CDP Supplier Questionnaire: What Suppliers Need to Know
What Is a CDP Supply Chain Request?
CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) runs the world's largest environmental disclosure system. Large companies that report to CDP can use its Supply Chain Programme to send structured climate questionnaires to their suppliers. If you have received an email from CDP saying a major customer has requested your disclosure, your enterprise client has enrolled you in the CDP Supply Chain Programme.
This is different from a standard SAP Ariba or Coupa questionnaire — CDP's own platform and scoring system are more rigorous, but the underlying data you need is the same.
How Does a CDP Supply Chain Request Arrive?
You will receive an email from CDP (from a "@cdp.net" domain) informing you that a specific purchasing organisation is requesting your disclosure. The email will include:
- The name of the requesting organisation (your enterprise client)
- The questionnaire type (Climate Change, Water, Forests, or a combination)
- The response deadline
- A link to the CDP online response platform
You need to create a free CDP account at cdp.net to access and complete the questionnaire. CDP does not charge suppliers for basic disclosure — fees apply only for full public CDP reporting.
What Does the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire Ask From Suppliers?
The CDP Climate Change questionnaire has several modules. For suppliers, the most relevant sections are:
| Module | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| C0 — Introduction | Company details, reporting year, boundaries |
| C1 — Governance | Board and management oversight of climate |
| C2 — Risks and opportunities | How climate change affects your business |
| C4 — Targets and performance | Reduction targets and progress |
| C6 — Emissions data | Scope 1, 2, and 3 totals in tCO2e |
| C7 — Emissions breakdown | By activity type and geography |
| C8 — Energy | Consumption, renewable percentage |
| C11 — Carbon pricing | Exposure to carbon taxes or ETS |
| C12 — Engagement | How you engage your own supply chain |
Completing every section in full is not typically required from a supplier on first disclosure. The purchasing organisation usually specifies which modules they are prioritising.
What Are the CDP Disclosure Levels for Suppliers?
CDP scores supplier responses on a scale:
| Level | Description | What It Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness | Basic information provided | Scope 1 and 2 measurement, reporting year |
| Management | Active management demonstrated | Scope 3 estimate, reduction targets, executive responsibility |
| Leadership | Best-practice actions in place | SBTi-aligned targets, verified data, supply chain engagement |
| Disclosure | Responded but data incomplete | Partial information, scores lower |
For a supplier responding to a procurement-driven CDP request for the first time, reaching Awareness level satisfies most buyer requirements. Reaching Management (adding Scope 3, a target, and governance documentation) significantly improves both your CDP score and how you appear to the requesting buyer.
How Is CDP Different from a Standard Procurement Questionnaire?
| Aspect | CDP Supply Chain | SAP Ariba / Coupa Questionnaire |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | CDP's own online portal | Buyer's procurement platform |
| Scoring | CDP standardised scoring | Buyer-configured risk score |
| Depth | 50–100 questions across modules | 10–30 questions, mostly quantitative |
| Time required | 2–6 hours for first disclosure | 30–90 minutes |
| Public visibility | Your response becomes part of CDP's database | Remains within the buyer's system |
| Renewal | Annual via CDP | Annual via buyer's platform |
CDP disclosure is more time-intensive but more credible — a CDP score carries weight across multiple clients, not just the one requesting it.
What Data Should You Prepare Before Starting a CDP Response?
Prepare these before opening the CDP response portal:
- Scope 1 total (tCO2e) — with breakdown by source (gas, diesel, petrol, refrigerants)
- Scope 2 total (tCO2e) — both location-based and market-based if available
- Scope 3 total (tCO2e) — at least Categories 3, 5, 6, and 7
- Methodology statement — GHG Protocol, DEFRA 2023 factors, self-assessed
- Reporting year — full calendar year
- Reduction target — even a simple one ("reduce Scope 1 + 2 by 20% by 2030 vs. 2023 baseline")
- Carbon Passport verification URL — from DeCarbonOPS, for uploading as supporting evidence
A Carbon Passport from DeCarbonOPS contains all of the quantitative data CDP asks for in Module C6 and C8, saving significant time on the response.
How Do You Handle the CDP Risk and Opportunity Questions?
Modules C1 and C2 ask about climate-related governance and risks. For an SME, reasonable answers:
- Board oversight: name the director who has responsibility for sustainability. If no formal role exists, the managing director or CFO is appropriate.
- Physical risks: rising energy costs, extreme weather disrupting supply or operations, regulatory changes (carbon taxes, building standards)
- Transition opportunities: customer growth from CSRD compliance capability, cost savings from energy efficiency and renewable electricity
These qualitative answers do not need to be extensive. CDP evaluates whether you have *considered* risks and opportunities — not whether you have a dedicated sustainability team managing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CDP supply chain request?
A CDP supply chain request is a structured climate questionnaire sent by a large enterprise client to its suppliers through the CDP Supply Chain Programme. If you receive an email from CDP (cdp.net domain) naming a specific purchasing organisation, that client has enrolled you and is requesting your climate disclosure to support their own CDP reporting and CSRD Scope 3 obligations.
How is CDP different from a SAP Ariba or Coupa sustainability questionnaire?
CDP uses its own platform (cdp.net), has standardised scoring, and is more comprehensive — covering 50–100 questions across governance, risks, targets, and emissions data, typically taking 2–6 hours for first disclosure. SAP Ariba and Coupa use the buyer's procurement platform, have 10–30 questions, and take 30–90 minutes. CDP disclosure is also more publicly visible and carries weight with multiple clients.
What are the CDP disclosure levels for suppliers?
CDP scores supplier responses as: Awareness (basic Scope 1 and 2 measurement provided), Management (Scope 3 estimate, reduction targets, executive responsibility), and Leadership (SBTi-aligned targets, verified data, supply chain engagement). For a first procurement-driven CDP response, reaching Awareness satisfies most buyer requirements. Management-level evidence significantly improves your score.
What data do I need before starting a CDP questionnaire?
Prepare: Scope 1 total (tCO2e) with breakdown by source, Scope 2 total (both location-based and market-based), Scope 3 total for at least Categories 3, 5, 6, and 7, your GHG Protocol methodology statement, reporting year, a basic reduction target, and your Carbon Passport verification URL. A DeCarbonOPS Carbon Passport contains all the quantitative data required in CDP Module C6 and C8.
How should I answer the CDP governance and risk questions as an SME?
For board oversight: name the director (typically MD or CFO) who holds responsibility for sustainability. For physical climate risks: cite rising energy costs, extreme weather disrupting operations, and CSRD regulatory changes. For transition opportunities: customer growth from compliance capability and cost savings from energy efficiency. CDP evaluates whether you have considered risks — not whether you have a dedicated sustainability team.
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