The Scope 3 Podcast

Hosted by Narrative Matters

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Jun 2026

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About the show

A podcast for business leaders looking to discover solutions, insights and best practice to address their Scope 3 emissions.

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52 recent

June 3, 20261 hr 10 min

Ep 52: Why McDonald’s is missing its Scope 3 target, how Haleon is incentivising suppliers, and a chance to meet the team behind carbmee

This week, Ollie, Tom and Dexter unpack a series of major developments across the Scope 3 landscape, from McDonald’s admission that it is unlikely to achieve its 2030 value-chain emissions target, to Electrolux surpassing its science-based targets years ahead of schedule.The conversation also explores AstraZeneca’s Clean Heat programme, for which Ollie was recently interviewed by Forbes, and the growing momentum behind collaborative approaches to industrial heat decarbonisation. They are updates on supplier heat programmes, renewable energy initiatives and new efforts to use collective customer demand to accelerate decarbonisation across major packaging suppliers.The team also tackles a growing issue that many practitioners are quietly wrestling with: data quality. Dexter argues that improved data inevitably leads to re-baselining, and that companies need greater confidence from standard setters that revising historical emissions data should be viewed as progress rather than failure.The first guest this week is Chris Low, Head of Sustainability Procurement and Packaging at Haleon and the recently crowned Scope 3 Peer of the Year.Chris provides an update on one of the most ambitious supplier decarbonisation programmes currently underway. He explains how Haleon’s REV initiative is designed to source renewable electricity across its wider value chain, reaching beyond direct suppliers into tier two, three and four suppliers. By combining renewable energy procurement, tax credit mechanisms and market-based instruments, Haleon hopes to reduce supply chain emissions while creating a positive business case rather than additional cost.Chris also chats through the challenge of maintaining supplier engagement at scale, the role of internal carbon pricing, and a new approach that shifts supplier engagement from ‘asks’ to ‘deals’. Rather than simply requesting emissions reductions, Haleon is exploring commercial arrangements where future business growth, contract commitments and demand signals are directly linked to supplier decarbonisation actions.In the second half of the show, Tom speaks with Professor Christian Heinrich, Co-Founder of carbmee.Unlike many climate technology founders, Christian’s background is in procurement, supply chain planning and enterprise software rather than sustainability. He explains why that perspective led carbmee to focus on operational integration rather than standalone carbon dashboards.The discussion examines why supplier engagement remains one of the biggest bottlenecks in Scope 3 programmes, why questionnaire-led approaches often fail to scale, and why procurement teams need better visibility into supplier emissions before meaningful conversations can take place.Christian also shares his views on primary data, activity-based accounting and the challenges of creating genuinely useful product carbon footprints. He argues that many organisations underestimate the complexity of supplier engagement and that accurate activity-based emissions data is becoming increasingly important not only for climate reporting but also for regulations such as CBAM, EUDR and packaging legislation.References mentioned during the episode include:McDonald’s announcement that it is unlikely to achieve its 2030 Scope 3 emissions target.Electrolux surpassing its 2030 science-based climate targets ahead of schedule.Forbes coverage of AstraZeneca's Clean Heat programme.Haleon’s Renewable Energy in the Value Chain (REV) approach.The Scope 3 Peer Group Tools Intelligence Report.WRAP's updated Scope 3 greenhouse gas reporting guidance, discussed on Footprint’s Small Print podcast featuring Hamish Forbes.🎧It’s another packed episode. Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

May 20, 20261 hr 33 min

Ep 51: Suntory and VELA

This time, Ollie, Tom and Dexter get into the messy, fast-moving world of Scope 3 tools – and what the new Scope 3 Tools Intelligence Report reveals about buyers, vendors and the reality behind the dashboards.Nick Donoghue, the brains behind Scope3Navigator.com and the analysis for the report, joins the show to unpack what Scope 3 practitioners are really saying: why big RFPs often miss the point, why most large businesses are still using multiple tools, why data still does not flow properly between systems, and why price is only one part of the real cost of implementation.The group also digs into AI, chatbots replacing dashboards, consolidation, product-level data, and why sustainability software cannot be sold like ordinary SaaS.Then, Ollie sits down with Laura Santiago Subero and Aurélie Fidalgo from Suntory to talk about Scope 3 from inside a major global drinks business. It’s a practical conversation about procurement, supplier maturity, internal collaboration and how Suntory is building supplier engagement across ingredients, glass, packaging, logistics, regenerative agriculture and more. The pair explain how they are building bridges between sustainability and procurement, why they use “maturity mountain” models with suppliers, and why Scope 3 tools need to be simple, standardised and scalable if they are going to work in the real world.Finally, Tom speaks to Michael Fernandez-Ferri, co-founder of VELA, about wind-powered freight and why the future of shipping might borrow more from ocean racing than container shipping. Michael explains why VELA is building a modern sailing cargo trimaran, how it aims to sit between air freight and sea freight, why pharma, luxury, cosmetics, wine and spirits are early target markets, and how wind, solar, hydrogen and green refrigerated holds could help move high-value goods across the Atlantic with far lower emissions.🎧 It’s another packed episode. Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

May 6, 20261 hr 11 min

Ep 50: Williams F1 and Neutreeno

This episode features two very different conversations, but both land on the same core question: how do companies actually make Scope 3 decisions in the real world when cost, speed, suppliers, engineering, data quality, and commercial pressure all collide?First up, Ollie speaks with Amanda Martins, Head of Sustainability at Williams F1 Racing. Amanda brings a procurement and supply chain mindset into sustainability – and it completely changes the conversation. Instead of focusing purely on frameworks and reporting, she talks about supplier maturity, operational decision-making, multidisciplinary teams, and why sustainability teams need to add value rather than create noise.The discussion explores:What Scope 3 looks like inside a Formula 1 teamWhy procurement professionals are often best placed to drive decarbonisationThe challenge of forecasting emissions in a hyper-fast-moving environmentSupplier engagement in highly competitive and IP-sensitive industriesBuilding teams capable of turning sustainability ambition into executionWhy ‘getting sh*t done’ matters more than sustainability theatreThen, Tom sits down with Spencer Brennan, founder and CEO of Neutreeno, a Cambridge spinout using engineering intelligence to help companies reduce emissions and costs simultaneously. Spencer explains why industrial decarbonisation is being held back by a focus on reporting over action, and introduces the idea of “action-grade data”: information that is credible, scalable, and good enough to make real operational decisions quickly.That conversation covers:Why Scope 3 has become stuck as a reporting exerciseThe tension between speed and accuracy in emissions dataThe risks and limitations of AI-generated emissions modellingHow manufacturers can reduce emissions through material and energy efficiencyWhy supplier engagement still remains one of the biggest blockersThe commercial case for decarbonisation through performance, resilience, and cost reductionElsewhere in the episode:Roee Goldberg from Atmospheric AI joins the show to discuss the Strait of Hormuz crisis and what it reveals about supply chain transparency, petrochemical pricing, resilience, and procurement intelligence. He has produced a fascinating paper on the subject, which is available here Ollie, Tom, and Dexter unpack the proposed GHG Protocol changes – and what a 95% Scope 3 reporting requirement could mean in practiceThe team also discuss the launch of the latest Scope 3 Tools Intelligence report, including the explosion of platforms, AI-driven risk tools, and the growing challenge of navigating the marketIf you work in procurement, sustainability, supply chain, carbon accounting, supplier engagement, or industrial decarbonisation – this episode is jam-packed with practical insight, honest discussion, and plenty of opinions.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

April 22, 20261 hr 2 min

Ep 49: $20k for Scope 3? Not even close. Plus, insights from WAP Sustainability

In this episode, Ollie, Tom and Dexter unpack a rapidly shifting landscape – from regulation and standards to the reality of making Scope 3 actually work in practice.They start by exploring what’s happening across the Scope 3 market right now:why regulation like CBAM – the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – is starting to force real change and drive demand for primary datawhat the latest GHG Protocol updates mean in practice, including the push for 95% coverage and better data qualitythe emergence of new frameworks like the AIM Platform and what they signal about how companies will account for “real world” decarbonisation actions the wave of market consolidation, including major moves from Makersite, SiGreen and Carbon Maps, as the tools landscape begins to matureThey also reflect on new research showing a growing gap: companies are broadly on track for Scope 1 and 2, but still significantly off track on Scope 3 – with 2030 targets fast approaching.Then, it’s time to revisit the controversial figures coming out of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which suggest Scope 3 reporting could cost as little as $8,000-$20,000. The team dig into why those numbers don’t stack up in the real world, what might be driving them politically, and the risk of oversimplifying what Scope 3 really involves once companies move beyond basic reporting.Ollie catches up with environmental lawyer and former Navistar sustainability leader Chris Perzan, who gives a grounded, insider view of what’s really happening behind the CARB proposals. They explore how California has effectively become the centre of gravity for Scope 3 regulation in the US, why translating voluntary standards like the GHG Protocol into enforceable rules is so difficult, and the risk that companies default to easier, less accurate approaches like spend-based data. Chris also shares his perspective on the wider regulatory upheaval in the US, including major rollbacks in federal climate policy and what that could mean for companies trying to plan and hit their targets.In the second half, Tom sits down with William Paddock, founder of WAP Sustainability, for a deep dive into the reality of Scope 3 execution. This is a conversation about what actually breaks once companies move from reporting to action. William explains why “lower carbon” purchasing decisions often fail to show up in Scope 3 numbers, how disconnected tools and methodologies are creating confusion, and why he sees Scope 3 fundamentally as a data and structure problem.They get into the practicalities of supplier engagement – why most emissions sit with a relatively small number of suppliers, why companies underestimate how much data already exists, and why simply asking for it is often the biggest unlock. The discussion also challenges some of the prevailing narratives in sustainability, arguing that real progress often comes not from big, headline-grabbing innovations, but from better data, better accounting, and smarter procurement decisions.It’s another wide-ranging episode that moves from policy to practice, from theory to execution – and ultimately asks what it will take to turn Scope 3 from a reporting exercise into something that genuinely drives change.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

April 8, 20261 hr 26 min

Ep 48: The Warehouse Group, PACT and RESET Carbon

Ollie (broken rib et al), Tom and Dexter open episode 48 with a discussion on new developments from the California Air Resources Board around the Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act. A key point of debate is the estimated cost of Scope 3 reporting, quoted at $8,000–$20,000, which the hosts suggest is likely understated and politically positioned to help legislation pass. It’s a chat that highlights the wide gap between basic reporting approaches and the far more resource-intensive work of supplier engagement and emissions reduction, alongside growing demand for clearer business cases tied to cost savings and resilience.Then, Izzy Farnsworth senior associate at PACT, joins the studio to introduce a new white paper focused on how companies can actually use product carbon footprint data. Rather than focusing on calculation, the work addresses the practical challenge of applying uneven, incomplete supplier data. The key shift is from asking whether data is ‘high quality’ to whether it’s ‘fit for purpose’, helping companies make better decisions with imperfect inputs. The white paper is being piloted throughout 2026, with the aim of embedding this approach into PACT’s methodology and broader infrastructure, which enables standardised exchange of product-level emissions data across supply chains.Phil Cumming then shares his perspective from leading sustainability at The Warehouse Group in New Zealand, drawing on a career that spans the London 2012 Olympics, Kingfisher and Marks & Spencer. He describes how around 90 percent of the company’s impact sits in the supply chain and outlines practical steps being taken, including a supplier carbon engagement programme covering around 300 suppliers and a sustainability-linked supply chain finance initiative with HSBC to incentivise action. He also reflects on New Zealand’s evolving regulatory landscape and the growing importance of peer collaboration, particularly in regions where capability gaps remain.A central theme of Phil’s interview is that many of the core challenges haven’t fundamentally changed. Supplier engagement remains the top priority, but there is still a lack of consensus on data, tools and methodologies. He argues that progress will not come from solution providers alone, but from peers working together to define shared principles and reduce fragmentation across the market.The episode then shifts to Liam Salter, CEO of RESET Carbon, which is part of the LRQA group, a leading global assurance provider operating in over 150 countries. He focuses on what it actually takes to deliver decarbonisation inside supply chains across Asia. He explains that many companies arrive with ambitious targets but no clear plan, and that the biggest barrier is often the absence of a compelling commercial value proposition for suppliers. Without clear incentives linked to business outcomes, suppliers are unlikely to prioritise investment, even where returns are positive.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

March 25, 20261 hr 16 min

Ep 47: Howorth Group and Carbon Maps

This episode pulls together two sides of the same story – the people asking for change in supply chains, and the people actually being asked to deliver it.Ollie, Tom and Dexter kick things off with a sharp reality check on why this work matters right now. With energy markets swinging wildly and geopolitical shocks rippling through global supply chains, the conversation shifts from long-term targets to immediate business risk – and the uncomfortable truth that most of that risk sits far beyond your own operations.From there, the episode splits into two perspectives:What does this actually look like when you’re a supplier on the receiving end of all those requests? Ollie chats to John Hale, Chief People and Excellence Officer at Howorth Group, who gives a refreshingly honest account of what it takes for an SME to step into this space – without a sustainability team, without endless resources, and often without a clear roadmap.A few standout themes:The shift from ‘doing the right thing’ to embedding it into core business strategyThe reality of being asked for more and more data – and figuring it out as you goWhy SMEs are still underrepresented in the conversation (and why that matters)The importance of human engagement over endless surveysAnd a brutally practical truth: most suppliers are still just trying to make it work with what they’ve gotThere’s also a clear message for large organisations: If you want better data and faster progress, simplify the ask, align with peers, and invest in real supplier relationships, not just platforms.The second half goes deep into a different challenge: even when you have the data… are you actually using it to change anything? Tom chats to Patrick Asdaghi, CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon Maps, who makes it clear – reporting isn’t the problem anymore. The real unlock is making environmental data granular enough to reflect real supply chains, operational enough to influence procurement and R&D, and ultimately, important enough to sit alongside cost in decision-making.We explore:Why most tools stop at reporting – and why that’s not enoughHow product-level modelling reveals opportunities you simply can’t see otherwiseWhat happens when you treat environmental impact like a financial variableAnd why the future might look a lot like nutrition labels, but for environmental impactThe big idea: The companies that win won’t just measure impact – they’ll design it out of their products and supply chains.Links & mentionsCarbon MapsClean Heat ProgramDexter Galvin’s analysis on energy risk in supply chains.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

March 11, 20261 hr 25 min

Ep 46: VITA Group and Foodsteps

Fresh from his time on the slopes, Dexter is back with his fellow hosts Ollie and Tom to explore how businesses are moving from measurement to real transformation across their value chains.First, Ollie speaks with the team at The Vita Group, a global manufacturer of polyurethane foam used in everything from mattresses to car seats. Natalie Watson (Group Director of Sustainability), Georgie Taylor (Group Sustainability Manager) and Mike Murray (Global Leader in Sustainable Innovation) share how sustainability, procurement and innovation teams are working together to rethink materials, redesign products and build circular supply chains. The conversation reveals how data, supplier partnerships and bold innovation can turn environmental challenges into commercial opportunities.Then, Tom speaks with Anya Doherty, founder and CEO of Foodsteps, about how better environmental data can transform decision-making in the food industry. From ingredient-level analysis to supplier engagement, Food Steps is helping major food companies understand the impact of what they produce – and how small changes in recipes and sourcing can deliver significant reductions.Elsewhere on the episode, there’s chatter about:Why data quality is becoming critical as sustainability budgets face scrutinyThe growing importance of supplier engagement and product-level insightsDebates around product footprinting and why some practitioners are pushing back on criticism of PCFsNew initiatives helping suppliers learn how to calculate product footprintsOh, and why the popularity of the Scope 3 Podcast is on a par with niche hobbyist favourite, The Caving Podcast.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

February 25, 20261 hr 9 min

Ep 45: STARK Group and Perennial

This time on the Scope 3 Podcast:🔹 Rikke Christensen, director of sustainable sourcing at STARK Group on what real supplier engagement looks like when you stop talking about it and actually bring suppliers into the room. From pharma to construction, Rikke shares 12 years of Scope 3 lessons, including:why she once hated carbon footprintshow to find the right person inside a supplierwhy procurement + sales + sustainability need to be on the same call🔹 Jack Roswell, co-founder and CEO at Perennial on measuring soil carbon properly. We talk MRV, digital soil mapping, removals vs abatement, the Land Sector Removal Standard (LSRS), and Perennial’s work with Vital Farms, Bayer and Verra’s Scope 3 pilot.Plus, Ollie and Tom (sans Dexter this time, as he’s hit the slopes with the family) chat:Worldly’s expansion into CPGDitch Carbon’s new tool, climatemate.ioFCA proposals on Scope 3 reportingInvestor scrutiny of carbon dataIf you work in Scope 3, food, agriculture, construction, or supplier engagement – this one’s packed with specifics.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

February 11, 20261 hr 29 min

Ep 44: What happened at the London Scope 3 Strategy Days

Recorded live at the 2026 Scope 3 Peer Group Strategy Days in London, this episode is all about action.Ollie, Tom and Dexter reflect on all the big moments, presentations, stories and insights. We hear from some of the people actually getting things done inside large organisations – from renewable electricity deals and supplier engagement to commercial innovation and tough procurement calls.Peer of the Year, Chris Low from Haleon shares how market-based mechanisms could drive serious emissions reductions at scale. Willem Mutsaerts from Givaudan talks about why aligning procurement and sustainability under one leader changes everything. Amazing Scope 3-ers from Mars, AstraZeneca, NatWest and others unpack what’s working – and where it’s still hard.And in a wide-ranging conversation with Lewis Howard, co-founder of Brae, we explore why procurement shouldn’t be turned into climate scientists; how to translate sustainability into negotiation tactics; and why the next five years will be about implementation, not target-settingThere’s a big theme running through this episode: courage. Courage to move before everything is perfect. Courage to tie decarbonisation to commercial value. Courage to challenge suppliers – and sometimes walk away.Plus:Why renewable energy keeps coming up as the obvious leverWhether product carbon footprints are worth the effortHow tools and AI are reshaping the marketAnd what it will take to bring the “middle tier” up to the level of the leadersFor those of you who made it to London, you’re going to love this episode. For everybody else, this is your chance to check on who’s leading the Scope 3 charge, why, how and what you can do to keep up.🎧 Enjoy. And remember: all of our previous episodes are available online at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast.

January 28, 20261 hr 9 min

Ep 43: Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative and Electricity Maps

In this episode of the Scope 3 Podcast, Ollie, Tom and Dexter take stock of where Scope 3 really is right now – what’s changed, what hasn’t, and why many organisations feel a growing pressure to move from counting emissions to actually cutting them.Drawing on fresh insight from the Scope 3 Peer Group, the conversation explores how expectations are shifting: away from data foundations and broad supplier engagement, and towards targeted action, business cases, and measurable reductions embedded in procurement.Together, they cover:Why turning data into supplier action has overtaken data collection as the number one challengeWhat’s changed in the last 12 monthsThe move from involving procurement to expecting procurement to own Scope 3 deliveryWhy business cases now matter more than case studiesHow credibility, proof of reductions and standards confusion are shaping decision-makingWhy 2026 is shaping up to be the year of 'less counting, more cutting'Then, Ollie is joined by Bridget Ferrari from Takeda and Devin Carsdale from Bristol Myers Squibb to go inside the work of the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI).They explore what large-scale collaboration actually looks like in practice, including:How pharma companies are aligning around common asks without overwhelming suppliersWhat it really takes to run collective decarbonisation programmes at scaleWhy maturity-based supplier engagement mattersHow commercial signals – contracts, incentives and procurement leadership – drive changeFinally, Tom is joined by the brilliant Olivier Corradi, founder of Electricity Maps, to explore how electricity data is reshaping climate action.They discuss:Why annual averages hide the real impact of electricity emissionsHow hourly, location-based data changes decisions and enables real reductionsThe role electricity plays in both Scope 2 and Scope 3 – especially through cloud, data and digital servicesHow companies like Google are using electricity data to shift load, reduce emissions and cut costsWhy the energy transition is simpler than we often make it – at least up to 70–80% renewablesEnjoy. And remember: all episodes are available at www.scope3peergroup.com/podcast