Supply Chain Net Zero Tool
A web app that measures Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions across supply chains, turning a complex spreadsheet model into a clear, interactive tool.
| Client | Aklimate |
|---|---|
| UN SDGs | 07 Affordable And Clean Energy 09 Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure 13 Climate Action |
| Impact | United Kingdom |
| Technologies | PHP, MySQL |
01 Introduction
Aklimate, an early-stage startup tackling carbon emissions in enterprise supply chains, came to us wanting a working tool to demonstrate their ideas to potential customers and investors. The job was to turn their existing Excel calculations into an easy-to-use web app that could calculate and visualise carbon emissions on a subscription basis.
Aklimate (previously Club Zero) was founded by two entrepreneurs with a vision for addressing carbon emissions in enterprise value chains. They had already refreshed their brand and built out their emissions calculations in spreadsheets, but they needed something more robust and interactive to put in front of stakeholders.
Turning spreadsheets into web applications is one of our strengths, which made us a good fit. The work involved mapping out all the options, variations, and conditional settings needed to create a tool that someone with little knowledge of carbon emissions or offsetting could pick up and use.
02 The Project
The main goal was a web app that could clearly demonstrate Aklimate's emissions calculation method to customers and investors. It also needed to scale — supporting wider teams, storing historical data, and letting users visualise and compare results over time.
The scope grew beyond the original subscription model to include team collaboration, historical data analysis, and visual reporting. We set up a shared visual workspace where both teams could meet remotely to exchange ideas and work on the app's design and functionality together.
We gave careful thought to design and user experience, drawing on our UI/UX expertise. We prototyped using a collaborative design tool, building in what we learned from calculation and mapping workshops, and produced a fully working prototype so we could test usability and accessibility thoroughly.
Given the tight timeline, we focused on delivering a minimum viable product (MVP) as quickly as possible. We used a common PHP framework and adapted existing packages to meet Aklimate's specific needs. This prioritised speed; in an ideal world with more time, we'd have preferred a JavaScript framework for the longer term.
Aklimate's platform set out to tackle the 80% of enterprise emissions that sit within supply chains. It gave procurement teams a way to engage thousands of suppliers, measure their carbon footprints, and put reduction initiatives in place — gathering data from suppliers and giving teams practical tools for decarbonisation.
After working with us, Aklimate brought on a third founder and built an internal development team. They became active at industry events like the ClimateTech Council and Tech Zero, and earned a place on the Plug and Play Supply Chain & Logistics list. Most notably, they secured backing from Y Combinator, the accelerator behind companies like Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox.
Once data entry is complete, users see their calculated carbon footprint at a glance - here, 345 tonnes CO₂e. The screen confirms their progress, locks responses to preserve data integrity, and invites them to proceed to the results and analysis stage.
The Aklimate dashboard greets users by name and presents three clear decarbonisation pathways - 1.5°C Reduction, Carbon Neutral, and Net Zero. Each option lays out exactly what's included, from certification and emission breakdowns to expert advice and accreditation, so users can choose the route that fits their ambition before getting started.
03 Conclusion
Our work with Aklimate delivered a web app that clearly showcased their approach to supply chain emissions. The MVP gave them a tangible, demonstrable tool for engaging customers and investors, and their subsequent investment from Y Combinator and presence at major industry events set them up for fast growth and greater impact.
The project surfaced some useful lessons. Excel's limits for complex calculations made the case for a more robust, scalable solution. Rapid prototyping and constant collaboration kept stakeholders and the development team aligned. And it underlined the value of making long-term technology choices with scalability in mind.
Shortly after working with us, Aklimate was joined by a third founder, who helped build their internal development team. They've also been highly active at the ClimateTech Council, Tech Zero, and made the Plug and Play Supply Chain & Logistics list.
The biggest news is that Aklimate has been backed by Y Combinator — the world's leading startup accelerator, behind the likes of Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Coinbase, and Reddit. With that support, they have the ambition to scale up their impact dramatically.
