Three-day course will enable resellers to assess scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and set out a realistic plan to take their own business towards net zero carbon
Basingstoke, 11 December 2023 – TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) has announced the launch of the Net Zero Academy – a three day course that will enable partners – or any other channel company – to conduct a full assessment of their own carbon impact and to formulate and execute a plan to move their business towards net zero carbon.
The Net Zero Academy will consist of two days spent in the classroom at TD SYNNEX’s offices in Basingstoke and a further day of home or office-based learning and assessment. The course will be accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and delivered by specialist consultancy, Arete Zero Carbon.
Sophia Haywood-Atkinson, business unit director, services, UK, TD SYNNEX, said: “The Net Zero Academy will give channel partners a simple, quick and effective way to acquire the knowledge they need to take ownership of their responsibility to reduce their carbon emissions. It will equip them to make a proper carbon assessment of their own business and set out a realistic plan to reduce emissions – based on recognised industry standards – and move towards net zero.
“That’s increasingly important now as customers are looking much harder at the commitment of their suppliers to sustainability. Regulations and directives such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)1, and the NHS PPN 06/21 directive2, for example, are starting to come into force. Businesses that do not meet these requirements could find themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage.”
Dr Stephen Finnegan, managing director of Arete Zero Carbon, added: “There is a real need for IT channel companies to get an understanding of where they are with respect to their carbon footprint and exactly how far they need to travel to achieve net zero. The three-day course will give them the fundamental knowledge they need to make a good assessment and formulate a plan. It’s something we believe all IT businesses will need to do very soon now. As well as being the right thing to do, it will increasingly make commercial sense.”
While TD SYNNEX and Arete Zero Carbon already offer a full Net Zero Carbon Assessment service to partners, the Net Zero Academy provides a more accessible option. Partners that attend the course will be able to get specialist expert support from TD SYNNEX and Arete as they conduct their assessments and formulate their plans.
Each three-day Net Zero Academy will cover the fundamentals of NZC, including UK and EU policy and regulation, governance and accountability for net zero, and how to build a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory. It will follow the established principles and definitions set out by the GHG protocol for scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions.
Partners will be instructed on how to identify and record emissions factors and activity data and how to develop a Net Zero Decarbonisation Plan with defined targets and reporting methods.
It will explain how partners can apply to be accredited under the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and what to expect when they apply. Options for decarbonisation – in the supply chain, purchasing, transport, waste, and buildings – and best practice and recommendations for carbon offsetting will be explored.
At the end of the course, partners will receive an official IEMA Certificate.
Picture: Sophia Haywood-Atkinson, TD SYNNEX.
Notes
1 – The CSRD is an EU initiative that many or most UK companies are also expected to follow. Any that do business in Europe will be compelled to meet its requirements. From January 2024, large companies listed on EU-based stock markets will need to report regularly on their ESG and will need to include details such as their current scope 1, 2 and 3 impacts. The regulations will be applicable to all companies from the start of 2026.
2 – From April 2023, the NHS has been following the requirements set out by the government’s PPN 06/21 directive. This stipulates that, for every procurement with a value above £5 million per year, the NHS would require the supplier to have a Carbon Reduction Plan in place and be committed to reaching net zero by 2050. From April 2024, a further level has been added to this, requiring that suppliers for contracts with a value of £10,000 or more to have a demonstrable Net Zero Commitment. See https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/carbon-reduction-plan-requirements-for-the-procurement-of-nhs-goods-services-and-works/ for details.