Impact Data Solutions (IDS) is a specialist provider of data centre and colocation installation services based in Fleet, Hampshire. With a strong focus on renewable energy sourcing, circularity, and responsible procurement of metals, IDS demonstrates sustainability leadership in an industry where good stewardship of energy and materials really matters.
IDS approached us in early 2024 for support in complying with an important customer’s supplier emissions disclosure requirements, a new set of reporting obligations set out by the customer in their Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure transparency and due diligence in their journey to carbon negative operations.
This was a multi-stranded project that included, as a first step, review and assurance of 2019 baseline year emissions using the ISO 14064-3 standard for the verification of GHG statements. In parallel, we supported IDS in collecting emissions source data for the most recent complete year, which we then used to calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions for 2023.
One novel aspect of this project was the requirement, as per the customer’s guidance, for Service-Level Accounting (SLA) of emissions using a reference unit other than cost. The intent of this approach is to link emissions to resources used specifically to deliver services to the customer, for example full-time employees, hours, or gigabytes of data. This in turn helps the customer calculate and communicate their Scope 3 emissions in detail and surface opportunities for meaningful actions in their large and complex supply chain.
Supported by our independent third-party assurance of 2019 emissions, our consultant letter statement of 2023 emissions, and full calculation of SLA emissions, IDS made their submission to the customer’s Supplier Portal by the end of July deadline. In November we were delighted to hear from the team that their submission had been approved as compliant with the customer’s requirements: a well-deserved success!
We were also pleased to have the opportunity to present project outcomes to senior leadership at IDS and discuss activities and plans around topics such as responsible metal sourcing as well as opportunities to decarbonise further by prioritising renewable energy.
It was a pleasure working with Rachel, Jasvinder, and the wider team at IDS on this project and we look forward to hearing more exciting news about their ongoing commitment to supply chain transparency, emissions management, and reducing the environmental impacts of the data centre industry.
