FREE carbon calculator for supply chains

Sustainability Tool, a software application designed by Action Sustainability to help organisations and supply chains track and measure their sustainability performance, has today launched a carbon calculator, in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS).

With 80-99 per cent of the built environment’s total carbon footprint coming from their supply chain, the Sustainability Tool’s carbon calculator will play an integral role in supporting businesses in their fight against climate change.

Charles Naud, Head of Product at Sustainability Tool, said: “With COP26 approaching swiftly, there’s never been a more appropriate time for companies to delve into their supply chains for carbon measurement and reporting. The carbon calculator will be a company’s greatest ally in their quest to reach net zero and reduce their carbon emissions. With our suite of customisable and simple reporting software offerings, our aim is to be a one-stop-shop for all sustainability reporting and performance management.”

A spin-off of the Sustainability Tool, the carbon calculator’s purpose is:

• to support supply chains with calculating their greenhouse gas emissions,
• to provide clients with a view of emissions embedded in their supply chains (i.e. their scope 3 emissions).

Suppliers can either input their emissions by scope (if those are already known to them), or complete a simple report covering fossil fuel, company travel, gas, electricity consumption, materials, waste and water data. Upon completion, the report automatically calculates emissions in a dashboard that supports submissions to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) and other carbon reporting frameworks. The system also permits suppliers to apportion a percentage of their carbon emissions to clients based on financial turnover.

The carbon calculator will be offered free-of-charge to Supply Chain Sustainability School members (suppliers), whereby they can register for free. The tool is also offered to Partners (clients) of the School, presenting them with a full view of their scope 3 carbon data.

Martin Gettings, Group Director Sustainability at Canary Wharf Group, said: “The carbon calculator has resulted from an industry-wide collaboration of clients, main contractors and trade contractors, across the Supply Chain Sustainability School. We’ve established a standardised data collection and reporting mechanism for supply chain carbon. This hugely benefits suppliers, because it enables one simple carbon measurement exercise, the results of which can easily be shared with their major clients.”

Julia Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at Willmott Dixon, said: “As a company committed to delivering net zero embodied carbon by 2040, it’s paramount that we equip our supply chain partners with the necessary tools and support to reduce emissions. The carbon calculator provides all our partners with a simple and robust approach to calculating and understanding their emissions.  Through this initiative, the Supply Chain Sustainability School offers a unique opportunity for our industry to work together in reducing our emissions.”

The carbon calculator is also available for usage across other industries, whilst the Sustainability Tool can help businesses report and manage sustainability performance across more than just carbon, whether that be within an organisation, its projects, contracts and supply chain.