Introduction ↓
Welcome to the NetScope Training Academy, where you will find all the information you need to inform your NetScope journey. This includes Footprint Boundary Guidance, the Data Input Process, emissions estimation category Onboarding Guides (Data Request, User Guides), the Onboarding Questionnaire, Demo Videos for how to use NetScope, NetScope Frameworks & Guidelines Information, NetScope FAQs, Definitions and the NetScope Methodology.
Net Zero Group
Launched in 2019, Net Zero Group is a purpose-led Eco Tech business enabling individuals and companies to measure and reduce their carbon footprint utilising proprietary software such as NetScope and OaaS. Our carbon software was developed with calculations from Professor Mike Berners-Lee, one of the world’s leading experts in carbon footprinting and sustainability. We were proudly awarded BCorp status in August 2022.
NetScope
NetScope is Net Zero Group’s proprietary calculation software, which allows organisations to measure their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in real time using government-published conversion factors and open-source emissions data and lifecycle assessments, creating Net Zero Group’s bespoke calculation systems. The Methodology for NetScope, including our commitment to and guidance by the standards and principles established by GHG Protocol: Corporate Accounting, ISO 14064-3, and PAS 2060, as well as an outlining of our emissions calculations systems, is outlined in this document. NetScope is Net Zero Group’s bespoke emissions calculation software which aims to streamline the process of carbon accounting, analysis and decarbonisation throughout a company’s entire value chain, for the purpose of making the path to Net Zero as efficient as possible for companies of all sizes. The software allows companies to measure their Scope 1 and 2 emissions (including refrigerants), as well as their Business Travel (Scope 3 Category 6), and Employee Commuting (Scope 3 Category 7) emissions. NetScope can also automate the calculation of Waste (Scope 3 Category 5), Transportation & Distribution (S3 C4 & S3 C9), Goods & Services (S3 C1 & S3 C2), Leased Assets (S3 C8 & S3 C13), Sold Products (S3 C10, C11 & C12), Purchased Fuels (S3 C3), and Franchises & Investments (S3 C14 & C15). In addition, Net Zero Group has developed bespoke calculation tools for ‘Events’ (motorsport) and ‘Projects’ (construction) emissions. A description of these services, including those categories planned and not yet implemented within NetScope, are the focus of this report. Calculations are performed in real time using government-published conversion factors and proprietary granular calculation systems. Sources used to formulate, create and update the calculation tools, including conversion factors, are linked throughout this document, and surfaced as a list in the Primary Sources and Bibliography.
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Upstream & Downstream: Understanding your Product’s Journey and How to Account for this in Carbon Footprinting through NetScope ↓
As a business owner, sustainability manager, or team member responsible for estimating your carbon footprint through NetScope, understanding the supply chain is essential to knowing how to source and supply the correct information to make your NetScope experience more efficient. The journey of goods and services can be pictured like a river. It’s not unusual to hear people involved in production or distribution of goods make frequent reference to “upstream” and “downstream” parts of the process. Upstream refers to the original source materials for any goods or services, the material inputs needed for production, and the transportation of those goods, while downstream is the opposite end, where products get used, distributed, and where end of life treatment occurs. This, essentially, is how the Scope 3 categories have been established by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Corporate Standard), with Categories 1-8 representing Upstream emissions, and Categories 9-15 representing Downstream emissions, from the perspective of the reporting company. By definition, scope 3 emissions occur from sources owned or controlled by other entities in the value chain (e.g., materials suppliers, third-party logistics providers, waste management suppliers, travel suppliers, lessees and lessors, franchisees, retailers, employees, and customers). Using the metaphor of a river, upstream Scope 3 emissions, essentially, represent the material acquisition and pre-processing of your company’s product(s), and the emissions related to purchased or acquired goods and services. These are indirect emissions. Scope 1 (direct) and 2 (indirect) emissions are the production of that product, or the emissions from energy usage and fuel burn from company facilities, properties or assets. Downstream Scope 3 emissions are associated with the distribution & storage, use and end-of-life of your company’s product(s), or the emissions related to your goods and services after the point of sale. They, again, include indirect emissions. Upstream emissions therefore occur up to the point of receipt by your company, while downstream emissions occur subsequent to their sale by your company and transfer of control from the reporting company to another entity. Together, Scope 3 is defined as all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions. Combined, a company’s scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 emissions represent the total GHG emissions related to company activities. When identifying data sources for Carbon accounting purposes, you will likely find that you have greater visibility of your upstream emissions, due to the fact that each upstream category is likely recorded in invoices, receipts and account records (for example purchased goods and services, purchased transportation and distribution, the waste your company creates, and business travel). Downstream emissions are more difficult to account for, as information on, for example, the use of sold products, the transportation & distribution of your products after sale, and the end-of-life treatment of your products, is often not visible to your company. NetScope has been designed in line with reporting standards such that accounting for your upstream emissions is more immediate and more accessible to the reporting company. Downstream emissions may still be calculated using NetScope, though are only available (with the exception of Downstream Transportation & Distribution) in our ‘Scope 3 Value Chain’ package. Our compliance reporting packages, included in ‘Scope 3 Lite’, are ‘SECR’ and ‘PPN’ compliance packages. These are defined as follows: Scope 3 Lite – SECR: Scope 1 and 2, ECP (Employee Carbon Portal) and Scope 3 Category 6 (Business Travel *, restricted to business mileage in car journeys) Scope 3 Lite – PPN: Scope 1 and 2, ECP and Scope 3 Category 6 (Business Travel), Category 7 (Employee Commuting), Category 5 (Waste), Category 4 (Upstream Transportation & Distribution) and Category 9 (Downstream Transportation & Distribution). Also available is our Voluntary ‘Energy and ECP’ Package, which includes just Scope 1 and 2, and the ECP. Further details on NetScope packages, and the services and prices included in each, are available on our Rate Card.
Footprint Boundary Guidance ↓
Before delving into the footprint estimation process, for which the calculation systems are described in this document, it is important to establish clear boundaries on which parts of your organisation must be included in the footprint. This might be a complicated task if your organisation has many joint ventures, leased assets or subsidiaries, but doing so is necessary to optimise the time and resource-effectiveness of the footprinting process. In terms of best practice, it is expected that organisations should look to account for all relevant emission sources throughout your value chain (Scope 1, 2 and 3), and estimate the emissions associated with as as many emissions calculation categories as possible, but we recognise that different business models will be suited to different footprinting approaches and organisations should choose the method through which it can collect the best quality data. When holistically assessing your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions is not feasible, it is recommended that companies calculate Scope 1 and 2 emissions and then material Scope 3 categories. As per the Carbon Trust (https://www.carbontrust.com/resources/a-guide-carbon-footprinting-for-businesses), if Scope 3 emissions represent more than 40% of the total Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, Scope 3 emissions must be calculated if an organisation wants to set a science-aligned target. Once you have defined the boundary for your footprint, please refer to the Onboarding Guides for each emissions estimation category within NetScope for guidance on the specific data required and the user process of each. It is necessary to do so as the accuracy of the footprint relies on efficiently collating consumption, quantity or spend data for all of the emission sources within your established boundary. It is also important to clarify any gaps in the data and list any assumptions that have been made in order to supply the data in the templates supplied within NetScope.
How do you get the Necessary Data?
There are two main data streams from which you will find the necessary data for downstream emission calculations. Primary data – Emission data collected directly from customers and consumers. This granularity can generate activity data, and thus calculation accuracy, bespoke to your specific product and its latter-stage lifecycle, increasing the precision and veracity of your modelling and calculations. For products with expected high Downstream Scope 3 emissions, this level of detail should be ideal, with companies striving to obtain this granularity over time. Average data – Where customers don’t track their emissions or aren’t in a position to share them, downstream emissions can also be modelled from average public data. This would entail inputting the total footprint per emissions estimation category into NetScope pre-estimated, or using ‘amount spent’ on products or services necessary for each category to obtain a total tCO2e. There’s a lot of average industry, material, and user data available, but, although it is always recommended to supply Primary data, modelled data can be best used for companies looking to generate a quick downstream estimate or whose products and services are likely to be less emission-intensive. In reality, the latter is a good way to get started. Average data can highlight where you need greater granularity and can help to identify emissions hotspots in your supply chain without having to dig up tonnes of primary material. Many companies are now at the point where a hybrid of both data approaches suffices.
Data Input Process ↓
Data Collection & Analysis Guide 1) Consult – After setting up your account within NetScope, use our Data Request & Collation Guide for each Emissions Estimation Category to identify and source the information required to complete your NetScope journey. Please contact our carbon consultants if any of the necessary information is not identifiable, or if you would like to measure any specific emissions category not included within NetScope. Telephone: 0161 464 4964 Email: hello@netzero.co.uk 2) Calculate – NetScope quantifies your total carbon footprint in carbon dioxide equivalent or tCO2e released as a result of your operations and value chain emission sources. This takes into account the mixture of greenhouse gases released as a result of your business activities. For the full NetScope product, emissions calculations categories can be completed in any order, but we recommend completing your Scope 1 and Scope 2 assessment (Properties and Fleet – Direct emissions and Energy) first, before progressing to the Scope 3 categories. NetScope includes the following emissions estimation categories: Properties (Scope 1 & 2) Fleet (Scope 1) Employee Commuting (S3 C7 – Completed via Manual Input, or employee engagement with Employee Carbon Portal) Waste (S3 C5) Transportation & Distribution (S3 C4 & S3 C9) Goods & Services (S3 C1 & S3 C2) Leased Assets (S3 C8 & S3 C13) Sold Products (S3 C10, S3 C11 & S3 C12) Purchased Fuels (S3 C3) Franchises & Investments (S3 C14 & S3 C15) The following options, in simplicity and priority order, represent the model selection order for supplying or estimating your emissions within NetScope. Data Input Options Enter Total Emissions: First, if available, whether achieved internally or via alternative emissions estimation products, we ask for the manual input of your ‘total footprint’ for that emissions estimation category (i.e. total tCO2e for that category). Manual Input: If your company has not yet achieved an emissions measurement for that category, or nevertheless wishes to use NetScope’s calculation systems to recalculate your emissions for that category, we advise that you use our manual input fields within NetScope to estimate your emissions. This includes supplying and manually inputting the necessary activity data for each category, with interactive and simplified input fields to simplify the measurement process as much as possible while maintaining the accuracy of calculations. Bulk Upload: If inputting manually is too time-intensive for the particular category, or if your company already has on hand a spreadsheet of required activity data as outlined in the data upload templates per category, you may wish to use our Bulk Upload tool. This tool, available for each category, allows your company to supply the required data in the data format that you desire, per month or per year, for that category. Manual input is recommended before Bulk Upload for the reason that you are permitted more direct control over the data supplied and the exact calculations associated with each line of data. NetConsult: Finally, if none of the previous options are suitable for the scope of your footprint, or the activity data you wish to supply is not measurable through NetScope, you may contact our carbon consultants via our NetConsult platform to conduct a measurement and supply a footprint report of your data per emissions estimation category. Please reference the data request form in the onboarding guides for each category to ensure that at least one of these calculation methods for each emissions estimation category is available to your company. Analyse Following the completion of your footprint estimation, you will be able to view a number of analysis features on your NetScope Dashboard. First, after entering measurement targets and reduction actions, you will see a branded Net Zero Timeline. This offers a one-stop shop to allow your company organisation and control over your decarbonisation journey. You are also able to download the Net Zero Timeline individually for internal reporting. This allows you to set ‘Absolute targets’, which reduce a specified quantity of emissions from the base year to the target year. For example, an absolute target may be a 20 percent reduction in a company’s scope 1 emissions from 2010 to 2020. Absolute reduction targets are the most meaningful in reducing global total atmospheric emissions. The Net Zero Pathway Tasks list can be viewed independently as a to-do-list for your measurement, analysis and reduction actions. This is filled out from the “Carbon Reporting & Reduction Schedule’, but can also be edited by Net Zero Group’s carbon consultants to create a bespoke Net Zero pathway. Also available are automatically updated graphs to display your ‘Current Year Total Emissions (tCO2e)’, ‘Year on Year Absolute Emissions’ (from the second reporting year onwards), intensity ratios (e.g. total emissions per employee, per company turnover, and per sector average), and ‘Year on Year Intensity Ratios’ (per intensity ratio type, from the second reporting year onwards). Finally, you are able to export NetScope carbon analysis in excel (XLSX) format. This will give you visibility of granular datasets which offers a complete breakdown of data type and totals for your internal or external carbon reporting. Download Report Download the ‘Net Zero Report’, a comprehensive carbon analysis document, automatically generated and downloadable when the client company has completed any number of emissions calculation categories within NetScope. The report is downloadable on an annual basis, so it is recommended to download the report once your reporting year (whether financial or calendar) has ended. Included in the first Net Zero Report is: Executive Summary FAQs Methodology Baseline Footprint Summary Data Quality, Materiality and Completeness Boundary and Total Emissions Emissions Reduction Targets Net Zero Timeline & Pathway Actions Summary Footprint Statistics Subsequent NZRs (second reporting year onwards), in addition to all the same analysis offered in the forest NZR, include ‘Comparison with Baseline’ for Total Emissions, Footprinting Boundary, and Emissions Reduction Targets. Also included in reports from year two onwards are Achieved Emissions Reductions, which display reductions in Absolute Emissions achieved through the measurement and reduction capabilities supplied by NetScope.
Analysis and Net Zero Report ↓
If an emissions total per emissions estimation category has not yet been completed by your company, the user of NetScope is able to input data via two primary methods within NetScope: 1. Manual Input, which requires following the steps established in the User Guides for each estimation category, found in each estimation category’s Onboarding Pack. Though it is possible to complete the input fields without referencing the User Guides, it is recommended to use them to streamline the NetScope process. When calculating your emissions for a particular category, we recommend the following process in order to optimise the efficiency of your NetScope experience: Download the Onboarding Pack Reference and source the required information from the Data Request Form Input data with reference to the priority order recommended by the User Guide, and ‘Data Input Options’ in the introduction section. 2. The Bulk Upload tool, available for each emissions estimation category, allows the user to input data in any desired data format, per month or per year, for that category. Before jumping in, we recommend that you read and follow the Data Upload Template and Data Request Forms available for each category, which guide the user on submitting the necessary activity data and allow the data collection and entry processes to be as efficient as possible. As per typical practice, inputting data manually is recommended before opting for our Bulk Upload tool for the reason that the user is permitted more direct control over the data supplied and the exact calculations associated with each line of data.
Onboarding Guides (Data Request, User Guides) ↓
Download User Guides per Emissions Estimation Category ↓
Scope 1 & 2 Employee Commuting (S3 C7) Business Travel (S3 C6) Transportation & Distribution (S3 C4&9) Waste (S3 C5) Purchased Fuels (S3 C3) Goods & Services (S3 C1 & C2) Leased Assets (S3 C8 & C13) Sold Products (S3 C10, C11 & C12) Franchises & Investments (S3 C14 & C15)
Onboarding Questionnaire ↓
Download Onboarding Questionnaire
Demo Videos ↓
Download Demo Videos
Scope 1 & 2 Employee Commuting (S3 C7) Business Travel (S3 C6) Transportation & Distribution (S3 C4&9) Waste (S3 C5) Purchased Fuels (S3 C3) Goods & Services (S3 C1 & C2) Leased Assets (S3 C8 & C13) Sold Products (S3 C10, C11 & C12) Franchises & Investments (S3 C14 & C15)
NetScope Frameworks & Guidelines Information ↓
Overarching Principles ↓
NetScope follows the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol as an overarching framework. However, in some instances, deviations from the GHG protocol calculation methods have been made in order to increase the accessibility or granularity of emissions estimations. Such instances are highlighted individually throughout this methodology. In calculations, emissions from all greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto protocol have been covered. Values for the non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases are expressed as CO-equivalents (COe) using Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
GHG Protocol: Corporate Standard ↓
Requirements and guidance for companies and other organisations preparing a GHG emissions inventory. Designed with the following objectives in mind: • To help companies prepare a GHG inventory that represents a true and fair account of their emissions through the use of standardised approaches and principles • To simplify and reduce the costs of compiling a GHG inventory • To provide businesses with information that can be used to build an effective strategy to manage and reduce GHG emissions • To increase consistency and transparency in GHG accounting and reporting among various companies and GHG programs
ISO 14064-1:2018 ↓
Net Zero Group follows the specification and guidance established by ISO 14064-1, which provides principles and requirements for quantifying and reporting an organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions and removals. ISO 14064 is a standard used to validate and verify your quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals, and your greenhouse gas statements. Conservativeness for an organisational inventory that is attempting to establish a baseline, meet a target or claim emissions reductions that the inventory is overstated (+10% margin of error). ISO 14064-1 specifies the principles and requirements at the organisation level for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. It includes requirements for the design, development, management, reporting and verification of an organisation’s GHG inventory. In accordance with ISO 14064-1, Net Zero Group has created this Methodology document to promote and ensure that NetScope has considered the followed model characteristics: a) How the model accurately represents the emissions and removals; b) Its limits of application; c) Its uncertainty and rigour; d) The reproducibility of results; e) The acceptability of the model; f) The origin and level of recognition of the model; g) The consistency with the intended use. Verification is applied when the emissions, removals and/or storage are historical, and the verifier can obtain sufficient evidence about the emissions, removals and/or storage, and if a controls approach is used or a limited level of assurance is applied, the verifier has access to the controls for testing. Validation is applied when the emissions, removals and/ or storage will occur in the future, and the validator can obtain sufficient evidence that the emissions, removals and/ or storage are likely to occur, and the design of the data management systems, including controls, are likely to be effective.
PAS 2060: 2014 ↓
Net Zero Group ensures that, when companies wish to make any carbon neutral claims when they have footprinted, reported and subsequently offsetted their emissions, they do so with PAS 2060 certification. PAS 2060 is an internationally-recognised standard for carbon neutrality, published by the British Standards Institution back in 2010, and modified in 2014. The purpose of the standard is to encourage organisations to illustrate their efforts towards carbon neutrality and establish transparency between businesses and their customers to avoid allegations such as greenwashing. Any company can calculate their carbon footprint and purchase carbon credits or invest in carbon offsetting projects as an attempt to offset their own emissions to be able to say they have achieved carbon neutrality – but the PAS 2060 allows companies to do so efficiently, accurately, and provides the company with a certification to delineate their carbon reduction efforts to other potential partners and customers around the world. Verification from Net Zero Group provides independent verification that you meet the requirements of PAS 2060. The PAS 2060 can help to create a more sustainable and hospitable business environment – which will benefit the business itself in the long run, and open more doors for potential investors, customers, and employees to expand the company and its main mission. 1. The declaration of commitment to carbon neutrality requires the entity to establish the carbon footprint of the subject and to document a carbon footprint management plan describing how the entity intends to achieve carbon neutrality with respect to the defined subject. 2. The declaration of achievement of carbon neutrality requires the entity to have achieved reductions in the carbon footprint of the subject and to have offset remaining GHG emissions. Such declarations of achievement therefore only apply to the scope and period validated and should the entity intend to extend its claim to future periods, further validation will be required. The first step according to the PAS 2060 is to measure the carbon footprint of the product or service created and executed by the company, and to do so using the globally recognised methods provided by the PAS 2060. The PAS 2060 recommends that organisations use the carbon calculation methods provided by an ISO 14064-1 or a Greenhouse Gas Corporate Protocol. The PAS 2060 also delineates that the calculated carbon footprint should include all of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, as well as any scope 3 emissions that add up to more than one percent of the company’s total carbon footprint in order to find the best method to reduce the company’s overall emissions. The second step delineated in the plan to achieve carbon neutrality by PAS 2060 is to reduce emissions. All companies should establish a “Carbon Footprint Management Plan” suited to their society in order to cultivate a communal dedication to carbon neutrality. The main strategies used for reduction according to the PAS 2060 include the use of a time-scale, creating specific targets for emissions reductions with deadlines included, and how the company can offset external emissions. Finally, The PAS 2060 entails that all residual emissions should be offset by carbon credits that are high quality and certified. The standards set for carbon credits as stated by the PAS 2060 include that the carbon credits are an approved activity by the PAS 2060, that the financial contribution would aid the project in a manner that would have been impossible without the purchase of the carbon credit, that the carbon credits are verified by a third party, and that the credits are removed from public records annually. The last step in the PAS 2060 to achieve carbon neutrality is to document and verify the previous steps listed above. In order to verify the previous steps in the PAS 2060, a declaration of statements otherwise known as “Qualifying Explanatory Statements”, or QES – must be made. Public disclosure is compulsory in order to establish transparency, and must be included in this statement.
NetScope FAQs ↓
About Net Zero Group ↓
Launched in 2019, Net Zero Group is a purpose-led Eco Tech business enabling individuals and companies to measure and reduce their carbon footprint utilising proprietary software such as NetScope and OaaS. In response to the growing requirement for commercially viable climate change measures, Net Zero Group provides a baseline footprint measurement and decarbonisation pathway, using software to create data-led carbon intelligence. Net Zero Group offers a number of different avenues for client companies of all sizes, and individuals, to measure and reduce their carbon emissions. NetScope is our flagship emissions calculation software, empowering businesses to make decisions based on data-led carbon intelligence. The software facilitates companies to measure their carbon footprint across their operations and value chain, create a reduction pathway to efficiently decarbonise hotspots in their value chain, and finally offset emissions to become Net Zero. Calculations occur in real time using government-published conversion factors and open-source emissions data and lifecycle assessments. Net Zero Group’s Employee Carbon Portal offers a simple personal footprint calculator for company employees, and also serves through iOffset as the personal footprint calculator. The methodology for the ECP was developed in collaboration with Professor Mike Berners-Lee of Lancaster University. iOffset, one of our direct action verticals, streamlines the offsetting process by offering individuals and businesses high-impact carbon offset projects to offset their residual emissions. The projects we offer are verified by the world’s leading carbon offset standards VCS and Gold Standard and researched by our Carbon Consultant team to ensure that they align with Net Zero Group’s carbon offsetting principles of integrity, additionality, co-benefits, have minimal permanence risks, and incur positive social, economic and environmental impacts where they are relevant to the project’s geographical, geopolitical and socioeconomic context. NetConsult is our traditional carbon consulting vertical, through which we offer hands-on consulting on carbon footprinting, emissions reductions and Net Zero goals.
What is Net Zero? ↓
Net Zero Carbon is defined as where an organisation or country is required to reduce GHG emissions as close to zero as possible and then offset/sequester residual GHG emissions. You cannot achieve Net Zero emissions simply by investing in carbon offset projects – you must commit to achieving emissions reductions as close to zero as possible. In order to deliver on the UK’s National Net Zero Carbon target, all industry sectors will have to significantly reduce their contribution to wider UK emissions. As a result, there is mounting pressure from regulatory bodies and consumers to reduce GHG emissions and deliver a more sustainable approach to business operations. Providing sector-specific guidance is critical – the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a restaurant or a manufacturer will be very different to those of a retailer or accounting firm, but similar to other businesses in their sector. Different sources of emissions mean a different challenge in measuring and managing those emissions, therefore each sector needs its own solution.
Who is responsible for the required data and the footprint report? ↓
Net Zero Group relies on the client company acknowledging that all of the primary and secondary data accuracy remains their responsibility. Every attempt must be made to ensure the data provided by the client company is accurate for the purpose of the Scope 1 & 2 Footprint estimation for 1st April 2021 – 31st March 2022. An authoritative UK Government approved carbon calculation information source has been utilised in the estimation of the footprint, along with consistent and approved methodologies. Whilst the Scope 1&2 carbon footprint can only ever be an “estimation,” the tCO2e is believed to be the best estimate, based on the previous statements. If provided with any information affecting the presentation of the footprint, NZG will investigate the information and thus adjust the estimate accordingly.
What is Offsetting? ↓
Offsetting is a process that entails the reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Carbon offset projects allow companies and individuals to invest in quantifiable environmental projects to balance their carbon emissions. Although the process of offsetting through Net Zero Group and iOffset is simple for the customer, it relies upon a number of rigorous standards, methodologies and best practice recommendations. Although, of course, your offsetting through NZG can be published or referenced in any way deemed suitably accurate, the nuance of the topic of offsetting and requires specific terminology.
What are the Business Benefits to Beginning Your Net Zero Journey with NetScope? ↓
Beginning your Net Zero journey is more than a “nice to have”; research attests to the credibility and viability of sustainability as a critical component of business in the modern world, particularly in the following decades. For example. 80% of major investors prioritise sustainability, 71% of consumers are willing to spend more for a brand that makes a real commitment. Similarly, 70% of employees favour the idea of working for a company with a CSR approach. Also, $130T of asset investors have committed to a “net zero” trajectory.
Consulting ↓
NZG develops clients’ carbon footprints based on the methodologies of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and the UK Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines. NetScope verifies the accuracy of your data based on the principles of ISO 14064-3 (Specification with guidance for the verification and validation of greenhouse gas statements). Additionally, Net Zero Group offsets the client’s carbon emissions and, following this, is able to verify the client’s business as carbon neutral using the principles of PAS 2060.
Carbon Footprinting and ‘CO2e’ ↓
It should be noted that whilst Net Zero Group supplies “carbon” footprints, they are actually footprint assessments of all major greenhouse gases, creating a “carbon dioxide equivalent” (CO2e) figure. There are seven main Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) that contribute to climate change, as covered by the Paris Agreement: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Different activities emit different gases and for each activity, there is a factor that can be used to estimate emissions of all relevant GHGs combined (kg CO2e per unit activity). The UK Government GHG Conversion Factor for Company Reporting was therefore used to convert the activity data to CO2 equivalent emissions, detailed in tonnes. As a publicly available source, these factors are believed to be credible. The final carbon footprint for client companies is unique to the assumptions and practices of said client company. The results are not meant as a platform for comparability to other companies. Even for similar companies, differences in the unit of analysis and data quality may produce incomparable results. The requirements of Section 9 of PAS 2060:2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality, have been applied to the offsetting of the emissions, to enable the businesses to state a carbon neutral energy footprint. The approach taken to estimate carbon footprinting is based on the GHG Protocol Principles of relevance, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and transparency, insofar as the limitations of the data provided. The footprint has been peer-reviewed internally by Net Zero Group Limited (NZG) as per NZG quality processes.
Estimation ↓
Net Zero Group’s carbon footprint audits are guided by the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Corporate Standard carbon reporting and accounting framework. Net Zero Group’s approach taken to estimate the carbon footprints is one based on the GHG Protocol Principles of relevance, accuracy, completeness, consistency, and transparency. In addition, the methodology of both PAS 2050:2011 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services, and the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard, have been applied where relevant and practicable; and to provide guidance on exclusions. With every calculation in NetScope, the software quantifies your total carbon footprint in carbon dioxide equivalent or tCO2e, released as a result of your operations and value chain emission sources. This takes into account the mixture of greenhouse gases released as a result of your business activities. Whilst Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon footprints through NetScope can only ever be an “estimation,” the tCO2e is believed to be the best estimate, based on the granularity and up-to-date nature of NetScope’s calculation methodologies and emissions factors, and its design within the framework established by the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, PAS 2060 and ISO 14064-3 (2019). If provided with any information affecting the presentation of the footprint, NZG will investigate. Every attempt is made to ensure the footprint estimation for the client company is a fair reflection based on summaries of secondary data provided by the client company. The secondary data accuracy remains the responsibility of the client company.
Review ↓
In the absence of primary data, Net Zero Group ‘reviews’ a company when the emissions analysed are from secondary sources, and Net Zero Group can obtain evidence about the emissions, removals and/or storage, in order to obtain the total emissions estimate. Through the review process, Net Zero Group is dedicated to evaluating and recording any changes in risks and materiality threshold that may have occurred over the course of the review. Following the analysis, through the provision of an accompanying methodology document, NZG also surfaces any and all high-level analytical procedures that remain representative and appropriate to the carbon analysis. In this, NZG also evaluates and documents material misstatements.
Audit ↓
Net Zero Group ‘verifies’ a company when the emissions, removals and/or storage are historical, and Net Zero Group can obtain and analyse sufficient primary evidence about the emissions, removals and/or storage, in order to obtain the total emissions estimate. Through the audit process, Net Zero Group is dedicated to evaluating and recording any changes in risks and materiality threshold that may have occurred over the course of the audit. Following the analysis, through the provision of an accompanying methodology document, NZG also surfaces any and all high-level analytical procedures that remain representative and appropriate to the carbon analysis . In this, NZG also evaluates and documents material misstatements. Net Zero Group verifies the accuracy of the client’s data based on the principles of ISO 14064-3 (Specification with guidance for the audit and validation of greenhouse gas statements). Additionally, if sufficiently accurate and granular data is supplied by the client, Net Zero Group offsets the client’s carbon emissions and verifies the business as carbon neutral using the principles of PAS 2060.
Net Zero Group Audit Process ↓
Through NetScope, the user is offered the opportunity, through a tickbox, to select for their estimated footprint, in any emissions calculation category, to be audited (with additional costs available in the Terms & Conditions). Net Zero Group, following both emissions estimations completed through NetScope and NetConsult, conducts a thorough analysis of provided emissions data, as guided by a data request spreadsheet, as well as primary materials provided and any other relevant information, to identify data gaps, inaccuracies, mis-readings, and highlight implausible and potentially erroneous values within NetScope. We assess the reliability, credibility and accuracy of the reported data and information relating to carbon emissions, and evaluate any changes in risks and materiality threshold that may have occurred over the course of the audit. This includes: • The check and analysis of at least 5% randomly allocated rows of data provided by the client for errors and consistency in calculation equations, data inputs, and results. • Reported emissions data and related measurements and calculations. • The correct automated selection and employment of emission factors. • Any additional calculations leading to the determination of the overall carbon emissions. • The accuracy of API inputs leading to the determination of distance between origin and destination inputs. • Any significantly large/small and/or unexpected data inputs for certain criteria (e.g. 100,000 tonnes of dairy goods purchased from supplier). During this stage, Net Zero Group also: • Checks data credibility by comparing reported data with estimated data based on average emissions factors. • Performs consistency checks between data inputs amongst corresponding data points not included within the 5% randomly allocated rows. • Evaluates whether any high-level analytical procedures applied remain representative and appropriate. Where required, Net Zero Group also evaluates and documents material misstatements. • Permits a 10% margin of error when client organisations choose to purchase offsets from Net Zero Group, which establishes an acceptable percentage difference between the company’s emissions inputs and Net Zero Group’s belief of what the company’s estimated emissions totals would be if all omitted sources were accounted for. At the end of the audit, Net Zero Group evaluates its findings and conducts an analysis on any outstanding errors and misstatements. Please be advised that the objective of this audit process is to ensure that the audit is conducted in accordance with verification rules and carbon analysis best practice, that due professional care and judgement have been adopted, and that any verification risks have been minimised. Similarly, this process aids in improving the credibility, consistency and transparency of the quantification, monitoring and reporting of Net Zero Group’s clients’ GHG emissions. Please also note that Net Zero Group offers its services to Verify carbon footprint estimations as a third party.
Carbon Neutral ↓
Net Zero Group estimates emissions and verifies a company as “Carbon Neutral – Energy” when Scope 1 and 2 emissions are accurately reported. If sufficiently accurate and granular data is supplied by the client, Net Zero Group offsets the client’s carbon emissions and verifies the business as carbon neutral using the principles of PAS 2060: the requirements of Section 9 of PAS 2060:2014 Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality have been applied to enable the businesses to state a carbon neutral energy footprint.
Carbon Neutral Certification ↓
If the client company supplies sufficient data in accordance with Net Zero Group’s data request, and offsets its resulting estimated emissions via iOffset, Net Zero Group supplies an official verification document.
Pathway to Net Zero ↓
Net Zero Group offers clients the service of creating and providing a bespoke ‘pathway to net zero’, including hotspot identification, selecting emissions reduction and decarbonisation actions from our comprehensive list of available actions, inputting and communicating your own emissions reduction actions with NZG’s Carbon Consultant team on, and signposting to sustainability solutions partners. You are also able to set a Net Zero Target within NetScope.
Definitions ↓
Sustainability ↓
According to the United Nations sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Offsetting ↓
Offsetting is a process that entails the reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Carbon offset projects allow companies and individuals to invest in quantifiable environmental projects to balance their carbon emissions. Offsetting technologies include reforestation, cleaner cooking stoves, and carbon capture. It is part of any corporate sustainability strategy that aims to reach net-zero when it complements a decarbonisation strategy.
Circular Economy ↓
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation state the circular economy is based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
Carbon Footprint ↓
Scope 1 – Burning fuel under your control eg. site, vehicles Scope 2 – Emission out of control but as a result of directly consumed energy Scope 3 – Value chain emissions Generation – emissions factor for the fuels burned to provide you with the energy that you have directly used (S2). Residual – necessary emissions Materiality – individual errors or the aggregation of errors, omissions and misrepresentations could affect the carbon footprint and influence decisions made from this information. Laden – heavily loaded or weighted down (Freighting). A carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) released into the atmosphere as part of an activity or process. Increasing levels of GHG’s in the atmosphere are the main drivers of global heating. This increase in global temperatures is causing very visible effects such as extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels and temperatures. There are also taxes and charges set against high polluting and carbon releasing activities. Measuring is the first step in understanding your carbon impacts and how you can reduce your impact.
Decarbonisation ↓
Decarbonisation is the removal or reduction of all human-made carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Decarbonisation is achieved through cross-cutting measures to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from an organisation’s or individual’s activities. Decarbonisation differs from climate neutrality because it seeks to reduce absolute carbon emissions and intensity. Climate neutrality does not necessarily include decarbonisation actions, as climate neutrality can achieve through solely buying carbon credits.
Emissions Hotspot ↓
An emission source within a company which takes up a disproportionately large percentage of a company’s total emissions in comparison with the average for that source’s contribution to a company’s total emissions.
Net Zero Target Year ↓
The year which the reporting company has selected to ‘achieve’ net zero emissions.
Net Zero Emissions ↓
Net Zero Carbon is where an organisation reduces GHG emissions as close to zero as possible, and then offset/sequester residual GHG emissions. Net Zero emissions is defined as where an organisation or country is required to reduce GHG emissions as close to zero as possible and then offset/sequester residual GHG emissions. You cannot achieve Net Zero emissions simply by investing in carbon offset projects – you must commit to achieving emissions reductions as close to zero as possible. A net zero world is a world in balance. Achieving net zero on a global level means emitting no more greenhouse gases than we are able to remove, either by natural means or through technological solutions. Right now, we are way out of that balance (Salesforce Net Zero Marketplace FAQs).
Unavoidable Emissions ↓
Not able to be avoided, prevented, or ignored. SBTi definition of residual emissions relates to what is left once long-term targets have been reached.
Zero Carbon ↓
Zero Carbon means that no carbon emissions are being produced from a product or service (for example, a wind farm generating electricity, or a battery deploying electricity).
Insetting ↓
Insetting is a practice by which a company offsets its emissions through investments in projects within its own value chain
Fossil fuels ↓
Fossil fuels are materials formed naturally in the Earth’s crust from the remains of dead plants and animals over millennia. They are extracted and used chiefly for fueling purposes. According to the United Nations, over 80% of the CO2 generated by humans comes from burning fossil fuels. Their extraction, combustion and consequent emissions-to-air negatively affect the carbon cycle, which in balanced states allows for climate stability and a functioning biosphere. Fossil fuels include but are not limited to petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) ↓
All greenhouse gases have different chemical compositions and properties, leading to different strengths and timescales contributing to the greenhouse effect. The Global Warming Potential (GWP) index is used to measure the relative warming effects of these gases, using CO2 as the baseline. To calculate the relative impact of these gases, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) index is used, using CO2 as the baseline and harmonising all gases as carbon dioxide equivalents. Due to the different lifetime effects of other gases (e.g. methane dissipates more quickly than carbon dioxide), choosing the appropriate time horizon is crucial. As recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the time horizon of 100 years is used across the Plan A software.
Science-Based Targets (SBT) ↓
Science Based Targets are becoming the standard for business greenhouse gas targets, but getting to the stage of having your specific targets approved can be a maze. Setting a SBT shows stakeholders you are thinking about the future of the company, and have a plan to get there sustainably.
Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) ↓
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) promotes best practices and well-defined guidelines to reduce emissions and provides target-setting methods based on climate science. The initiative helps businesses set carbon reduction goals compliant with the Paris Agreement Targets. Science-Based Targets (SBTs) focus on the number of emissions that needs to be decreased to comply with the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) ↓
The SECR requires 11,900 UK companies to disclose their energy and carbon emissions. The reporting framework encourages the implementation of energy efficiency measures with economic and environmental benefits to support companies in cutting costs and improving productivity while reducing carbon emissions. The reporting requirement has been in place since April 2019.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) ↓
Every product or service has its own life cycle: design, sale, purchase, use, destruction, recycling… When you want to measure your company’s carbon footprint in order to improve its environmental performance, carrying out a life cycle analysis of your product or service is essential in understanding the full impact.
Approach to Target Setting & Decarbonisation ↓
Choosing the right method and approach for setting Science Based Targets depends on a lot of factors. A Sector-based approach gives different sectors of the economy a different path depending on that sector’s decarbonisation route and time frames. However, not all sectors have had a pathway developed for them. The Absolute-based approach requires all sectors of the economy to decarbonise equally. Developing a target using the absolute based approach allows for simpler communication and recalculation down the line as the science develops. Lastly, the Economic-based approach uses a company’s gross profit as a share of global GDP to set an emission budget pathway from global decarbonisation as a whole. This approach can be harder to communicate but takes into account the changing makeup of the global economy.
