CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Compliance

Climate & Carbon Reporting

Carbon Disclosure Project — Environmental Disclosure System

23,100+ Companies Disclosed Through CDP in 2025. Your Customers Already Score You. Do You Have the Supply Chain Data to Respond?

CDP disclosure requires Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data, climate risk assessments, science-based targets, and value chain engagement evidence—collected from across your supplier base. Over 270 corporate buyers use CDP Supply Chain to evaluate supplier environmental performance. Your CDP score shapes procurement decisions, investor confidence, and contract eligibility.

Certivo automates CDP data collection from supplier emissions evidence to submission-ready disclosure packages.

23,100+

Companies disclosing through CDP (2025)

270+

Corporate buyers using CDP Supply Chain for procurement decisions

11.4x

Average ratio of Scope 3 to operational emissions

Regulation Overview

Jurisdiction
Global (headquartered in UK; disclosures from 130+ countries)

Regulatory Body
CDP (non-profit; backed by 740+ financial institutions representing $142T+ in assets)

Regulation Number
CDP Corporate Questionnaire (aligned with ISSB IFRS S2, ESRS, GHG Protocol, TCFD/TNFD)

Effective Date
Voluntary, but de facto mandatory for companies requested by investors or supply chain buyers

Official Source
https://www.cdp.net

Key Threshold
No size threshold—any company requested by an investor or buyer is expected to disclose

What is CDP?

CDP operates the world's largest environmental disclosure system. For supply chain and compliance teams, CDP is increasingly a gatekeeper—your customers and investors use CDP scores to make procurement and investment decisions. A low score or non-response can cost you contracts and capital access.

The CDP questionnaire covers climate change, water security, and forests in a single integrated format. Companies must report Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, climate governance, risk management, science-based targets, and supplier engagement strategies. CDP scores from A to D (with F for non-response) are publicly available and used as industry benchmarks.

CDP compliance requires supplier-level environmental data—emissions figures, energy consumption, reduction targets, and verification evidence—from across your value chain. When CDP updates its questionnaire or scoring methodology, your entire data collection process requires reassessment.

Key Components / Sub-Frameworks

Obligation
Core disclosure—scored for all responding companies

Climate Change Questionnaire
Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions; governance; risks; targets; strategy

Obligation
Scored if company meets sector impact or external request criteria

Water Security Questionnaire
Water withdrawal, consumption, risks, and governance

Obligation
Scored for 7 commodities: cattle, palm oil, soy, timber, cocoa, coffee, rubber

Forests Questionnaire
Deforestation-linked commodity sourcing and targets

Obligation
Suppliers must respond to buyer requests or risk procurement consequences

CDP Supply Chain Program
Buyer-requested supplier environmental disclosure

Obligation
Rated annually; increasingly used in procurement scorecards

Supplier Engagement Rating (SER)
Assessment of how companies engage suppliers on climate

Obligation
Public scores influence investor, customer, and market decisions

CDP Scoring Methodology
A to D progression-based scoring (F for non-response)

CDP 2026 Questionnaire Opens April 27. Scoring Deadline: September 14. Is Your Supplier Data Collection Ready?

The 2026 CDP cycle introduces expanded physical risk reporting, new scoring for cocoa, coffee, and rubber commodities, and a new optional Oceans theme. ISSB alignment deepens further. Companies relying on last year's data will fall behind—CDP scores reward continuous improvement and current-year evidence.

Key Compliance Requirements

Who Must Comply

• Companies requested to disclose by CDP-signatory investors (740+ financial institutions)
• Suppliers requested to disclose by CDP Supply Chain member buyers (270+ corporate buyers)
• Companies seeking to maintain or improve public CDP scores for market credibility
• Organizations preparing for mandatory CSRD, ISSB, or California SB 253 reporting
• Companies with science-based targets requiring Scope 3 supplier engagement evidence
• Any company where CDP score is a contractual or procurement prerequisite

Key Thresholds

Investor request

Company added to CDP's annual investor request letter

Customer request

Supplier named by CDP Supply Chain member buyer

Scope 3 emissions

On average 11.4x higher than operational emissions—requires supplier data

SBTi alignment

Science-based target requires supplier engagement covering majority of Scope 3

Core Obligations

1. Scope 1 & 2 Reporting
   Report direct and purchased energy emissions with methodology and verification
   DEADLINE
   Annual (2026 deadline: September 14)

2. Scope 3 Reporting
   Report value chain emissions across all material categories
   DEADLINE
   Annual—critical for Leadership-level scores

3. Climate Governance
   Disclose board-level oversight, management accountability, and incentive structures
   DEADLINE
   Annual

4. Risk & Opportunity Assessment
   Report climate-related risks, financial impacts, and scenario analysis
   DEADLINE
   Annual—expanded physical risk focus in 2026

5. Science-Based Targets
   Disclose emissions reduction targets, ideally SBTi-validated
   DEADLINE
   Required for A-list and Leadership scores

CDP-Specific Pain Points

The Scope 3 Data Gap

Your Scope 3 emissions are 11.4x your operational footprint. CDP requires category-level reporting across 15 categories. But 60% of your suppliers have never measured their emissions—and the remaining 40% report in inconsistent formats. Your CDP submission deadline is weeks away.

The Annual Questionnaire Scramble

CDP opens the portal in late April. Your deadline is September. You need emissions data, governance evidence, risk assessments, and supplier engagement proof from across the organization. Your team manages this in spreadsheets, chasing responses from sustainability, procurement, finance, and operations. Day 120: you submit an incomplete package.

The Supplier Engagement Scoring Trap

CDP's Supplier Engagement Rating evaluates how effectively you drive environmental action through your supply chain. You request data from 500 suppliers. Fewer than 100 respond with usable emissions figures. CDP scores your engagement—not just your own performance. Without systematic supplier data collection, your SER drags down your overall score.

The Multi-Framework Reporting Burden

CDP now aligns with ISSB IFRS S2, ESRS, GHG Protocol, and TNFD. Your CSRD team collects Scope 3 data separately. Your carbon accounting team runs a parallel process. Your procurement team has its own supplier questionnaire. Three teams, three data collection efforts, one overlapping dataset. Manual multi-framework ESG management at this scale is unsustainable.

Certivo in Action

Certivo in Action—CDP Workflow

GET EVIDENCE IN Collect Supplier Environmental Data for CDP Disclosure—Without the Chasing
CORA launches targeted campaigns to collect supplier emissions data, energy consumption figures, climate targets, and verification evidence. Automated follow-up in suppliers' native languages.

• Launch CDP data collection campaigns to hundreds of suppliers with one click
• CORA-powered outreach requesting Scope 1, 2, 3 data, targets, and certifications
• Accept any format: CDP responses, GHG reports, PDFs, Excel, EcoVadis exports
• Track response rates and escalate non-responders automatically

MAKE SENSE OF IT
Know Instantly Where Your Scope 3 Gaps Are—and Which Suppliers Need Action
CORA parses supplier environmental evidence, validates emissions data against GHG Protocol methodology, and flags gaps in your CDP disclosure coverage automatically.

• CORA extracts emissions figures, energy data, reduction targets, and verification status
• Automatic validation against GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories and CDP scoring criteria
• Real-time supplier risk scoring based on data quality, emissions intensity, and target alignment
• Gap analysis identifying missing supplier data before CDP submission deadline

PROVE COMPLIANCE OUT
Generate CDP-Ready Disclosure Packages in Hours, Not Months
Produce submission-ready CDP data, supplier engagement evidence, and multi-framework reporting packages instantly from validated supplier data.

• One-click Scope 3 calculation packages with supplier-level attribution
• Pre-formatted data exports aligned with CDP questionnaire structure
• Customer-specific environmental compliance packages with full traceability
• Complete audit trail for every validation and response

One Supplier Submission. Scope 3 Data Across All Categories. CDP-Ready in Hours.

Certivo collects supplier environmental data, extracts emissions figures and targets, validates against GHG Protocol and CDP scoring criteria, and generates disclosure-ready evidence automatically. When CDP updates its questionnaire or scoring methodology, Certivo reassesses your data collection templates and alerts you—before the submission window opens.

Scope 3 Data Collection
CDP Score Optimization
Supplier Engagement Tracking
Multi-Framework Alignment
Regulatory Intelligence Sync

Features Tabs

Supplier Data Collection Emissions Data Extraction
Scope 3 Monitoring
CDP Submission Support
Multi-Framework Reporting

Certivo's automated campaigns achieve 95% response rates vs. 20–30% with manual outreach.

• Targeted campaigns by supplier tier, emissions category, or spend threshold
• Multi-language outreach in suppliers' native languages
• Intelligent follow-up sequences adapting to supplier behavior
• Format-agnostic: CDP exports, GHG reports, PDFs, Excel, EcoVadis, freeform responses

95% Supplier Response Rate

Emissions Data Extraction Every supplier document parsed for emissions figures, energy data, and targets automatically—no manual data entry.

• Deep extraction of Scope 1, 2, 3 figures, energy consumption, emission factors, and methodologies
• Parses GHG reports, CDP supplier responses, and proprietary sustainability templates
• Multi-language document processing
• Anomaly detection for inconsistent or suspicious emissions claims

99.2% Extraction Accuracy

Scope 3 Monitoring Always calculated against current supplier data—not last year's estimates.

• Automatic recalculation as new supplier data arrives throughout the year
• Category-level Scope 3 tracking across all 15 GHG Protocol categories
• Proactive alerts when supplier data quality drops below CDP scoring thresholds
• Historical tracking of supplier emissions trends and reduction progress

Real-Time Supplier Emissions Sync

CDP Submission Support Generate CDP questionnaire data packages in hours instead of 3–4 months.

• One-click data compilation aligned with CDP 2026 questionnaire structure
• Supplier engagement evidence packages for Supplier Engagement Rating
• Verification-ready emissions summaries supporting third-party assurance
• Deadline tracking across CDP submission, scoring, and reporting windows

4 hours To Disclosure-Ready Package

Multi-Framework Reporting One supplier data collection feeds CDP, CSRD, California SB 253, and ISSB simultaneously.

• Pre-mapped data exports compatible with ESRS E1, IFRS S2, and GHG Protocol
• Cross-framework gap analysis identifying overlapping and unique requirements
• Customer trust centers with self-service reporting across sustainability frameworks
• Integrated PLM-ERP compliance thread connecting product data to emissions reporting

Related Regulations

EU CSRD CSRD requires Scope 3 emissions under ESRS E1; CDP questionnaire is ESRS-aligned

Combined Value Single supplier data collection feeds both CDP disclosure and CSRD sustainability reporting

ISSB (IFRS S2) CDP questionnaire serves as ISSB-aligned baseline for climate disclosure

Combined Value CDP-ready data satisfies ISSB reporting requirements simultaneously

EU CBAM CBAM requires embedded carbon data for imports; overlaps with CDP Scope 3

Combined Value Supplier carbon data collected for CDP supports CBAM certificate obligations

California SB 253 / SB 261 California mandatory climate disclosure requires Scope 1, 2, 3 reporting

Combined Value CDP data collection process prepares companies for California compliance

SBTi Science-based targets require supplier engagement on emissions reduction

Combined Value CDP Supplier Engagement Rating directly measures SBTi-aligned supply chain action

GHG Protocol CDP uses GHG Protocol as the accounting backbone for emissions reporting

Combined Value Validated supplier data meets both CDP and GHG Protocol requirements

Industries Most Impacted

Automotive Manufacturing
Your Pain Point
Complex Scope 3 across thousands of parts; OEM CDP requirements flow down

Electronics Manufacturing
Your Pain Point
Energy-intensive manufacturing; semiconductor supply chain emissions; customer CDP mandates

Industrial & Heavy Equipment
Your Pain Point
High direct emissions; global supply chains; Scope 3 in materials and logistics

Energy & Infrastructure
Your Pain Point
Scope 1 dominant; transition risk reporting; regulatory overlap with CSRD and CBAM

Chemical Manufacturing
Your Pain Point
Process emissions; Together for Sustainability (TfS) overlap; product carbon footprint

Construction Materials
Your Pain Point
High-embodied carbon; cement and steel supply chains; EPD overlap

Consumer Goods
Your Pain Point
Brand reputation pressure; Scope 3 in packaging, ingredients, logistics

Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Your Pain Point
Cold chain emissions; API sourcing from high-intensity regions; investor CDP scrutiny

Return on Investment

80% Reduction in Disclosure Labor
From Spreadsheet Chaos to Automated Data Collection

CORA collects, parses, and validates supplier environmental data automatically. Your sustainability team focuses on strategy and improvement—not manual data aggregation and email chasing.

4 hours To CDP-Ready Package
Disclosure Compilation Acceleration

Generate complete, verification-ready CDP data packages in hours—not the 3–4 months of manual compilation across suppliers and internal teams.

Real-Time Scope 3 Visibility
Proactive CDP Score Management

When supplier data arrives, Certivo recalculates your Scope 3 position instantly. Know your emissions exposure and data gaps before the CDP submission window opens—not after.

Key Statistics

23,100+

Companies disclosing through CDP globally

99.2%

Supplier data extraction accuracy from environmental documents

95%

Supplier response rate with CORA-powered campaigns

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs to respond to the CDP questionnaire?
Any company requested to disclose by a CDP-signatory investor or CDP Supply Chain member buyer is expected to respond. There is no size threshold—CDP requests reach companies of all sizes across 130+ countries. Over 270 corporate buyers use CDP Supply Chain to request supplier environmental data. Non-response results in an F score, which is publicly visible.

What are the consequences of a low CDP score or non-response?
CDP scores are public. An F (non-response) or D score signals inadequate environmental transparency to investors, customers, and the market. Low scores can result in exclusion from investment funds, loss of preferred supplier status, and reduced competitiveness in procurement processes. Market surveillance of environmental performance is intensifying.

How does Certivo help with CDP Scope 3 emissions reporting?
Certivo automates the collection of supplier emissions data across all 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories. CORA sends targeted campaigns to suppliers, extracts emissions figures from any document format, validates data against GHG Protocol methodology, and generates category-level Scope 3 calculations ready for CDP submission.

Does Certivo support CDP Supply Chain program requirements?
Yes. Certivo enables companies to collect, validate, and manage the environmental data they need both to respond to CDP buyer requests and to request data from their own suppliers. CORA tracks supplier engagement metrics aligned with CDP's Supplier Engagement Rating criteria—response rates, target-setting, emissions reductions, and verification status.

How does CDP disclosure relate to mandatory regulations like CSRD and ISSB?
CDP is aligned with ISSB IFRS S2 and ESRS standards, making it a practical preparation pathway for mandatory disclosure under the EU CSRD and California SB 253/261. Companies that complete a CDP submission already have most of the data needed for mandatory reporting. Certivo collects supplier data once and maps it against CDP, CSRD, ISSB, and CBAM requirements simultaneously—eliminating duplicate collection.

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