Carbon Accounting: Recommendation for Data Management in UK Manufacturing

As the importance of environmental awareness and regulatory scrutiny increases, organisations are expected to reduce their carbon footprint and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

The UK has aligned with international climate agreements, and domestic climate targets greatly emphasise reducing carbon emissions. This makes carbon accounting a critical discipline for the manufacturing industry and its supply chains.

This report relates to Work Package 3 of the Cross-Catapult Carbon Accounting (CCCA) programme and is based on the research undertaken by Digital Catapult. It explores the complex data management landscape in the UK and the challenges the manufacturing industry faces in obtaining and reporting carbon accounting data, which include regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, data collection and quality assurance.

From the insights derived from our research, we provide best practice guidance and make recommendations for a carbon accounting data management system, regarding data strategy, governance, data trust, interoperability and transparency. These recommendations will streamline and enhance carbon accounting in manufacturing and the supply chain.

Organisations that measure and report their carbon emissions can then do more to reduce them while demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and supporting a more sustainable and resilient supply chain.