Background
Sustainability is no longer optional for most businesses
Sustainable X helps businesses build sustainability strategies they can stand behind — from carbon footprints and reduction plans to ESG reporting and net zero roadmaps. The reasons businesses come to Sustainable X look very different now than they did when the company first started.
“Six years ago, clients came to us because they wanted to do the right thing. Now, most come because a customer is asking or because regulation is making them. Either way, you can't lead on sustainability without first understanding your carbon footprint.” Nick Reilly
The problem
Spreadsheets work until they don't
For most sustainability consultants, spreadsheets are where the work starts. They're flexible, familiar, and for straightforward engagements (a single site with a handful of Scope 3 categories) they do the job. Sustainable X was no different. They'd built their own, they knew how it worked and it served them well.
They'd tried carbon management platforms in the past, but they were often painful to use, inflexible on outputs and slow to respond when something needed changing. So they kept going back to the spreadsheet.
“It was a pain to put in and a pain to get out. So you go back to your spreadsheet, because you've built that and you know it works.” Nick Reilly
But the cracks start to show when the work gets complex. Multiple sites, full Scope 3, data coming from every direction — at that point, the same tool that served you well becomes the biggest source of risk.
“I believe in my spreadsheet. But once you've got multiple sites, complex Scope 3 categories, and data sources from every direction, your spreadsheet becomes a liability.” Nick Reilly
Further reading: Why sustainability consultants are ditching spreadsheets
Why TrackZero
A carbon reporting platform that knows its place
A large food sector business with multiple sites made the decision for them. The engagement was a complex one, with refrigerant gases, upstream transportation, purchased goods and services, and a specialist agricultural database for food-related materials. Data was coming from every direction, and the client wanted visibility and auditability across it all, with an eye on potential audit scrutiny down the line. A spreadsheet wasn't going to do that.
Nick chose TrackZero for three reasons: the relationship with the TrackZero team, who he came to know, like and trust quickly; the flexibility to change things without requests disappearing into a development pipeline; and something less obvious — TrackZero is a carbon reporting platform built for consultants, not in competition with them.
“On the technical side, you guys know what you're doing. You're not consultants yourselves, and you're quite strong on that.” Nick Reilly
For a consultant, that matters. It means TrackZero handles the infrastructure (data collection, emission factors, auditability) while the consultant keeps the relationship and expertise.
“The big thing was knowing that if something came up, you'd work through it with us. That openness is important.” Nick Reilly
The platform itself also suited Nick's way of thinking. Most carbon platforms lock you into a single route through the data, question by question, screen by screen, until you arrive at a number you can't easily interrogate. TrackZero works differently. You can move directly between the data entry interface and the underlying ledger, jumping straight to a specific figure without navigating through every layer. For an ISEP practitioner who wants to see exactly what's driving a number (and be able to explain it to a client or an auditor), that matters.
Outcome
Oversight and visibility
TrackZero also gave Sustainable X a single place to manage the entire engagement — data collection, emission factor updates, and a live ledger they could examine at any point. With multiple sites and data sources in play, that oversight was essential.
For the client, it also meant visibility they'd never had before. Rather than waiting for a consultant to send a spreadsheet, they could log in, see exactly what had been submitted, which emission factors had been applied, and where gaps still existed. Their supply chain partners could be invited directly into the platform to submit data themselves, too, giving the client a live picture of their footprint as it developed.
What's next
Built for where carbon work is heading
Sustainable X works with a number of NHS supply chain clients. From April 2027, many suppliers bidding for NHS contracts must comply with the revised NHS carbon reduction plan requirements, reporting on all relevant Scope 3 emissions. At the same time, Sustainable X is pushing into UK SRS and climate risk: larger clients, more complex carbon work, and a regulatory driver that doesn't depend on a customer asking.
For both, the carbon work is getting harder to do credibly without the right infrastructure.
“Once assurance enters the picture, a spreadsheet stops being enough. You need to be able to show your working, and stand behind it. TrackZero gives you the infrastructure to do the work properly, without getting in your way.” Nick Reilly
Learn more about SRS platform reporting
Sustainable X works with businesses across the UK to develop credible sustainability strategies, carbon reduction plans, and ESG reporting. Find out how TrackZero supports sustainability consultants at trackzero.eco/solutions/consultancy.
