London Climate Action Week opened on June 23rd 2025. This marked the launch of the public consultation for the The UK SME Voluntary Emissions Standard by B4NZ and The Broadway Initiative.
Blue Patch has joined this Government-funded taskforce and will participate in phase 2, working under the umbrella of Bankers 4 Net Zero.
What has the taskforce been set up to achieve?
UK SMEs face complex demands as sustainability data requests are increasingly being requested by corporates and financial institutions.
This is further complicated by the many contradictory ways for small businesses to report both their GHG emissions and sustainability impacts.
Meanwhile customers across industry, finance, and Government procurement processes need the data.
With no agreed standard, the reliability and comparability of SME data is having a negative impact on their sustainability reporting and green finance initiatives.
The Bankers 4 Net Zero propose a unified approach ensuring SME data is accurate, comparable, and compatible with larger corporate and regulatory requirements.
Now we must seek a coordinated and consistent approach to SME sustainability attributes that are driven by not only what major corporates and financial institutions are asking for, but also by the data that SMEs can provide.
Blue Patch is delighted to have joined the Bankers 4 Net Zero taskforce to represent the UK’s small and micro-enterprises. SMEs represent 99% of the economy and carbon emissions from this sector represent 50% of business emissions – we have work to do!
How Blue Patch contributes
Blue Patch is onboarding SMEs to the net zero pathway, using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, smart meters and common sense. We do this through our CO2 Reduction course.
We have created a Patron group for Blue Patch. Larger companies and individuals kindly contribute toward courses and resources for micro and small businesses, enabling us to continually expand and improve educational support for all UK SMEs.
Net Zero Innovation
There are many exciting innovations in the B4NZ world from Perseus and Icebreaker One to Carbon Commons. We’re keen to be at the cutting edge of carbon accounting and able to test and feedback because we want SMEs, no matter their size, engaging in carbon reduction – every action counts!
Perseus will help unlock access to finance that reduces emissions faster by automating sustainability reporting for every SME business in the UK. Perseus will make it easy to share accurate, assurable data that sits behind emissions calculations to enable better analysis, action and impact.
Perseus
Carbon Commons is a step-change in global supply chain carbon accounting. Using the financial accounts that all companies already have available, it will make carbon accounting accessible, transparent, and for the first time, comparable for companies across all supply chains, allowing a supplier’s emissions to be accounted for in their customer’s emissions.
Carbon Commons
Momentum is building around SME emissions reporting in the UK
Blue Patch will be launching our Voluntary Emissions Standard test cohorts. We’ll bring you updates as the front line of carbon accounting unfolds.
If you would like to join our test cohort please contact team@bluepatch.org
