We recently completed a full greenhouse gas inventory across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 and published the results. As part of this process, we assessed the impact of our services from the perspective of our clients and compared this with commonly used UK spend-based emission factors for professional services.
The findings were clear.
Using activity-based data across our operations, we calculated that delivering a full carbon footprint and reduction plan with Carbon Sense results in an emission intensity of:
0.074 kg CO₂e per £ spent
By comparison, commonly used UK spend-based emission factors for Environmental consulting activities (SIC 74901) are approximately:
0.43 kg CO₂e per £ spent
This means the operational impact of our services is around 80–83% lower than the generic benchmark often used in Scope 3 Category 1 (Purchased Goods and Services) calculations.
For organisations reporting emissions using spend-based methodology, working with Carbon Sense can therefore reduce the emissions reported in this category rather than increase them.
Example
Typical consultancy annual spend: £5,000
Using standard spend-based factors:
£5,000 × 0.43 = 2,150 kg CO₂e
Using Carbon Sense activity-based intensity:
£5,000 × 0.074 = 370 kg CO₂e
This demonstrates how supplier-specific data can significantly improve the accuracy of Scope 3 reporting while recognising a lower-carbon service provider.
Note: Spend-based factors are derived from UK Government Environmentally Extended Input-Output (EEIO) datasets and represent sector averages rather than the actual emissions associated with a specific supplier.
If your organisation applies standard spend-based factors to professional services, the same engagement could be allocated almost double the emissions compared to our actual operational impact.
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This is a practical example of decarbonisation creating value, not just cost.
This outcome is not the result of creative accounting. It comes from how we operate:
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