Nottingham Trent University in partnership with NETpositive Futures

The Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool

Having committed to net zero carbon (NZC) across all three scopes by 2040, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) allocated some strategic investment funding into supporting their NZC supply chain workstream. Some of which was allocated to developing a Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool (Tool) with NETpositive Futures.

The Tool is an innovative online platform that benefits universities and suppliers by recognising, supporting, and increasing sustainable supply chains. As well as allowing universities to obtain improved supply chain emissions data directly from suppliers in one efficient and simple platform, it engages suppliers on net zero by supporting reductions in their own carbon footprint, which, in turn, reduces universities own scope 3 emissions.

A one-year collaborative action research project, being led by NTU, is seeing over 100 procurement and sustainability professionals come together from 32 universities to deploy it in their supply chains and contribute to its development, with impactful results.

What the Judges Thought

Thank you for answering our queries from Stage 1. This initiative ticks all the boxes: financial as well as sustainability benefits, and positive outcomes for education, research and many stakeholders.  NTU have demonstrated that this approach is easily replicable, not just in HE/FE, and is a shining example of money for good.

Judges felt the application downplayed how difficult it must have been to get the project going and develop this creative and collaborative working so effectively. The positive impact on external stakeholders is clear to see, especially for small suppliers, and we wondered whether they have, in turn, shared the tool with their stakeholders.

What it Means to Win

"We are proud of our colleagues’ dedication in developing a solution for the sector tackling one of the largest and most difficult sources of carbon emissions and delighted to be recognised for this. Helping universities’ diverse supply chains to achieve their net zero targets, this is societal contribution in practice."

Professor Edward Peck, Vice Chancellor and President

Top 3 Learnings

1. Stronger together: there is conviction to collaborate on tackling the most challenging source of emissions.
2. Net zero simplification is imperative in successfully engaging large and diverse supply chains.
3. Powerful data enables sustainable procurement recognition and decision-making; whilst progressing suppliers’ sustainability maturity.