The best carbon accounting software for sustainability teams

Sustainability teams face pressure to deliver accurate emissions data while driving meaningful environmental impact. Choosing the right carbon accounting software empowers teams with the tools they need to transform environmental challenges into strategic advantages. Efficient sustainability teams leverage Plan A to drive their carbon management and decarbonisation strategy and operations.

Why sustainability teams need dedicated carbon accounting software

Traditional approaches to emissions tracking often rely on complex spreadsheets and manual calculations. According to a BCG study, 86% of companies still record and report their emissions manually using spreadsheets, while only 9% can measure their emissions comprehensively across all scopes, including value chain emissions.

Johannes Weber, Director of Sustainability Solutions at Plan A, explains:

As a carbon accounting expert, I strongly advocate using sustainability software over internal solutions. Unlike cumbersome internal solutions reliant on spreadsheets, advanced software offers efficient data collection, accurate emissions calculations, streamlined data integration across departments, and enhanced stakeholder transparency. This allows for vast time and cost savings whilst strengthening brand resilience and mitigating risks related to compliance and sustainability commitments.

The limitations of internal solutions become more apparent as companies scale their sustainability efforts:

Spreadsheet challenge	Software solution
Time-consuming data collection and formatting	Automated data collection with templates and API connections
Difficult to maintain emission factor accuracy	Regularly updated emission factor databases with regional specificity
Risk of calculation errors affecting reporting integrity	Certified methodology with built-in validation checks
Limited collaboration capabilities across teams	Multi-user platform with role-based permissions
Complex to maintain and update as requirements evolve	Continuous platform updates reflecting regulatory changes

Scientific accuracy: The foundation of trusted carbon accounting

For sustainability teams, data integrity is non-negotiable. Stakeholders, from investors to customers, expect transparent and auditable emissions reporting that stands up to scrutiny. This is where Plan A's scientific methodology creates significant value.

Certified calculation methodology

Plan A's carbon accounting approach is certified by TÜV Rheinland for compliance with the GHG Protocol, providing third-party verification that builds trust with external stakeholders and reduces reputational risks associated with inaccurate reporting.

Dr Dzhordzhio Naldzhiev, Head of Research and Policy at Plan A, emphasises this point:

How many times have you seen a consultancy report that does not explain its variables, uncertainty or data inputs? In a world of increasing corporate scrutiny, and trade wars, decarbonisation and cost modelling requires rigorously vetted data and tools. Scientific evidence is the foundation that underpins our platform and we take pride in how we build, understand and evidence decarbonisation options for companies.

Comprehensive scope coverage

The platform excels in providing complete visibility across all emission scopes:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned sources
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions across the value chain, including 15 categories

This comprehensive approach ensures sustainability teams can address their entire carbon footprint, not just the easily measurable portions, critical when Scope 3 emissions typically represent 65-75% of a company's total carbon impact.

GHG protocol principles integrated into the Plan A's carbon methodology

User-friendly interface that empowers sustainability teams

Sustainability professionals need to focus on strategic initiatives rather than wrestling with complex tools. Plan A's platform is designed with user experience at its core, making carbon management accessible across the organisation.

Simplified data collection and management

The platform offers multiple options to streamline the often cumbersome data collection process:

File upload capabilities with adaptive learning technology
Automatic PDF data extraction for documents like invoices
API integration for automated data transfer between systems
Data structure mapping aligned with GHG Protocol categories

Saving time

This approach reduces the time sustainability teams spend on administrative tasks, a critical advantage when a SAP survey found that only a third of mid-market executives are satisfied with their data quality.

Customisable dashboards for actionable insights

Plan A transforms complex emissions data into clear visualisations that enable data-driven decision-making:

Period-over-period emission trend analysis
Custom breakdown by department, facility, or any dimension
Hotspot identification for targeted reduction efforts
Stakeholder-specific reporting views

Plan A GHG emissions dashboard — GHG emissions dashboard by Plan A

Nick Dale, Chief Product Officer at Plan A, explains:

Companies looking to make a meaningful impact on the environment must choose a carbon accounting software aligned with GHG Protocol Methodology. GHG Protocol supplies the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting and is essential for ensuring accuracy and reliable carbon management. From an operational perspective - prioritising a platform that is easy to use, provides intuitive and data-driven insights, and has a team of real-world climate experts behind it is essential to setting your organisation up for sustainability success.

Explore Plan A's software via the interactive demo below:

Decarbonisation support that delivers real impact

What truly differentiates leading carbon accounting software is the ability to move beyond measurement to meaningful action. Plan A's decarbonisation-first approach prioritises emissions reduction over offsetting, aligning with best practices for corporate climate action.

Strategic target setting

The platform enables sustainability teams to:

Define science-based reduction targets aligned with global climate goals
Model different decarbonisation pathways based on potential actions
Set targets using absolute, intensity-based, or Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approaches
Forecast future emissions considering planned actions and business growth

Emissions reduction target setting by Plan A

This structured approach to target setting ensures that sustainability ambitions are meaningful and achievable, which is critical for maintaining credibility with stakeholders.

Practical action planning and implementation

Beyond targets, Plan A provides concrete support for decarbonisation through:

A library of practical reduction measures tailored to company profiles
Impact assessment tools to prioritise high-potential actions
Implementation tracking across the organisation
Team engagement features to distribute responsibility

Real-world results

This focus on actionable steps has delivered tangible results for companies. For example, retailer Tesco achieved a 41% reduction in emissions from its stores and distribution centres per square foot compared to its 2006 baseline. Their energy-saving initiatives alone saved £37 million annually while strengthening brand reputation and customer loyalty.

Feature	Why it matters	Sustainability team benefit
Science-based target setting	Ensures targets align with latest climate science and global temperature goals	Builds credibility with stakeholders and future-proofs against regulatory changes
Emissions forecasting	Projects future emissions based on business growth and planned actions	Identifies potential gaps in meeting targets before they become problems
Reduction measure library	Provides vetted decarbonisation options specific to company profile	Accelerates action planning with proven measures rather than starting from scratch
Implementation tracking	Monitors progress of reduction initiatives across the organisation	Creates accountability and enables course correction when needed

Reporting capabilities that streamline compliance

As sustainability regulations evolve globally, reporting requirements grow increasingly complex. Plan A's reporting functionality simplifies this challenge for sustainability teams.

Automated report generation

The platform offers:

Comprehensive carbon footprint reports with granular information across all scopes
Visually engaging outputs ready to share with stakeholders
Custom reporting aligned with major frameworks and standards
Exportable data for integration into sustainability disclosures

Corporate carbon footprint PDF report by Plan A — Corporate carbon footprint PDF export

Data quality and audit readiness

For sustainability teams facing verification requirements, the platform provides:

Complete transparency on calculation methodologies
Detailed activity logs for all data changes
Educational resources integrated within the platform
Documentation of emission factors and assumptions

These features ensure that sustainability teams can confidently demonstrate the integrity of their reporting process when auditors or regulators assess emissions data.

Expert support that extends team capabilities

Carbon accounting expertise is in high demand, and sustainability teams often operate with limited resources. Plan A augments internal capabilities with dedicated support from sustainability specialists who can:

Verify or create appropriate targets
Review calculation methodologies
Guide regulatory compliance
Assist with decarbonisation strategy development

This expert backing gives sustainability teams the confidence to pursue ambitious goals while ensuring technical accuracy and regulatory alignment.

Choosing the right carbon accounting software for your sustainability team

When evaluating carbon accounting solutions, sustainability teams should consider these key questions:

Does the software prioritise decarbonisation over offsetting?
Can the platform track emissions across all scopes and categories?
Is the carbon calculation method certified for compliance with the GHG Protocol?
Does the solution provide comprehensive data analysis tools?
Can it integrate with existing business systems via API?
Does it recommend reduction actions based on your emission profile?
Is the interface intuitive enough for team-wide adoption?
Is expert support available for your specific requirements?

For sustainability teams seeking to drive meaningful environmental impact while meeting growing stakeholder expectations, Plan A's carbon accounting software provides the scientific accuracy, user-friendly interface, and decarbonisation support needed to transform sustainability challenges into strategic advantages.

By shifting from cumbersome spreadsheets to a dedicated carbon management platform, sustainability teams can redirect their focus from data wrangling to strategic initiatives that deliver genuine environmental and business value. This technological upgrade doesn't just improve efficiency, it fundamentally enhances an organisation's capacity to understand its environmental impact and take informed action to reduce it.

Taking action

Ready to empower your sustainability team with the tools they need to drive impactful decarbonisation? Book a demo with Plan A's experts to see how their carbon accounting platform can transform your approach to environmental management.

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