Emissions reporting is simpler than most small businesses expect. You do not need separate meter readings, environmental instruments, or specialist data. Green Project calculates your emissions from your existing spend data, converting it into GHG estimates using industry emission factors and, for energy and fuel, market pricing data. The result is a directional, GHG Protocol-aligned view of your footprint across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
What Data Do You Actually Need?
The minimum data required is already in your existing records. Green Project works from your financial spend data (what you paid for energy, fuel, goods, and services) and converts those figures into emissions estimates. You do not need to supply kWh readings, fuel volumes, or other physical unit data.
Focus on:
Purchases of goods and services: Your main supplier and vendor payments.
Utility payments: Electricity, gas, and similar bills (if paid separately from rent).
Rent: Often includes utilities and common area costs — a single figure covering your share of the building.
Fuel expenses: For any business vehicles.
Business travel costs: Flights, rail, accommodation.
Other operational expenses: Software subscriptions, professional services, office supplies.
Start with your largest expenses first. These typically account for the majority of your emissions and are the easiest to track.
Where to Find Your Spend Data
Most small businesses already have this information in their regular business systems:
Your accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.)
Annual financial statements
Accounts payable records
Purchase orders and invoices
Expense reports
What if Our Record-Keeping Isn’t Perfect?
Yes, you can still report. The goal of emissions reporting is progress, not perfection. Many small businesses worry about gaps in their records, but there are practical solutions:
Use available months to create reasonable estimates for gaps
Document your assumptions clearly
Start with your largest and most consistent expenses
Improve your data collection process over time
What matters most is getting started with the information you have. The system is designed to work with real-world business data. Many businesses find that simply beginning the process helps them identify areas where record-keeping can improve naturally.
Every business starts somewhere, and it’s better to begin with imperfect data than not to begin at all. We’ll help you improve over time.
Making Data Collection Manageable
Focus on what matters most
Not all spending categories are equally significant. Prioritise:
Your largest recurring operational expenses
Utility bills and energy costs
Major supplier relationships
Any fuel or travel spending
Use what you have
You don’t need to create new processes. Export what is already in your accounting system. If you have a finance team member or bookkeeper, they likely have everything needed in one place.
Build over time
Your first submission does not need to be perfect. As you continue reporting, your data quality will improve naturally. The platform supports incremental improvement from year to year.
Remember: Start with your largest expenses first. These typically account for the majority of your emissions and are the easiest to track.