Supply Chain

Members Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration (SCLC)?

The SCLC is a collaboration of sector leaders, who have come together to work with CDP to produce a single information request which will elicit valuable information on suppliers' GHG emissions, strategy on climate change and assessment of the associated risks and opportunities. This information enables corporations to measure and subsequently manage their supply chain emissions.

What are the objectives of the Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration?

  • To collect meaningful information that leads to action on climate change by both purchasing and supplying companies
  • To leverage the thought-leadership of SCLC members to influence international standards and establish a global process for supply chain disclosure
  • To maximise engagement and dialogue opportunities between purchasing organisations and suppliers on climate change issues

    What is the difference between the CDP information request and the SCLC request?

    The CDP information request is sent on behalf of investors to publicly listed companies. The SCLC request for disclosure is sent on behalf of customers to their suppliers.

    What is the difference between the CDP questionnaire and the SCLC questionnaire?

    The front end of the questionnaires is identical. For the SCLC questionnaire - there will be additional sections relevant to the customer-supplier relationship. Companies responding to the SCLC who have already completed CDP6 will not have to re-do CDP6 sections 1-4. In 2009, the SCLC will fall into line with the investor CDP request on February 1st. (see below for timeline)

    How does the process work?

    Once your company has joined the SCLC, CDP will request you to submit a list of up to 2000 suppliers you wish to include in your information request. CDP will then send out the SCLC questionnaire to those suppliers. Members contact the suppliers to explain their reason for requesting disclosure and how they plan to use the data. Suppliers will respond on-line through an easy to use automated system. As a member you will receive a unique login which will enable you to review responses as they come in. A report will be written and produced analysing trends through the supply chain at the end of 2008.

    What are the benefits of membership?

  • increased visibility of carbon footprints in your supply chain
  • increased awareness of climate change risks and opportunities in your supply chain
  • access to full database of your supplier responses using search criteria and downloadable to Excel
  • access to a process which enables you to engage with your suppliers on climate change issues in a way which is:
    - standardised and collective, reducing the risk of duplication and questionnaire 'fatigue' in the supply base
    - administered by a respected, third party NGO
    - part of a global collaboration to establish corporate GHG reporting standards
  • the opportunity to shape the process of GHG reporting in the supply chain in dialogue with the major customers who are also members at roundtable events and on regular conference calls.
  • demonstrate thought leadership and your commitment to tackle climate change by being one of the first to partner with CDP
  • a centrally run communications strategy coordinated with your own press team

    Is membership open to anyone or does a company have to be invited?

    Any company that wishes to engage with its suppliers and request climate change relevant information can join SCLC on condition that it responds to CDP6, pays the sponsorship fee and signs a Memorandum of Understanding with CDP.

    What are Members required to do?

  • provide CDP with supplier contact data in standard format
  • communicate with chosen suppliers the reasons for requesting disclosure, relevant to your own supplier engagement and climate change strategies
  • encourage public disclosure
  • contribute feedback to the improvement of the process

    What supplier details are required?

    Each member has to populate a formatted spreadsheet with details of each supplier including:
  • company name and address
  • whether the member requires information at a Corporation, Divisional or Plant level
  • name, telephone number and email address of a contact person if the member wants CDP to administer the initial communication

    • Will the identity of my suppliers remain confidential?

    Only CDP will have access to your supplier list. This will not be available to other members or the public.

    What does 2008 membership cover?

    Being a member provides the opportunity to select up to 2000 of your suppliers to whom you wish to send the CDP information request. Once those suppliers have been selected, CDP will administer the whole process and enable you to access those responses as they come in through the login system on the CDP website. All members are listed, with company logos on the CDP website. A report will be produced for members on the findings.

    What is the timeframe?

    April: Selection of up to 2000 suppliers per member for inclusion in SCLC information request

    May 1: SCLC08 Information request mailed to every supplier included

    May - July 31: CDP continues to send information request to new suppliers added by members

    May - October: responses come into CDP through on-line automated system. All members have access via a unique password

    October 31: Deadline for submission of response

    December: Report will be produced on the findings

    Feb 1, 2009: SCLC09 Information request mailed to every supplier included

    How do I apply?

    To apply to become a member or to request further information please contact frances.way@cdproject.net

    What will happen to the data received in the responses?

    We ask members to strongly encourage their suppliers to make responses publicly available. Responding suppliers will be given this option at the end of submitting their response on the Online Response System. They will be asked to choose whether to make their answers publicly available, not public but available to all SCLC members, or available only to requesting SCLC members, before pressing “Complete Questionnaire”.

    In addition the CDP Secretariat will appoint consultancies or researchers to write reports on responses from companies and responses will be made available to these report writers. Should the responding company notify us at the time they submit their response that they do not want the information publicly disclosed, we will use it only in the production of aggregate statistics.

    If the responding company chooses to provide data publicly, it will be made available on the CDP website from November 2008. Many companies recognise the benefits of transparency offered by CDP, to report their company's progress and position on climate change.

    Do you do product footprinting?

    CDP does not do product footprinting, but does provide a standard platform for the disclosure of climate change relevant data between key stakeholders. The SCLC information request now includes the possibility of disclosing specific product footprints if requested by individual procuring companies from their suppliers.