Project Summary

As the world becomes more climate-aware, carbon footprint data can drive faster transport decarbonisation. Other Way’s project Abacus offers a software platform that simplifies complex numeracy and visualises data to help transport businesses shape specific sector needs. The project will evaluate how carbon data is currently communicated and establish best practices for data communication. Through collaboration with pioneer clients, innovative carbon data reports will be tested in the market. Abacus aims to share climate communication best practices with UK transport businesses, accelerating their efforts towards a carbon-neutral future.

Project Achievements

Project Abacus achieved three specific outcomes: 1. Enhance the UK’s knowledge of how accurate and engaging carbon data can be used by mobility businesses to decarbonise transport faster. Working with Fareham College and the University of Edinburgh, Other Way has created a white paper informing the sector on how to use carbon data in 2023. 2. Deliver a Proof of concept to two clients. Carbon data sprints were successfully delivered for two highly innovative businesses – Onto (electric car subscription) and OurBike (cargo bike rental fleets). 3. Prepare Other Way for commercial scale of the solution. Other Way now has a transport carbon data framework formed and tested with real clients.

Conclusions

Businesses want to communicate sustainability but do not have the means of doing so effectively. Challenges are numerous but this project has identified ways to overcome them. Our survey of 100 different customer propositions across Europe found that 47% describe their vehicle or journey as “sustainable” on the home page. Yet, only 16% offer the carbon footprint of that product or service. It’s not all about labelling – behaviours are not driven by data alone but considered displaying of data supports positive decision making. The “green glow” effect appears to be one key approach that plays on post-decision satisfaction.

Next Steps

The greatest success for Other Way has been the opportunity to learn closely with real businesses. This has helped identify n ext steps in turning the data framework into a minimum viable product. There are two immediate next steps the founder will be taking forward, the combination of these steps brings Other Way faster to commercial viability. 1. Marketing: to disseminate the white paper. Other Way is attending and speaking at five conferences over the coming three to six months and intends to have a reach of 10,000 individuals. This both educates the UK sector as well as drive interest in Other Way’s product. 2. Product-Market-Fit: to test the data framework with the live API and to extend the carbon data sprint to 5-10 businesses and organisations by Q1 2024.