMEs, is a co-launch partner of Carbon Commons initiative alongside Small World Consulting and British Business Bank. Sage brings insights and financial backing to develop open-source hybridised emissions factors.
- British Business BankflagshipThe UK's economic development bank, whose mission is driving sustainable growth and enabling transition to net zero by improving access to finance for smaller businesses, is co-launching Carbon Commons to advance consistent carbon accounting standards.
- Carbon Accounting AlliancecoreRepresents the carbon accounting community with over 750 companies in over 60 countries. Carbon Commons has been met with enthusiasm and high level of interest from the community. CAA supports the Carbon Commons project to develop hybridised approach to Scope 3 emissions measurement.
- We Mean Business CoalitioncoreGlobal non-profit coalition formed by seven leading non-profits (BSR, CDP, Ceres, Corporate Leaders Group, Climate Group, The B Team, WBCSD) working to catalyse business and policy action on climate change. Supporting the Carbon Commons initiative.
- B4NZ (Business for Net Zero)minorA supporting institution of the UN-convened Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), focusing on strategic policy alignment to enable policymakers and banks to play their part in accelerating the transition to net zero.
- Better Business Act CoalitionminorCoalition of over 3,000 UK businesses calling for legislation change so all UK businesses must put interests of people and planet alongside profit. Small World Consulting joined as supporter advocating for purpose-led business legislation.
- CogocoreNew Zealand-based climate fintech using SWC's spend-based emission factor database to power carbon management products that help millions of individuals and businesses measure their carbon footprint through bank transaction data integration.
- EcologicoreEnvironmental platform using SWC emission data to help businesses and individuals track and offset their carbon footprint.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Small World Consulting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Watershed: US-based enterprise carbon accounting platform offering Scope 1–3 measurement, disclosure, and reduction workflows. Directly competes with SWC for enterprise carbon-accounting mandates, though typically delivered as integrated SaaS rather than dataset + bespoke consulting.
- Persefoni: Carbon management and accounting platform (Climate Management & Accounting Platform) used by corporates and financial institutions for Scope 1–3 footprinting. Competes with SWC in the same enterprise buyer segment, with a more SaaS-led delivery model.
- Normative: Sweden-based carbon accounting software with strong Scope 3 methodology and EEA-aligned emission factors. Overlaps with SWC MRIO on supply-chain emission factors and competes for European enterprise and consultancy customers.
- Sweep: France-based carbon and ESG data platform enabling enterprises to map, reduce, and report emissions across operations and value chain. Competes with SWC in Scope 3 footprinting for European corporates and integrates with similar buyer workflows.
- Emitwise: UK-based carbon accounting platform focused on Scope 3 supply chain emissions for large enterprises. Most direct UK-headquartered rival to SWC's Scope 3 consulting and data business.
Broad incumbents
- Carbon Trust: Long-established UK climate and sustainability advisory organisation offering carbon footprinting, certification, and strategic consulting. Overlaps with SWC's sustainability advisory work for enterprises and public sector but at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
- South Pole: Global climate solutions provider offering carbon advisory, strategy, and offset services to corporates. Overlaps with SWC's broader sustainability advisory practice and competes for large-enterprise climate mandates.
- EcoAct: International climate consulting and carbon offset project developer (now part of Schneider Electric) serving large corporates on net-zero strategy, GHG accounting, and disclosure. Comparable to SWC's Big Picture Sustainability and corporate carbon accounting engagements.
- Carbon Engineering / ClimatePartner: ClimatePartner provides carbon accounting, reduction, and offsetting solutions to SMEs and enterprises globally. Comparable as a broader climate advisory/offset player overlapping with SWC's sustainability consulting and menu/food footprinting work.
Others
- Cogo: New Zealand-based climate fintech whose consumer and SMB carbon-management products are powered by SWC MRIO data. Functions as both a key customer/distribution channel and a market-overlap player for end-user carbon footprinting tools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Small World Consulting social profiles
Digital presenceSmall World Consulting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Small World Consulting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Small World Consulting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Small World Consulting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Small World Consulting
What does Small World Consulting do?
Small World Consulting is an environmental sustainability consultancy that quantifies carbon and resource footprints for organisations, supplies proprietary environmental datasets (notably the SWC MRIO model), and advises on decarbonisation strategy, land use, and supply chain emissions reduction for corporates and estates.
Is Small World Consulting a public or private company?
Small World Consulting is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Small World Consulting founded?
Small World Consulting was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Small World Consulting based?
Small World Consulting is headquartered in Lancaster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Small World Consulting make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Carbon Accounting Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are SWC MRIO Dataset Licensing and training and Workshops.
Who are Small World Consulting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Watershed, Persefoni, Normative, Sweep and Emitwise. Broad incumbents are Carbon Trust, South Pole, EcoAct and Carbon Engineering / ClimatePartner. Cogo is listed as an others.
Does Small World Consulting have an API?
No public API is recorded for Small World Consulting.
What industry is Small World Consulting in?
Small World Consulting's product category is Sustainability and Environmental Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAEAE, Supply Chain (Scope 3) Emissions & Supplier Engagement Platforms, with a secondary code of EUABAEAB, ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 8742.