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Complexities of carbon reporting
Lorcan Mekitarian, Chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association, discussed the difficulties and challenges associated with reducing carbon emissions.
While politicians argue about the value of achieving Net Zero and which deadline, if any, is realistic, businesses in our sector are quietly getting on with the job of cutting their carbon emissions. This is not easy. Understanding their emissions in the detail required is complex.
Measuring and reporting them is more so, making it hard to evidence a reduction.
In this context, it’s no surprise our members have pushed carbon reporting to the top of the agenda for our Roadmap to Sustainability. We set up our Roadmap in 2022 to inform and educate our members, give them a framework for developing an effective strategy and to help them play a role in leading the industry on this topic.
To date we have produced a framework, a glossary, hosted practical webinars and published a range of Fact Sheets. The most recent of these are updates on Plastic Packaging Tax and Extended Producer Responsibility. All materials produced to date are available on our website.
Cutting carbon emissions begins with understanding your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol categorises a business’ emissions, based on the different aspects of the business, into these Scopes. Scope 1 comprises direct emissions that result from activities within the organisation’s control. They might be onsite fuel combustion, manufacturing and process emissions, refrigerant losses and company vehicles. Scope 2 comprises indirect emissions from any electricity, heat or steam purchased and used. Scope 3 are any other indirect emissions from sources directly outside the control of the organisation.
This categorisation is clear but how and what to count is not. Our members are asking questions. Who is responsible for reporting which emissions, particularly when considering distribution? Is the transport of the product from the factory gate to the distributor’s warehouse the
24 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING responsibility of the manufacturer, the distributor, or both?
As the purpose of carbon reporting is to cut emissions, the ideal is that both count these emissions. It means they are counted twice, but the intent is to identify where to cut and create a downward trend. It is more useful that both the manufacturer and distributor have the information they need to look for reductions, than to have an overall absolute figure.
There are also many different methodologies for calculating carbon emissions. Which should be used? With no consistency, is it possible to compare emissions between different organisations? The answer is no. For example, with so many methodologies possible, a product produced in the UK could have a higher carbon footprint than one sourced from China because of the approach to calculating transport. It is only valid to compare an organisation’s performance with itself over time, or to compare products from within one organisation.
We are in the process of addressing these and other questions in more detail. We have produced a flow chart designed to help members create a process for calculating their carbon emissions. We are also planning a webinar on carbon reporting. It will cover the value of carbon reporting, how to collect data and the final verification process. To be credible, the data calculated needs to be verified by an independent source.
Our goal, as always, is to advocate an ethical approach. We want to help our members reduce carbon emissions and be transparent in their approach. Our Code of Practice and Ethical Marketing Commitment, which are signed by every member, require them to be open and honest in their business conduct and for statements and claims to be truthful and supported by evidence. This philosophy is at the heart of all we do and underpins our Roadmap to Sustainability.
www.chsa.co.uk x.com/TomoCleaning
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