Metal Assemblies produces machined metal components and welded assemblies for manufacturers such as Toyota, BMW and Nissan.
The firm said it wanted to be the first in the sector to offer the detailed carbon cost information.
CEO Iain Collis explained a robust approach to measuring the data did not currently exist.
“We’ll be transforming this end of the supply chain in ways that provide value to our customers, while differentiating ourselves from our competitors,” he said.
During the three-year project, academics will look at the fabricator’s energy consumption and suggest alternative sustainable products and processes.
Dr Breno Nunes from Aston Business School said academics would point the manufacturer toward “a clear direction to take for a more sustainable future”.
The collaboration, a knowledge transfer partnership, is funded by the UK’s Innovation agency, Innovate UK.