Carbon Accounting Training for Procurement | Tunley Environmental

Procurement experts play a big role in how much carbon emissions an organisation puts out. Carbon accounting gives procurement leaders a structured framework to assess supplier emissions, quantify environmental impact and make carbon-informed purchasing decisions. With carbon now emerging as a critical procurement metric alongside price and quality, carbon accounting training for procurement professionals is essential. It gives teams the tools they need to understand supplier data, assess risks higher up the supply chain and make climate-smart decisions when sourcing.

The Role of Scope 3 Emissions in Sustainable Procurement

The CDP estimates that scope 3 emissions account for an average of 75% of total corporate emissions, with some companies reporting figures as high as 90%. The most material categories in procurement-led functions include:

• Purchased goods and services
• Capital goods
• Fuel- and energy-related activities
• Upstream transportation and distribution
• Waste generated in operations

Yet, this is also the most complex scope to address. Unlike scope 1 and 2, which are within a company’s direct control, scope 3 emissions are highly decentralised, rely on supplier cooperation, and are often plagued by inconsistent data quality. Without targeted carbon accounting training for procurement, teams lack the tools and language to evaluate emissions data, challenge supplier claims and align procurement decisions with sustainability targets.

The Importance of Carbon Accounting in Procurement

At its core, carbon accounting is the measurement, tracking and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from business activities. It is governed by standards such as the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, ISO 14064, and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Carbon accounting is the basis for all environmental reporting, setting goals, and making plans. Without accurate accounting, companies will find it challenging to:

• Set credible climate targets
• Comply with Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
• Attract Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)-conscious investors

For procurement, this entails knowing not only what carbon accounting is, but also how to use it to analyse supplier data, bids, contracts and performance assessments. This is the central value of carbon accounting training for procurement.

A good procurement strategy is typically evaluated by its ability to reduce costs and ensure supply continuity. But as ESG demands rise, those indicators are changing. Now, procurement specialists have to look at suppliers' carbon performance as well as their financial performance. Carbon accounting gives procurement a framework to assess the climate impact of suppliers, materials, and services. It enables buyers to:

• Compare supplier carbon footprints during tenders
• Factor emissions intensity into total cost of ownership
• Establish supplier benchmarks for emissions reduction

This evolution demands more than intuition or goodwill. It requires a deep understanding of carbon accounting methodologies, emission factors, lifecycle thinking and regulatory reporting. That's when investing in carbon accounting for procurement becomes very important.

Training procurement professionals in carbon accounting can help them navigate these complexities, giving them the skills to:

• Understand the scope 3 categories
• Ask the right questions during key procurement stages like Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
• Evaluate data quality and completeness
• Challenge green claims that lack credible evidence

For more information about the importance of carbon accounting for businesses, download a copy of our latest whitepaper written by Senior Associate Scientist Emily Alexander: What is Carbon Accounting and Why Does it Affect Business?

Components of a Carbon Accounting Training for Procurement Professionals

Training programmes tailored for procurement teams focus on making carbon literacy actionable. Here’s what a typical carbon accounting training for procurement curriculum should include:

Carbon Accounting Fundamentals

• GHG Protocol scopes and categories
• Spend-based vs activity-based emissions methods
• Emissions intensity metrics (e.g. kg CO₂e per unit or service)

• Identifying emissions hotspots in purchased goods and services
• Mapping supply chain tiers and risk profiles
• Understanding how procurement decisions cascade through the value chain

• Interpreting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) and emissions reports
• Assessing boundaries (cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave)
• Vetting the credibility of third-party carbon data

• Setting clear emissions expectations in contracts
• Supporting suppliers to improve carbon data quality
• Creating low-carbon innovation partnerships

• Supporting double materiality and CSRD readiness
• Aligning supplier decisions with SBTi or Net Zero targets
• Reporting progress to stakeholders with confidence

With the help of this practical understanding, procurement professionals are able to not only comprehend carbon but also take action regarding it.

Learn More: Carbon Accounting Training for businesses | Tunley Environmental

Tunley Environmental x Astutis Carbon Accounting Course

Tunley Environmental has teamed up with Astutis to develop a comprehensive carbon accounting course for professionals in various fields. This training is ideal for sustainability and ESG professionals, procurement teams, operations managers, and business leaders responsible for reporting or reducing emissions. It’s particularly valuable for those in high-impact sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, healthcare and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) where indirect (scope 3) emissions dominate and the accuracy of supplier data is critical.

The course’s primary objective is to equip professionals with a working understanding of carbon accounting principles and their application to real-world business decisions. It helps learners identify emissions sources across scope 1, 2 and 3, understand the difference between spend-based and activity-based estimation and develop confidence in using emissions factors.

• Delivered online, the course typically takes 4–6 hours to complete and includes the following modules:
• Introduction to Carbon Accounting: Definitions, business relevance and global standards
• Understanding Scopes 1, 2 and 3: Emissions categories explained through real business examples
• Data Collection and Emissions Estimation: Tools and methodologies for accurate measurement
• Scope 3 and Supplier Engagement: Navigating complex supply chains and data gaps
• Carbon Reduction and Target Setting: Translating data into action
• Using Carbon Data in Decision-Making: Connecting emissions with cost, risk and strategy

Explore the carbon accounting course: Carbon Accounting Course | Tunley Environmental

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, procurement functions must evolve from transactional gatekeepers to strategic contributors in climate action. Carbon has emerged as a strategic purchasing metric and businesses that fail to integrate it risk falling behind in both compliance and competitiveness. By investing in carbon accounting training for procurement, organisations can ensure their teams are equipped to lead on emissions transparency, supplier engagement and low-carbon sourcing. The Tunley Environmental and Astutis carbon accounting training course is designed to build capability where it matters most like the everyday decisions that shape long-term sustainability outcomes.