More FTSE 100 companies are disclosing information about indirect emissions, with almost half going beyond reporting those from business travel.
The sixth annual study of sustainability reporting by the UK’s top 100 quoted firms by consultancy Carbon Clear found that two-thirds reported scope 3 data in 2016, up ten on 2015. Overall, 47 firms disclosed information on indirect emissions that did not focus exclusively on those from travel but included data on their supply chain.
‘FTSE 100 companies are showing improvements in their approach to indirect emissions,’ said Carbon Clear. ‘The highest number of companies to date is now reporting scope 3 emissions, with more than 70% of these reporting beyond business travel alone.’
The consultancy scored public reports in five areas: measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), carbon strategy, carbon reduction, engagement and innovation. To achieve the highest MRV score, a firm must have performed a materiality assessment of its scope 3 footprint. Despite more firms disclosing data on indirect emissions, Carbon Clear found that only a quarter of firms were undertaking such assessments, however. This, it said, suggested that in many cases the reported scope 3 categories were probably the ones that were the most readily available rather than those most significant to the businesses.
BT and Marks & Spencer retained their hold on the top two positions in the sustainability reporting performance league table, scoring 89% and 88% overall respectively. The telecoms giant scored 100% in the MRV and engagement categories, while the retailer was the best performer (95%) in the carbon reduction section. Other firms scoring highly overall were Unilever (86%) and the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (83%).
