Getlink – scope 3 carbon footprint

January 17, 2024

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  • I appreciated the attention and flexibility shown by the Needl consultants involved in the project to meet our needs. A smooth, trust-based relationship was established, as a natural extension of our internal team.
    Vincent Ducros - Group CSR Director - Getlink

Context & Challenges

Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel and related infrastructure services, publishes an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory to comply with regulatory requirements, including the upcoming CSRD. Since 2019, the group has reported on Scopes 1, 2, and 3. However, the company sought to refine its Scope 3 assessment, particularly for categories such as purchased goods and capital goods. The main challenge was to improve data quality and calculation accuracy while ensuring full traceability and alignment with its decarbonization trajectory.

  • Sector: Transport & Infrastructure

  • Activity: Operator of the Channel Tunnel and related infrastructure services

  • Number of employees: ~3,600

  • Revenues: ~€1.8 bn (2023)

Approach & Methodology

Needl mobilized a team of carbon accounting experts to provide operational support through a structured methodology:

Scope 3 category refinement

Step 1

Detailed analysis of material categories, with improved data collection processes and updated emission factors

Data management

Step 2

Establishment of a consistent framework for sourcing, validating, and consolidating supplier and procurement data

Methodology alignment

Step 3

Ensuring consistency with recognized standards (GHG Protocol, ADEME) and integration with CSRD requirements

Strategic integration

Step 4

Linking Scope 3 results with the group’s broader decarbonization trajectory and long-term sustainability roadmap

Key Success Factors


  • Strong expertise in carbon accounting and CSRD compliance

  • Robust methodology combining data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory alignment

  • Close collaboration between Needl experts and Getlink’s sustainability and procurement teams

Results & Impacts


  • Produced a refined Scope 3 carbon footprint with improved accuracy and granularity

  • Strengthened traceability and transparency of carbon data across key categories

  • Enhanced compliance readiness for CSRD reporting

  • Provided a replicable methodological framework, enabling continuous improvement in future reporting cycles

  • Supported alignment between operational reporting and the group’s decarbonization strategy