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About Carbmee & Decarbonization

Frequently asked questions and their answers about EIS carbon management solution of carbmee.

Our product can be used by customers interested in measuring and reporting their carbon emissions. However, it goes beyond that. It was designed for reduction – helping customers to make data-driven decisions based on factual information about their value chain emissions and achieve net-zero targets in a cost-efficient way.

Most of our competitors’ platforms use spend-based calculation alone, which isn’t precise enough to include primary, operations data or provide results that can help companies identify actionable hotspots. Our approach is to use both spend-based and activity-based calculations for the most thorough and precise results possible. 

We provide spend-based calculation to set a baseline for Scope 1 and 2 as well as to identify hotspots if needed. At the same time, we guide our users towards collecting and growing their emissions data within the organization and increasing activity-based data coverage. 

We provide activity-based calculation to tackle emissions that can be the most difficult to measure throughout the value chain, i.e. Scope 3. While many competitors avoid using activity-based calculations due to their complexity, carbmee has streamlined the process, to deliver on results that are 30% more accurate and actionable insights for carbon reduction strategies. 

What makes carbmee different from its competitors?

We have developed our own categorization for how we break down all of your company’s emissions, which are:

      Company Carbon Footprint...

calculates CO2e emissions across your entire company, i.e. all suppliers, internal processes and products;

covers all phases of the company, i.e. Scope 1, 2, and 3;

fulfills regulatory and sustainability reporting requirements;

enables identification of strategic reduction opportunities.

Product Carbon Footprint...


enables carbon reduction along the product development process;

commonly required to win tenders, report on progress, and comply with regulations.

Supplier Carbon Footprint...


calculates climate impact across all suppliers;

covers all phases of the supply chain, i.e. Scope;

identifies cross-supplier/category reduction opportunities;

enables collaboration with suppliers for joint carbon reduction.

What kind of carbon footprints do you calculate?

Yes, our solution is system-agnostic and can integrate with any ERP system.

Can we integrate our ERP system data directly into carbmee’s EIS™ platform?

Yes, our solution provides precise information for compliance with major sustainability reporting standards like CDP and GHG Protocol.

Can I use international reporting frameworks?

While Excel is the classic solution for formatting, organizing and calculating data, it is also entirely manual – not at all optimized for the complexity of corporate carbon management. 

Carbmee’s EIS™ Carbon Management Solution automates carbon management, not only making carbon management easier but also delivering on: 

calculations 80-90% faster than with Excel;

the opportunity to collaborate on data collection – streamlining data from multiple sources (e.g. suppliers, various internal teams, etc.);

a variety of features built for reduction like analytics for easy hotspot identification, an initiative planner for planning reduction path and high ROI initiatives, as well as automated reporting.

Why is carbmee better than my company’s internal excel solutions?

We use a variety of databases, including comprehensive activity-based databases such as ecoinvent, as well as industry specific ones such as carbon minds and Exiobase for clients in need of spend-based carbon calculations.

Which database do you use for emission calculations?

Yes, all of our 3rd party database partners provide transparent and auditable data on request.

We have different packages that can be set-up based on customer’s needs and value chain complexity. Talk to one of our decarbonization experts to get a quote for your company.

FAQ about our product and solution

A list of all frequently asked questions about carbmee's carbon management solution with the answers.

All questions about carbmee's carbon management solution

All answers about carbeem's carbon managemnt software and how we help organisations decarbonize.

Carbmee sits at the nexus of technology, digitization, and sustainability, with the vision of driving the sustainable transformation of businesses with environmental intelligence in order to achieve net-zero by 2050. Carbmee’s Environmental Intelligence System ™ (EIS) is an enterprise software solution for value chain carbon management, specializing in Scope 3 emissions analysis and reduction potential.

Carbmee’s EIS™ Carbon Management Solution is not just a reporting tool or an offsetting platform – our Solution is about integrating operational ERP data to identify where to abate emissions at their source and managing carbon reduction initiatives as effectively as possible. By linking emissions from materials, transactions, logistics, and supplier data to globally recognized standards and methodologies, our Solution calculates carbon footprints down to a supplier-specific level. 

What is carbmee’s EIS™ Carbon Management solution?

We’re trying to make the biggest impact we can and that means working with some of the world’s largest companies, which also have complex supply chains (i.e. companies with significant Scope 3 emissions). We also work directly with suppliers to analyze and verify their carbon footprint.

What kind of companies does carbmee work with?

The climate crisis is intensifying and with it so is the need for companies to comply with regulations, but also to develop more resilient supply chains, lower their climate risk, and continually make their operations more sustainable overall. Our Solution gives companies the chance to not only fulfill their emissions reductions pledges, but to truly operate carbon-aware now and far into the future.

Why should my company decarbonize its value chain?

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.
Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. 
Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

About carbmee & decarbonization

Details about how carbmee can help you in your decarbonization journey and how our EIS carbon management software can help reduce your carbon footprint.

Our team is composed of industry experts specialized in procurement, business consulting, technology, and more. This means we have the domain knowledge to understand our customers’ challenges and needs – and the know-how to solve them.

To ensure our customers are able to have the greatest impact on their net-zero journey, we also provide:

one-on-one guidance and recommendations on how customers can start and level-up their decarbonization;

online courses that explain what net-zero is and how to use our product from end-to-end of your enterprise;

webinars and events with industry experts, focused on net-zero for both the planet and your company’s sustainable business performance.

How does carbmee support teams from end-to-end of your enterprise?

Yes, our Consultancy Partners are key in supporting our joint customers to eliminate implementation barriers, maximize low-carbon capacity, and achieve breakthroughs in sustainable business performance. 

We are a consultancy firm interested in EIS™ Carbon Management for our clients’ projects. Can we partner with carbmee?

Yes, carbmee provides both personal support from our Customer Success Managers but also through our interactive learning platform, carbmee Academy. Customer Success Managers ensure that every customer is guided through:

their decarbonization journey, i.e align use of Carbmee with business goals and strategy;

how to leverage EIS Carbon Management to achieve meaningful carbon reduction goals;

mapping challenges to match for solutions, i.e. product discovery and co-development.

Is there support available when using EIS™ Carbon Management?

How carbmee can support you in meeting Net-Zero goals

Scope 3 emissions include all indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain, both upstream and downstream, that are not already covered by Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned sources) or Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy). According to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the global standard for carbon accounting, these emissions are the most comprehensive and complex to measure.

The GHG Protocol divides Scope 3 into 15 distinct categories to help organizations systematically account for their value chain impact.


Upstream Scope 3 emissions stem from activities that occur in a company’s supply chain before its operations, primarily driven by the production and delivery of purchased goods and services.

1. Purchased Goods & Services – Emissions from the production of all products and services a company buys to run its business.

2. Capital Goods – Emissions tied to the manufacturing of long-term assets like buildings, machinery, or equipment.

3. Fuel & Energy-Related Activities – Emissions from the production of fuels and energy purchased by the company, excluding what’s already counted in Scope 1 or 2.

4. Upstream Transportation & Distribution – Emissions from transporting goods between suppliers and the company before the point of sale.

5. Waste Generated in Operations – Emissions from third-party disposal and treatment of waste produced during company operations.

6. Business Travel – Emissions from employee travel for work purposes using vehicles or services not owned by the company.

7. Employee Commuting – Emissions resulting from employees traveling to and from their regular workplace.

8. Upstream Leased Assets – Emissions from the operation of assets the company leases but does not own or control, upstream of its operations.

Downstream Scope 3 emissions arise after a product leaves the company, covering how it’s transported, used, and eventually disposed of or financed.

9. Downstream Transportation & Distribution – Emissions from delivering sold products to customers through third-party logistics.

10. Processing of Sold Products – Emissions from customers processing intermediate products sold by the company before final use.

11. Use of Sold Products – Emissions generated during the use phase of the company’s products by end users.

12. End-of-Life Treatment of Sold Products – Emissions from the disposal or recycling of products after their use.

13. Downstream Leased Assets – Emissions from assets owned by the company but leased out and operated by others.

14. Franchises – Emissions from franchise operations not owned by the company but operating under its brand.

15. Investments – Emissions associated with investments the company makes, including equity, debt, and project finance.

What Are the 15 Scope 3 Emissions Categories?

Accurately measuring Scope 3 emissions is a challenge for many organizations. Here's what makes it so complex.

Poor Data Quality: Many companies must rely on suppliers to self-report their emissions. This process can lead to major inconsistencies due to different reporting standards, methodologies, and levels of accuracy across the supply chain.

Risk of Double Counting: A common issue arises when one company's Scope 1 or 2 emissions are counted as Scope 3 emissions by another company in the same value chain. Without a centralized system, this can inflate the total reported emissions.

Supply Chain Complexity: Global supply chains involve numerous tiers of suppliers, making it nearly impossible to manually trace the origin and carbon footprint of every component or service.

What Are the Key Challenges in Measuring Scope 3 Emissions?

Once the emissions are measured, your organization can focus on targeted Scope 3 reduction strategies. 

Work directly with your key suppliers to set shared Scope 3 reduction targets. Incentivize them to 

and improve their own data transparency. 

Collaborative partnerships are the cornerstone of supply chain decarbonization. 

Analyze your transportation and distribution networks to identify inefficiencies. Strategies can include optimizing shipping routes, consolidating shipments to reduce empty miles, and shifting to lower-emission transport modes like rail or sea freight over air freight.

Redesign products to be more energy-efficient during use, require fewer carbon-intensive materials, and be easier to recycle at the end of their life. This "eco-design" approach tackles emissions at the source and can create long-term value.

Encourage or co-invest in renewable energy projects within your supply chain. This not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with your purchased goods but also helps build a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure for your partners.

What Are Effective Strategies for Reducing Scope 3 Emissions?

Reporting Scope 3 emissions is increasingly becoming a mandatory requirement for regulatory compliance, not just a voluntary act of transparency. Businesses must adhere to established global standards to meet legal obligations and stakeholder expectations.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): This European Union regulation mandates that large companies report on their sustainability impacts, including detailed Scope 3 emissions data.

GHG Protocol: This remains the most widely used international accounting standard, providing the framework and categories for calculating and reporting all three scopes of emissions.

CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project): This global non-profit runs a disclosure system where companies and cities report their environmental impacts, with Scope 3 emissions being a key component of their questionnaires. 

What Are the Scope 3 Reporting and Compliance Requirements?

Investing in robust Scope 3 management delivers significant business advantages beyond environmental responsibility. 

Enhanced Brand Reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to reducing value chain emissions builds trust with customers, employees, and the public, positioning your brand as a sustainability leader.

Increased Investor Confidence: Sustainability-focused investors are increasingly scrutinizing companies' carbon footprints. Transparent and comprehensive emissions reporting can attract investment and improve performance in ESG ratings.

Stronger Consumer Loyalty: Consumers are progressively favoring brands that align with their values. A clear commitment to eco-conscious practices can drive sales and foster long-term loyalty.

Future-Proofing the Business: By addressing supply chain risks and complying with emerging regulations, companies can build a more resilient and competitive business model for the future.

Ready to go beyond the basics? Discover more on Scope 3 in these expert posts: The Role of Technology in Scope 3 Emissions Tracking and Transparency, Why Scope 3 Emissions Matter for Your Brand.

Why Is Managing Scope 3 Emissions Important for Businesses?

Advanced carbon accounting solutions such as carbmee EIS™ are essential for overcoming the complexities of Scope 3 emissions tracking and management. 

Automate what slows you down: Carbmee’s platform connects directly with your ERP and procurement systems to automatically collect supplier activity data—no more manual spreadsheets, no more errors.

Trust your data, every time: With AI-powered analytics and intelligent data validation, you get consistent, accurate emissions data—even when supplier input is incomplete—fully aligned with GHG Protocol standards.

Turn complexity into action: Gain full visibility into your carbon hotspots across Scope 3. carbmee helps you pinpoint where to reduce emissions and equips your team with the insights and tools to engage suppliers effectively.


Book a free demo with one of our experts and take the first step towards reducing Scope 3 today!

What Is the Difference Between Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions?

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources your company owns or controls (e.g., factory smokestacks, company vehicles). Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions from your value chain.

Scope 3 is difficult to measure because it relies on large volumes of data from external sources across the entire value chain, such as suppliers and customers, which the reporting company does not directly control.

An example of Scope 3 is the emissions generated from producing the raw materials you purchase from a supplier (Category Scope 3.1: Purchased Goods and Services). Another is the emissions from customers using your sold products (Category 11: Use of Sold Products).

Why Do Scope 3 Emissions Matter for Net-Zero Goals?

Scope 3 emissions often account for the majority of a company’s total carbon footprint, making them critical to any credible net-zero strategy. Without measuring and reducing these indirect emissions, efforts limited to Scope 1 and 2 fall short of real climate impact.

How Does the CSRD Impact Scope 3 Reporting?

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) makes Scope 3 reporting mandatory for many EU and non-EU companies operating in the region. It requires detailed, audited disclosure of value chain emissions, elevating Scope 3 from a voluntary practice to a legal compliance issue.

Importance: Understanding Scope 3 is essential, as it often accounts for the majority of a company’s total carbon footprint.


Challenge: When it comes to managing Scope 3 emissions, data quality and supplier engagement are key obstacles.


Strategy: Digital tools are essential for managing Scope 3 emissions. Automated platforms like carbmee EIS™ simplify data collection, ensure accuracy, and accelerate decarbonization efforts.


As companies face increasing pressure to meet global climate goals, understanding and managing Scope 3 emissions is crucial for reaching net-zero targets, enhancing brand value, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

This guide explores what Scope 3 emissions are, the challenges in managing them, and lays out actionable strategies for reducing your supply chain's carbon footprint.

Scope 3: Measure & Reduce Emissions with Ease

Struggling with Scope 3 emissions? This guide breaks down challenges and reduction strategies to ensure compliance. Get informed at Carbmee!

carbmee recognized in 2023 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Environmental Sustainability

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a regulatory framework ensuring large UK businesses report on their energy and carbon emissions. It mandates public disclosure of energy usage, associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and a description of actions being taken to improve energy efficiency year-over-year.

SECR requirements apply to all UK-incorporated quoted companies on stock exchanges, large UK-incorporated companies not quoted on exchanges, and large limited liability partnerships (LLPs). Companies also may elect to participate in SECR voluntarily as a means to improve their energy consumption and carbon footprint.

The primary purpose of SECR is to encourage greater corporate environmental responsibility. By mandating transparency, the regulations raise awareness of energy costs, provide actionable data for improving energy efficiency, and drive reductions in carbon emissions. SECR aligns with global standards promoting net-zero emissions by helping balance greenhouse gas output with carbon removal efforts.

Submitting a SECR report is mandatory for all companies quoted on UK stock exchanges and any unquoted company or LLP designated as "large." A company is considered large if it meets at least two of the following three criteria within a reporting period.

Annual turnover (or gross income): £36 million or more

Balance sheet assets: £18 million or more

Even if a company is classified as large, it may be exempt from SECR reporting if it can demonstrate that its energy consumption during the reporting period was 40,000 kWh or less.

Who Is Required to Submit an SECR Report?

To ensure full SECR compliance, affected companies must include a specific set of metrics and disclosures in their annual reports.

Electricity usage, both for powering operations and transportation

Gas consumption for both mobile and stationary activities

Transportation fuel consumption is used for purposes such as fueling company vehicles and minibusses

Emissions intensity ratio, which is a metric measuring emissions from one year to the next

The methodology used to calculate the required information

A narrative explaining steps being taken to improve energy efficiency

Prior year figures for comparison, when applicable

What Are the SECR Reporting Requirements?

SECR disclosures must be integrated into your organization's annual filings submitted to Companies House. The specific report depends on your company type:

1. Quoted & Unquoted Companies: Include the SECR report within the Directors' Report.

2. LLPs: Submit a dedicated Energy and Carbon Report alongside the annual report.

3. Companies, where energy use and carbon emissions are of particular strategic importance: Include it in your strategic reports. 

4. Charitable Organizations: Integrate it into the combined Directors' and Trustees' Annual Report.

The reporting deadline is based on your company’s financial year and should be aligned with deadlines for your annual reports.

How Does the SECR Reporting Process Work?

Participating in the SECR framework, whether mandatory or voluntary, provides several key business advantages:

Enhanced Risk Management: Analyzing energy and carbon emission patterns helps identify risks associated with energy waste and climate factors, leading to better strategic decisions.

Potential Cost Savings: Actively monitoring energy consumption often reveals opportunities to reduce usage, improve efficiency, and lower operational costs.

Improved Transparency and Accountability: Demonstrating environmental responsibility through clear reporting can enhance your company's reputation among investors, customers, and stakeholders.

Regulatory Compliance: For obligated businesses, the most direct benefit is achieving compliance and avoiding the financial and reputational risks of penalties.

What Are the Benefits of SECR Compliance?

Failure to comply with the SECR guidance can lead to significant financial penalties. The Conduct Committee of the Financial Reporting Council can levy fines for non-compliance. Additionally, since reports are submitted with your annual reports to Companies House, the agency can reject your application and make you submit it again if you fail to include SECR information. This can trigger late filing penalties from £150 up to £7,500, depending on the size of your company and how late you end up filing.

What Are the Penalties for Non-Compliance With SECR?

Companies often face several challenges when preparing their first SECR report. 

1. Data Collection: Gathering accurate and complete energy and emissions data can be time-consuming and resource-intensive without an automated system.

2. Inconsistencies: Using different measurement and reporting methods across departments or locations can lead to unreliable, inconsistent data.

3. Complex Supply Chains: Accurately calculating indirect emissions from sources you don't own or control (Scope 3 emissions) can be particularly difficult.

Overcoming these SECR challenges requires more than spreadsheets. It demands a powerful, carbon management solution with Scope 3 tracking capabilities. Enter Carbmee!

What Are the Common Challenges in SECR Reporting (And How to Overcome Them)?

Carbmee’s carbon management platform is designed to simplify and automate your SECR reporting process. Here’s how you can benefit:

Automate Data Collection: Seamlessly gather energy and emissions data from across your operations, eliminating manual errors and saving valuable time.

Identify Decarbonization Opportunities: Use our powerful analytics to pinpoint areas for energy optimization, helping you reduce both emissions and costs.

Produce Audit-Ready Reports: Generate comprehensive, audit-ready reports that demonstrate your progress over time and satisfy all SECR disclosure requirements.


Book a free demo today to streamline your SECR reporting!

Automate SECR Compliance With Carbmee & Save Valuable Time

SECR regulations affect UK-based quoted companies of any size, as well as large unquoted companies and large Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) that meet specific size thresholds related to turnover, assets, or number of employees.

The deadline for an SECR report is aligned with your company’s standard financial year-end filing deadline. The SECR information must be included within your annual report, such as the Directors' Report, which is submitted to Companies House.

Yes. A company that otherwise qualifies for SECR reporting can be exempt if its total energy consumption over the reporting period is 40,000 kWh or less. However, to claim this exemption, you must first accurately calculate your total energy use. An SECR report example can help clarify which sources (such as electricity, gas, and transport fuels) need to be considered before referencing the exemption in your Annual Directors’ Report.

How Can Companies Simplify the SECR Process?

Using a carbon management software like carbmee EIS™ can streamline data collection, ensure methodological consistency, and automate report generation—saving time and reducing the risk of non-compliance.

Can Voluntary SECR Reporting Benefit My Business?

Yes. Even if not legally required, voluntarily adopting SECR can demonstrate environmental leadership, improve stakeholder trust, and uncover opportunities for energy efficiency and cost savings.

Definition: SECR is a UK government framework requiring large companies to report their annual energy use and carbon emissions.

SECR Reporting Requirements: Companies must report total energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (including Scopes 1 and 2), an emissions intensity ratio, and a narrative on energy efficiency measures.

Goal: SECR aims to increase awareness of energy costs, promote energy efficiency, and help reduce carbon emissions in line with global net-zero goals.

Find out what the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework means for businesses in the UK and what you need to do to stay fully compliant.

SECR: Master Reporting Requirements & Stay Compliant

SECR reporting doesn't have to be complex. Find out how to master key requirements, ensure compliance, and drive decarbonization. Get informed at Carbmee!

Webinar: Driving Decarbonization at Scale – How Heraeus Achieved Carbon Transparency with carbmee EIS™

Join us for an exclusive webinar to discover how Heraeus, a global technology leader, overcame the challenges of complex carbon accounting and CSRD compliance across multiple business units.

Driving Decarbonization at Scale – How Heraeus Achieved Carbon Transparency with carbmee EIS™

What is the real value of a unified carbon data model? It turns scattered emissions data into clear, actionable insights that guide procurement, sustainability, and finance teams in making smarter, aligned decisions.

Many enterprises do not fail at decarbonization because of a lack of ambition - but because their data is fragmented. Procurement teams manage supplier declarations, R&D teams run isolated LCAs, sustainability teams handle corporate reporting, and finance tracks carbon pricing exposure. None of these systems communicate effectively, resulting in duplicated work, inconsistent emission factors, and slow, reactive decision-making.

This siloed landscape is incompatible with the scale and speed of today’s regulatory and market pressures. According to the IBM Institute for Business Value, 41% of surveyed executives identify inadequate data as the biggest obstacle to achieving ESG goals - surpassing regulatory barriers, inconsistent standards, and skills shortages.

From Fragmented Data to Strategic Insight

A unified carbon data model has therefore become essential. Carbmee’s Environmental Intelligence System (EIS™) addresses precisely this challenge. Its underlying data model - carbontology - integrates all carbon-relevant information into a single, ERP-like foundation:

Corporate accounting and product-level LCA use one consistent emissions logic

Supplier primary data is automatically linked to bills of materials

Production data enriches emissions models at the SKU level

Automated AI engines surface hotspots and prioritize reduction levers

From Data Chaos to Decarbonization: Why Enterprises Need a Unified Carbon Data Model | Carbmee

Turn fragmented data into actionable insights. Unified carbon intelligence is the new advantage. Discover how carbmee EIS™ helps you integrate supplier, product, and financial data to achieve CSRD and CBAM compliance while driving measurable Scope 3 reductions.

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