|
Listen to this story:
|
- FourTwoThree, backed by NatWest, NAB, and SC Ventures, aims to mobilize SME climate action by simplifying Scope 3 emissions measurement and enabling sustainable financing.
- The platform supports seamless data-sharing across enterprises and their SME networks, unlocking competitive advantage and regulatory compliance for banks and corporates.
- FourTwoThree’s acquisition of PointSource will further automate SME access to sustainability frameworks, subsidies, and supply chain compliance tools.
A new platform, FourTwoThree, has launched with backing from global banks NatWest Group, NAB, and SC Ventures to address the urgent need for scalable SME climate action. The initiative targets the $50 trillion financing gap for transitioning global small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to net zero.
The platform is designed to help large enterprises and financial institutions collaborate more effectively with their SME supply chains, simplifying data sharing and enabling precise Scope 3 carbon footprint measurement using real-time primary data.
“Climate action becomes possible when we make it accessible,” said Glyn Baker, CEO at FourTwoThree. “Connecting SMEs to better support, accessible financing and emerging climate innovation will simply make them better and more engaged customers, suppliers and employers.”
The University of Cambridge estimates that 50% of the $100 trillion investment needed to decarbonize global supply chains must go to SMEs—businesses that make up the backbone of employment, commerce, and GDP globally.
RELATED ARTICLE: NatWest Floats $10 Billion Brazilian Bond Plan to Halt Amazon Deforestation
FourTwoThree integrates with existing bank infrastructure to ensure bank-grade security, performance, and risk compliance. Its digital tools deliver automated carbon assessments and tailored recommendations to SMEs, helping institutions manage climate risk and meet disclosure mandates.
“FourTwoThree reflects NatWest Group’s commitment to collaborative innovation,” said David Grunwald, Director of Innovation and Partnerships at NatWest Group. “It will empower businesses of all sizes to take meaningful climate action, unlocking real commercial value across multiple supply chains.”
The platform will also acquire PointSource Technologies Pte. Ltd., a startup incubated by SC Ventures, which specializes in automating SME assessments for sustainable finance eligibility and compliance.
“With FourTwoThree, we believe PointSource can now reach the scale and relevance the climate challenge demands,” said Harald Eltvedt, Operating Member at SC Ventures. “This is exactly what we aim to do at SC Ventures: back bold ideas, build real solutions, and scale them with the right partners.”
FourTwoThree is built in partnership with Valtech and hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), ensuring enterprise-grade security and reliability. The acquisition of PointSource and associated investments remain subject to merger control approval.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn