Two buyers' carbon tools gave us different figures from the same data. Which is right?
Usually both are correct for their own settings. Differences come from emission factors, the year of the grid factor, allocation rules and what is included. Compare the inputs line by line, then give both buyers the same base data with your chosen factors stated.
Common causes
- Different grid factor or year.
- Fuel defaults by mass or by energy.
- Inclusion of transport or upstream fuel.
What to do
Pick one set of factors, document it, and ask each buyer whether you may use it.
Record
Keep the inputs and outputs from each tool so differences can be explained later.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads bills, fuel invoices and production records into dated, fingerprinted records, so the figure you send a buyer can be traced to its documents.
Sources: GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard
Last reviewed 2026-10-22.