Enabling transparent, trusted supply chain carbon data for better decision-making
The challenge
Supply chains typically account for 75% + of company emissions, yet current methods of carbon reporting are incomplete, inconsistent, and non-comparable.
The implications of this are far-reaching with regulators, banks, corporates, and governments unable to make reliable decisions due to lack of coherent data.
The solution
To address this, Icebreaker One is working with Carbon Commons to develop its governance, bringing together stakeholders to fix the fundamental flaws in supply chain carbon accounting.
Carbon Carbons will create the first transparent, unified, and fit-for-purpose dataset of combined emissions factors, governed independently and available globally.
“Carbon Commons will address this fundamental problem by setting a common and open standard for carbon accounting so that the level of emissions from different products and companies can finally be compared and used by different companies as products travel across a supply chain” – Small World Consulting
For the first time, emissions factors will be compatible with other products, services and organisations, and with a transparent methodology that combines (hybridises) the best of the two main carbon accounting approaches: the specificity of detailed life cycle assessments (LCAs) and the coverage of environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) analysis.
Our approach
Icebreaker One’s work in the initiative includes providing governance, trust services and Scheme infrastructure for data sharing, building on the experience of Perseus (SME finance & emissions), Orion (carbon reporting) and related programmes.
- Governance: Steering, advisory, and working groups to ensure neutrality, assurable rules, and pre-competitive collaboration
- Trust services: Licensing, assurance, registry, and audit mechanisms that make data flows lawful, rights-based, and scalable
- Membership network: Linking Carbon Commons into wider cross-sector initiatives (finance, energy, property, water) and creating pathways for adoption in standards, regulation, and markets
Steering group
Join the new Carbon Commons Steering Group — expressions of interest are now open
Our upcoming Steering Group meetings will take place on:
- 18th November 11am-1pm
- 15th December 11.30am-1.30pm