Designing for Impact: Evidence‐Based Guidelines to Improve Inclusivity, Transparency, and Engagement in Carbon Footprint Tools

ABSTRACT Digital carbon footprint (CF) tools are increasingly used to support household climate awareness, yet many continue to face limitations in inclusivity, transparency, personalization, and user engagement. Building on a previous multi‐criteria evaluation of 15 CF calculators, this study develops and validates an evidence‐based framework of 11 modular design guidelines to address these shortcomings. The framework was constructed through thematic synthesis and conceptual mapping (Phase 1) and then empirically examined through a diagnostic case study of the Svalna CF tool, a participatory workshop with six developers and researchers, and exploratory A/B usability testing with six household users (Phase 2). The results demonstrate that features such as progress dashboards, accessibility toggles, and interactive “what‐if” scenarios enhance comprehension, motivation, and inclusivity, while developers confirm their feasibility for incremental implementation. By linking empirical diagnosis with expert and user verification, this study provides a practical and scalable roadmap for designing more transparent, engaging, and scientifically credible CF tools. The proposed guidelines also hold broader relevance for digital sustainability platforms addressing domains such as water, waste, and energy, supporting progress toward SDG 12 and SDG 13.