Nottingham Trent University launches pioneering Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool to HE sector

Developed in-house and in collaboration with NETpositive Futures, the Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool not only provides an institution with more accurate supply chain (scope 3) carbon emissions data but also proactively targets and influences its suppliers to reduce their own carbon emissions.

Following a successful pilot with NTU’s own suppliers, the Tool has been rolled out to five universities ahead of the official launch in September; University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, University of Lancaster, University of Bath and Anglia Ruskin University.

The Tool was developed in response to two issues:

• The need to better calculate supply chain emissions as existing methodology didn’t reflect sustainable decisions put in place, or a growing institution
• The need to influence and educate suppliers to reduce their own carbon emissions in a way that captured the volume of suppliers as well as the size (the majority being SMEs)

The resulting Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool addresses the first issue by producing more accurate carbon emissions data. In addition, suppliers are provided with an estimated carbon footprint and a bespoke carbon reduction plan free of charge. Where businesses supply multiple universities, their profile will be shared with those institutions. Therefore, the Tool not only helps HE institutions reduce their carbon emissions but helps their suppliers in turn to work towards meeting the UK’s target to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2030.

Kate Brown, Head of Procurement at Nottingham Trent University said: “As one of the most sustainable universities in the world, we set an ambitious target of achieving net zero carbon emissions across the University by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Government’s legally binding target.

“As with many organisations, most of our carbon footprint is due to supply chain carbon emissions. It’s a challenging situation in that most of that is outside of our direct control, so we’ve developed this tool which allows us to work in partnership with our suppliers to help both of us meet our targets.

“We’re delighted with the feedback we’ve had from other HE institutions to date as part of the pilot and are looking forward to working with other institutions in the Autumn in order to collectively respond to our obligations to become Net Zero.”

Charmaine Morrell, Head of Sustainability, University of Birmingham said: “We recognise the importance of sustainability and taking action on the climate crisis and have set demanding Net Zero Carbon (NZC) targets. With around 70% of our carbon footprint coming from supply chain emissions, working with suppliers is an increasingly important area of focus for our NZC plans.

“This Tool will play an essential part in helping our supply chain become more aware of their actions and how we can work together towards Net Zero. For the University, it will improve the quality and robustness of supply chain emission data and enable more detailed insight into our own carbon footprint, for taking further action on.

For institutions looking to find out more about the Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool there is a sustainable procurement session taking place at the EAUC Conference at the University of Bath on 27 June, or they can register to attend the official launch webinar on 20 September.