In a few words,
The October Voices of Sustainability session explored how sustainability and reporting professionals can make the most of the year’s final quarter. The discussion centered on transforming reporting work into tangible decarbonisation action, improving data quality, and using procurement and soft power to drive impact across supply chains.
Participants shared strategies to balance reporting obligations with meaningful reduction activities, discussed emerging challenges from policy changes and AI-related emissions, and reflected on how companies—not just regulators—are becoming the primary drivers of climate action.
Key Takeaways
Data & Reporting
- Improve accuracy progressively: Treat data quality as a journey, not a destination. Focus on incremental improvement rather than perfection.
- Expect more transparency: Machine-readable reporting (CSRD) will expose inconsistencies, leading to greater accountability in 2025–2026.
Supply Chain & Procurement
- Engage strategically: Prioritise suppliers whose climate goals lag behind yours, and time your outreach around contract renewals.
- Leverage procurement: Work closely with procurement teams to embed climate action into contracts and sourcing decisions.
Decarbonisation Tactics
- Apply soft power: Use no-cost incentives — like giving extra visibility or pitch time to climate-committed suppliers — to drive change.
- Collaborate and align: Join coalitions such as RE100 or the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact to amplify impact and set clear expectations across your value chain.
Actionable Steps & Resources
- Map supplier priorities:
Create a matrix of suppliers based on alignment, exposure, and influence to identify where engagement will have the highest impact. - Leverage timing:
Track contract renewal dates to plan proactive decarbonisation and data requests. - Enhance Scope 2 reduction:
Explore quick wins like renewable energy certificates (RECs) or shared renewable investments to reduce supplier emissions immediately. - Join collaborative groups:
- Adopt responsible AI standards:
- Hugging Face AI Sustainability Standards
- Look for UK public procurement guidance on Most Advantageous Tender for climate-aligned decision frameworks.
- Use soft incentives:
Rank suppliers by climate ambition, give extended pitch time to those with climate targets, or feature them as preferred partners — it costs nothing but creates meaningful pressure. - Benchmark your progress:
Try Plan A’s new free sustainability benchmarking tool (link to be shared in the follow-up email) to compare your company’s progress and identify improvement areas.
Register for Upcoming Sessions
Join future Voices of Sustainability events to continue learning from your peers, exchanging ideas, and gaining practical tools for decarbonisation and reporting.
Register your interest for upcoming sessions
