Tips on how to start engaging with your suppliers on Carbon Accounting

When it comes to reducing your business’s carbon footprint, engaging suppliers is one of the most impactful, and often challenging, steps. Scope 3 emissions can account for the largest share of a company’s overall greenhouse gas output. But these emissions are also the hardest to measure and reduce, as they require cooperation and transparency from suppliers.

At Sumday, we understand that building meaningful supplier engagement isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating partnerships that drive sustainable change. Whether you’re just starting your carbon accounting journey or looking to refine your process, here’s how you can effectively engage your suppliers and ensure success.

Start with a Clear Plan

Before reaching out to suppliers, it’s crucial to define your objectives. Are you focused on calculating Scope 3 emissions to meet compliance requirements, or are you setting long-term decarbonisation targets? Perhaps a customer is asking for detailed emissions data, and you need to respond promptly.

A clear plan helps you identify which suppliers to prioritise. For example, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recommends focusing on your largest or most carbon-intensive suppliers first. Mapping out your supply chain emissions hotspots will give you a targeted approach and maximise impact.

Resources like the SBTi’s Supplier Engagement Guidance can provide a framework to align your strategy with best practices. By setting clear goals, you’ll be better equipped to communicate expectations and drive actionable results.

Communicate the "Why" Behind Carbon Accounting

Suppliers are more likely to engage if they understand the value of carbon accounting - not just for your business, but for theirs. Explain how tracking and reducing emissions can help them:

• Stay ahead of regulatory changes like the EU’s CSRD
• Reduce operational costs through energy efficiency
• Appeal to sustainability-conscious customers and investors

It’s also important to frame this as a collaborative effort rather than a compliance mandate. Share your company’s goals and demonstrate how their participation plays a vital role in achieving them. When suppliers see the bigger picture, they’re more likely to contribute meaningfully.

Sumday’s platform simplifies supplier engagement by providing user-friendly templates to request emissions data. By making the process straightforward, you’ll encourage participation and build trust with your partners.

Provide Guidance and Resources

Not all suppliers have experience with carbon accounting, and many may find the process intimidating. That’s where clear guidance and accessible resources come into play.

Start by sharing tools like the GHG Protocol’s Supplier Engagement Guidance or the Supplier Action Guide. These resources break down the basics of emissions reporting and provide actionable steps for suppliers to calculate their carbon footprints.

If suppliers lack internal expertise, consider offering training sessions or workshops to guide them through the process or leverage other online courses and resources to help them upskill. Highlight tools like carbon footprint calculators and explain how activity data and emissions factors work. Sumday’s emissions tracking platform also provides a simple way for suppliers to report data, ensuring consistency and accuracy across the board.

Simplify Data Collection

One of the biggest challenges in supplier engagement is collecting accurate data. Traditionally, this process relied on averages or estimates, which often led to unreliable results. But with Scope 3 emissions becoming a key compliance focus, businesses need better data.

Sumday’s platform makes this process seamless. With just an email contact, you can use pre-built templates to request emissions data directly from suppliers. This allows you to replace estimates with accurate, primary data, providing a clearer picture of your supply chain’s carbon footprint.

Automating the data collection process also reduces administrative burden, freeing up your team to focus on analysis and action. By leveraging a GHG accounting platform, you’ll ensure your data is reliable, audit-ready, and aligned with reporting standards.

Engaging suppliers on carbon accounting isn’t just about meeting compliance requirements, it’s about building a value chain that’s prepared for the future. By following these steps and leveraging tools exactly like Sumday, you can collect reliable data, drive impactful reductions, and build partnerships that benefit everyone involved.

The path to decarbonisation starts with collaboration. With Sumday’s user-friendly tools and actionable insights, you can empower your suppliers to join you in creating a more sustainable, resilient future.

Looking to get ahead with your carbon reporting? Start simple, with Sumday. We’d be happy to chat over a call or get started with a 30 day free trial here.

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