UK businesses “ill-prepared or ill-equipped” to calculate, record and report emissions from their fleet vehicles

• New study shows many businesses still use spreadsheets and paper-based processes to monitor their fleet emissions
• Some fleet managers admit they don’t have the tools they need, while others say their business doesn’t plan to invest
• Alphabet calls the study a ‘wake-up call’ for the whole fleet sector 

5 June 2025, Farnborough, UK: Businesses in the UK are not equipped to calculate, capture, and report their fleet emissions, a new study* from business mobility provider Alphabet (GB) has found.

More than a third (38%) of fleet managers said they still use simple spreadsheets, such as Microsoft Excel or even paper, to record the emissions of their fleet. A further 8% admitted that they don’t calculate emissions at all.

Crucially, less than a fifth (18%) believe their business has the tools it needs to help calculate and report its fleet emissions, while one in eight (12%) said they have no plans to invest in new technology or software to help.

The first results from the research have been announced to coincide with World Environment Day. They have sparked a call for the Government to provide more clarity on what businesses need to do.

In response to the findings, Ian Turner, Chief Sales Officer at Alphabet (GB), said: “Our study reveals that a large number of UK businesses are either ill-prepared or ill-equipped when it comes to calculating, recording and reporting their vehicle emissions.

“A significant number have acknowledged their uncertainty about what actions they need to take, and when, and what carbon manager tools are available to ensure they remain compliant with new legislation,” he added.

Alphabet’s research also uncovered significant disparities in fleet managers’ knowledge and use of the latest emissions reporting tools across UK industry sectors. For example, more than 40% of logistics companies – which often have substantial vehicle fleets – still use spreadsheets such as Excel to record emissions. Furthermore, some delivery services and retailers are still using an antiquated paper process.

“The UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework already mandates large companies to report on their annual energy use, carbon emissions and energy efficiency actions within their directors' report,” explained Turner. “However, fleet managers of smaller organisations cannot rest on their laurels, as the reporting requirement will almost certainly be extended to include most SMEs [small to medium enterprises] in the future.

“Our study is a ‘wake-up call’ for the whole fleet sector, so businesses should start planning now to identify what tools and processes they need,” he added.

Alphabet offers several fleet management tools, including the recently launched Carbon Manager to help all fleet managers track, analyse, and report their vehicle emissions.