We have yet to publicly report on our carbon footprint - what is most important to measure?
A report from Smart Sustainability into the carbon and sustainability data collected by FTSE 350 companies has highlighted a lack of credibility in the data they collect - either because the companies don’t use standardised measures or because the data is not independently verified.
Software provider SAP was one of the sponsors of the research. SAP UK & Ireland head of sustainability Martin McCann says: “Customers are looking to retail brands to provide them with assurance they are ethical.”
McCann adds that few retailers are reporting on all aspects. Those that do report on their carbon footprint tend to measure their scope 1 and scope 2 emissions - the electricity and fuel emissions they directly generate. However, few retailers are yet measuring scope 3 emissions - those generated in their supply chain - and so their carbon impact data is incomplete.
He adds that a lot of organisations are also yet to have the measurements they take independently verified by assurance bodies.
McCann warns that in the near future directors of retailers will have to begin to sign off reports for the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme - and so they must be sure their reporting is accurate. And in the longer term further legislation is likely to make this even more imperative.
He notes it has been suggested the Companies Act be amended to include carbon reporting, and this could happen as quickly as three years from now.
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