Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the NZC Action Planning Tool?
The UK Government has made a legal commitment to be Net Zero 2050, and if this target is to be achieved it is crucial that businesses reduce their carbon emissions. The Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool has been created to help businesses achieve this. By using this free and easy-to-use tool, you will be able to generate a personalised carbon reduction action plan for your business, which includes its estimated carbon footprint, for scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The data held in the Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool also helps universities improve the accuracy of their own carbon reporting, as the scope 1 and 2 emissions of suppliers will be the included in our scope 3 emissions.
What are the benefits of using this tool?
As it is becoming more common for businesses to be asked for their carbon footprint and carbon reduction plans, after working through each of the stages, a carbon reduction plan containing your estimated scope 1 and 2 emissions will be provided (which you can share as required).
The tool and carbon reduction plan will contain the carbon reduction measures you have opted to undertake and demonstrates the businesses commitment to sustainability.
You can log in and provide progress updates at any time (and download an updated carbon reduction plan showing your progress).
You can also log in at any time to de-select or select additional carbon reduction measures.
You will be able to then generate your annual estimated scope 1 and 2 emissions by simply submitting your energy, fuel, transport readings each year.
It is becoming more common for businesses to be asked to provide their carbon footprint; and by working through each stage of the tool and selecting the carbon reduction measures use of this tool will help in providing a footprint and demonstrates the businesses commitment to sustainability.
What will it cost?
The Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool has been funded by NETpositive Futures and Nottingham Trent University and is totally free for invited university suppliers to use.
What information do I need?
Before starting to complete the tool, you should have the following information available:
Business size
Business turnover
Fuel consumption data – this is the fuel consumed by your organisation in its sites and owned vehicles (e.g Gas, Oil, Petrol, etc.). You should be able to find this information in bills, fuel card data or meters.
Energy consumption data – this is the electricity and district heating used in your sites. You should be able find this information through meter readings, utility bills, or automatic meter readings.
Annual distance travelled per vehicle type (NOTE: this is only applicable if you do not know the amount of fuel consumed in the vehicles).
How is my carbon footprint calculated?
The calculation of your carbon footprint follows guidance within both the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the UK government guidance on measuring and reporting your carbon footprint. It is an estimation of your scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint using the information provided in the questionnaire and government issued carbon conversion factors relevant to the reporting year. This covers your emissions from direct energy use, indirect energy use and transport but currently does not include emissions from refrigerant gas loss or any scope 3 activity. This is based on the validity of data submitted by you.
I have completed the About Your Business tab, where can I see my organisation’s carbon footprint?
Once you have filled in the About Your Business tab, you will be able to move onto the next stage and create your carbon reduction plan. Once this is done, you will be able to export the PDF by scrolling to the bottom of the 3rd page and your carbon footprint will appear at the top of this document.
What does tCO2e mean?
This is the unit of measurement that your carbon footprint will be displayed in. It means ‘tonnes of CO2 equivalent’. CO2e is a metric measure that is used to compare emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their Global Warming Potential by converting amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of CO2.
If I supply more than one university will I have to create multiple plans?
If you supply more than one university and they have adopted this tool, you only need one account as the tool allow multiple universities to see their own suppliers’ response to this shared challenge. Universities will be using this data to calculate more accurate scope 3 (supply chain) emissions for reporting against Net Zero.
Can I get a new report if I go back and re-upload data?
Yes – you can update the data provided in the tool as much as necessary. Simply go back onto the About Your Business tab and edit the data, then follow through the tool and export your action plan to access your updated carbon footprint. You can also log in at any time to update progress on your Action Plan.
I am having trouble logging in, who do I contact?
If you are having trouble logging onto the tool, please contact admin@netpositivefutures.co.uk.
I am unsure what a question means/I would like help with one of the questions, who can I contact?
If you any questions about the tool, please get in touch with procurement team from the University that has sent you the request.