Renfrewshire Council offering local SMEs opportunity to obtain a free Carbon Footprint Baseline report

Renfrewshire Council is offering a new business support service to local SMEs.

Working with The University Of Strathclyde, we are offering businesses the opportunity to obtain a Carbon Footprint Baseline report created especially for them.

The Extend Plus Programme will help establish a business’ greenhouse gas outputs with a view to considering ways in which to reduce same over the years ahead.

This is a free service being offered in conjunction with the University of Strathclyde, useful when considering future ambitions towards achieving Net Zero.

Here is an indication of what will be covered through the project;

What is GHG (Greenhouse Gas) baseline? Greenhouse gas baseline is a process of quantifying  the initial quantity of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) produced directly or indirectly from a business’ activities. It is measured as an equivalent mass of CO2. The GHG emissions are split into 3 scopes.

• Scope 1 – emissions are direct greenhouse emissions that occur from sources that are owned by the company (e.g. burned fuel in boilers, vehicles).

• Scope 2 – emissions are indirect emissions associated with purchase or electricity, steam, or cooling.

• Scope 3 – emissions are the ones that are not produced by the company itself and are not a result from assets owned by the company, but those that are indirectly responsible for up and down its value chain (e.g. products or services purchased by the company, waste, commuting).

Working with our colleagues at The University Of Strathclyde, data will be collected covering each Scope, after which a Carbon Baseline Report will be prepared, specific to that business, offering advice and guidance on ways to help reduce outputs.

This report can be used as a tool to support efforts to reduce carbon emissions, operating costs and towards working in a more environmentally friendly manner.  

It can also be used in conjunction with any potential grant application for Renfrewshire Councils Net Zero Fund: https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/business-grants-and-loans#net-zero-grant

If you are interested in taking advantage of this programme, please complete the below form as best you can and email it to robert.kinniburgh@renfrewshire.gov.uk. As a minimum, please complete the general information and tick the box at the top of the form.