Most of your carbon
footprint is hiding in
your supply chain.

Questions we get asked

Answers to what procurement teams, sustainability leads, and finance directors ask us before they sign up.

• Do we need our suppliers to do anything before we can get a Scope 3 result?

  No. The platform calculates a full spend-based Scope 3 baseline from your existing procurement data, supplier names, spend values and sector classifications. You get complete Category 1 coverage from day one without a single supplier having to respond. Supplier engagement comes later, as a way to improve accuracy, not a precondition for getting started.

• What data format does the platform accept for supplier upload?

  The platform accepts CSV files and Excel spreadsheets. You need supplier name, spend value and sector classification, fields most organisations already export from their procurement or finance systems. If you use an internal taxonomy to categorise spend, the platform supports that too. We provide a downloadable template and walk you through the upload in your onboarding session.

• Which emissions factors does the platform use, and how often are they updated?

  The platform uses UK Government emissions factors published annually by DEFRA and DESNZ. These are the same factors used across central government reporting and are the recognised standard for spend-based Scope 3 calculations in the UK. We update the platform when DESNZ releases new conversion factor tables, so your results always reflect the current published methodology without you having to manage it.

• Is this aligned with the GHG Protocol, and will it satisfy PPN 006 reporting requirements?

  Yes. The methodology is aligned with the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard, using a spend-based approach for Category 1 (purchased goods and services). This is the recognised methodology for supply chain emissions where primary supplier data is not yet available. For PPN 006, the platform helps buying organisations understand the Scope 3 supply chain emissions that should be incorporated into their own carbon reporting and supplier engagement obligations.

• How many suppliers can we upload, and is there a limit on licences?

  There is no hard cap on the number of suppliers you can upload for spend-based screening, most organisations upload their full supplier list. Supplier licences (which allow individual suppliers to log in, measure their own footprint and share primary data with you) are priced per supplier. Standard packages include a set number of priority supplier licences, with additional licences available. Get in touch, and we can advise on the right package for your supply chain size.

• What happens when a supplier submits their own data, or has already reported emissions elsewhere?

  The methodology stays consistent, that is deliberate. When a supplier submits primary emissions data, the platform replaces their spend-based estimate with the verified figure and recalculates your total Scope 3, you can see the before and after side by side. If a supplier has already published emissions data elsewhere, for example in an ESG or carbon report, we can pull that into your recalculation too, so you are not waiting on a fresh submission. Because the underlying approach does not change, your results remain comparable year-on-year. You are not re-baselining; you are refining.

• What does the supplier experience look like, and is there a cost to them?

  There is no cost to your suppliers. When you invite a priority supplier, they receive access to Climate Essentials for Business, our carbon management platform, at no charge. A guided calculator walks them through measuring their own footprint, so no existing carbon methodology or expertise is required on their side. They can also create a reduction plan and share their data with you securely. Suppliers also get access to our Net Zero Community, a client-only hub with policy and guidance resources, Q&A forums, a webinar library and our monthly educational webinar series, so your engagement request comes with genuine support rather than just a data request form.

• We are a public sector organisation, is this suitable for local authority or NHS use?

  Yes. The platform is used by local authorities, NHS-linked organisations and other public sector bodies. It is available via G-Cloud on the Crown Commercial Service framework, which means public sector organisations can procure it without running a full tender. The methodology is aligned with DEFRA/DESNZ factors, making results transparent and defensible under public scrutiny. We also support co-branding of supplier invitations with your organisation's logo.

• What if we want help running the supplier engagement, can Climate Essentials manage that for us?

  Yes. If you prefer a managed approach, where our team handles supplier communications, onboarding, data chasing and progress reporting on your behalf, that is available as an add-on service. You can start with the self-serve platform and add managed support later, or begin with a fully managed service from the outset. Either way, the underlying platform and methodology are the same. Learn more about Managed Services or speak to us about what level of support fits your team's capacity.

• How much does it cost?

  Pricing depends on the size of your supply chain, how many supplier licences you need, and whether you'd like managed support. Book a demo and we'll put together a package and quote that fits.