Carbon Clinics: how Oh Yes! Net Zero members are collaborating with their supply chain to tackle Scope 3 emissions
In June this year we launched a new Oh Yes! Net Zero initiative aimed at helping members reduce their Scope 3 emissions – emissions that result from buying and using products and services from organisations in their supply chain.
Through the Carbon Clinics scheme, experienced members help a business in their supply chain to calculate their carbon footprint and co-create an action plan to reduce their emissions.
Among the firms taking part in the trial phase of the scheme is medical technology giant Smith+Nephew.
Describing the role played by suppliers in the firm’s decarbonisation plans, Paul Andrews, director of global energy at Smith+Nephew, said: “We have ambitious NetZero targets which rely on us engaging and working with our supply chain.
“The stakeholder pressures that organisations like us are getting start from COP (the international climate change conference) setting high level requirements that push down on governments. They then set their targets and that rolls down to the likes of the NHS – one of our customers, who are aspirational – and then we push these down on our suppliers.”
As part of the Carbon Clinics scheme Smith+Nephew is working with one of its suppliers, mechanical and electrical contractor Vic Coupland Ltd, to understand its carbon footprint and help identify opportunities to reduce it.
Based in Hull, Vic Coupland employs 70 people and specialises in designing, installing and maintaining electrical and mechanical installations across a range of sectors including health, education, retail and manufacturing.
Vic Coupland director and owner Matthew Dodson said: “Paul at Smith+Nephew invited me to take part in the trial to learn more about our carbon emissions and how to reduce them.
“It's not something we've really looked at in the past, but I think now is a must-have for businesses going forward.
“As part of the Carbon Clinic process I completed an online assessment form to get feedback on our carbon footprint.
“It’s definitely opened my eyes to how much electricity, gas and fuel we’re using, as well as to how we can start the process of reducing our usage and emissions, and hopefully get to net zero eventually.
“A priority now is to educate our team on our carbon footprint – if they don’t understand it they can’t do anything about it.”
Working with its supply chain to address Scope 3 emissions is vital to Smith+Nephew’s decarbonisation journey.
Paul explained: “Our Scope 3 emissions are over 95 per cent of our total, which is like many other organisations, and our supply chain represents the majority of that total.
“But we’ve committed to get involved with supply chain partners and use some of our experience with small and medium-sized businesses within the city to help the region reduce its carbon emissions,” he said.
“We don’t know everything – we are learning as much as any other organisation about this carbon journey.”
Interested in taking part in the Carbon Clinics scheme? Contact Oh Yes! Net Zero’s engagement manager Melissa Rackham at melissa@ohyesnetzero.co.uk