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:
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.

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
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

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

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
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

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.