PJ Ryan Head
ESG, Construction Industry Federation
A new tool, backed by CIF, is helping Irish construction companies, particularly small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), take the first steps toward credible carbon reporting.
The Scope 3 challenge
As Ireland accelerates efforts to deliver sustainable infrastructure, understanding and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have become essential. For the construction sector, this means addressing Scope 3 emissions — the indirect emissions associated with purchased goods, transportation, waste and supply chains. These typically account for 80% or more of a company’s total carbon footprint. However, until recently, there was no practical way for SMEs to accurately and consistently track these emissions.
An industry-ready solution
The CIF Carbon Calculator — developed in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School — is now helping to close that gap. Tailored to the Irish construction sector, the tool allows businesses to estimate their carbon footprint using standardised methodologies. Unlike spend-based methods, which often rely on generic economic data, this tool enables activity-based assessments, improving accuracy and transparency.
The calculator reduces administrative burden,
encourages collaboration and builds a
common language around carbon.
It’s already making a difference: over 200 organisations have already signed up, with more expected as public and private sector clients begin mandating Scope 3 reporting. It also supports alignment with the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) requirements, particularly under the new voluntary standard for SMEs (VSME), offering a scalable and auditable approach to Scope 3 carbon accounting.
Driving collective impact
CIF’s goal is not just to support individual firms but to elevate the sector as a whole. The calculator reduces administrative burden, encourages collaboration and builds a common language around carbon. For many SMEs, it removes the intimidation factor of climate reporting and provides a first, vital step on the path to sustainability.
This isn’t just a compliance exercise; it’s a critical enabler of collective climate action. With shared tools, consistent data and growing participation, the Irish construction sector is now better positioned to lead on sustainable infrastructure delivery.
