Leading sustainability managers use Plan A as the platform to accurately measure, track, and reduce corporate emissions, replacing cumbersome spreadsheets with precise, actionable data and targeted decarbonisation insights.
Carbon accounting deserves better than spreadsheets. With 86 % of companies still tracking emissions manually and only a third confident in their data, a modern carbon management platform like Plan A delivers accurate, real‑time metrics and clear reduction pathways, all from a single, intuitive dashboard.
Why sustainability managers need dedicated carbon management software
The transition from internal solutions to specialised carbon accounting software brings multiple advantages that directly address sustainability managers' daily pain points.
Data collection challenges solved
"One of the key challenges we faced was comprehensively tracking and reporting our environmental impact as a fast growing business. Plan A's tools provided us with insights into our carbon emissions, energy usage, and other sustainability metrics," explains Petar Georgiev, Head of Sustainability at AMPECO, highlighting a common challenge.
A dedicated carbon management platform like Plan A transforms this process by:
- Structuring data according to GHG Protocol scopes and categories
- Enabling organisation by department, facility, or subsidiary
- Providing automatic error detection and data quality checks
- Supporting various upload methods from manual to fully automated API integrations
Credit: Plan A
Emissions calculation with scientific accuracy
Once data is collected, accuracy becomes paramount. A significant advantage of specialised carbon accounting software is its ability to perform calculations based on recognised methodologies.
Companies looking to make a meaningful impact on the environment must choose a carbon accounting software aligned with the 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.
Nick Dale, Chief Product Officer at Plan A.
Plan A's carbon calculation methodology delivers:
- Complete coverage across all emission scopes (1, 2, and 3)
- Multiple calculation approaches (activity-based and spend-based)
- Complete transparency on methods and emission factors
- Third-party certification by TÜV Rheinland
Turning data into actionable insights
Collecting and calculating emissions is only the beginning. Sustainability managers must derive meaningful insights from this data to drive strategic decision-making.
Visualisation and analysis capabilities
Plan A's reporting tools enable sustainability teams to transform complex emissions data into clear, actionable information through:
- Customisable dashboards showing emissions trends over time
- Breakdown of carbon footprint by various dimensions (department, facility, emission category)
- Hotspot identification for targeted reduction efforts
- Automated report generation for internal and external stakeholders
"Plan A supports us in this effort with its tools and comprehensive methodology," explains a sustainability leader at Wecasa. The company uses the platform to analyse its emissions with "a key focus upon scope 3" and particular attention to business users commuting to customers.
Beyond measurement: the decarbonisation journey
What truly distinguishes advanced carbon management platforms is their ability to move organisations from measurement to impactful action.
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.
Johannes Weber, Director of Sustainability Solutions at Plan A.
Explore the Plan A software with this interactive demo:
Setting and tracking science-based targets
Plan A's decarbonisation focus enables sustainability managers to:
- Define scientifically aligned reduction targets using absolute, intensity, or SBTi approaches
- Model different decarbonisation pathways based on company growth projections
- Forecast future emissions based on planned actions
- Identify gaps between the current trajectory and the reduction goals
For Sorare, this capability was transformative: "By developing a science-based strategy with Plan A, we aim to become the world's first net-zero gaming company," they explain. "We will also be leveraging Plan A's software to understand the emission hotspots of our operations and derive science-based decarbonisation targets."
Planning and implementing reduction initiatives
Beyond target-setting, Plan A's decarbonisation platform supports sustainability managers with:
- A library of practical reduction measures tailored to the company profile
- Assessment tools for evaluating reduction potential and financial implications
- Implementation tracking and progress monitoring
- Team engagement features to involve the entire organisation
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Expert support for sustainability success
Technology alone isn't enough. Sustainability managers also need expert guidance to navigate complex decarbonisation challenges.
Stryber, a venture building company working with Plan A, values this combination: "We have been working with Plan A since January 2022 and have been extremely impressed with their work, vision, and scientific rigour. As we aim to implement best practice sustainability management, we've been able to rely on the Plan A tool to easily and scalably measure our emissions, and are now working on setting SBTi targets and setting a pathway for operational reduction."
Plan A complements its software with:
- Dedicated sustainability experts to verify targets and guide strategy
- Educational resources and in-platform content
- Flexible service offerings from data collection assistance to strategic advisory services
Selecting the right carbon management solution
When evaluating carbon accounting software options, sustainability managers should consider specific criteria to ensure they select a platform that meets their needs.
The path to effective emissions management
For sustainability managers, implementing the right carbon management solution represents a critical step toward achieving meaningful environmental impact.
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.
Nick Dale, Chief Product Officer at Plan A.
The shift from spreadsheets to dedicated software enables sustainability teams to:
- Save valuable time on data collection and calculation
- Increase accuracy and confidence in emissions reporting
- Identify strategic opportunities for emissions reduction
- Demonstrate progress to stakeholders with compelling visualisations
- Build a science-based roadmap to decarbonisation
As ESG regulatory requirements intensify and stakeholder expectations rise, sustainability managers equipped with the right tools will be positioned to drive their organisations toward authentic climate leadership and resilience.
Ready to transform your emissions management approach? Book a demo with Plan A's sustainability experts today and discover how our platform empowers your decarbonisation journey.
