CDP (Customer Data Platform)

What is CDP?

CDP operates as a global non-profit focused on environmental disclosure. This happens every year. Companies go through a reporting cycle. Climate change, water security, and deforestation risks are the primary focus.

It did not begin as a small initiative, but the focus was limited in the early days. The original name was Carbon Disclosure Project. As more companies joined, the scope expanded. The shorter name stuck. Most people now just use CDP.

Companies respond through a structured questionnaire. The responses are reviewed and scored using a published methodology. The score reflects what is actually disclosed. Nothing more. Nothing implied.

CDP questionnaires (Climate/Water/Forests)

CDP reporting is organised around three questionnaires. The structure is consistent, but the focus shifts depending on the topic.

Most companies are already familiar with the Climate Change questionnaire. It covers greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, renewable electricity sourcing, and climate-related risks. It also looks at targets and how those targets connect to business strategy. For many organisations, this section ends up driving the final score.

The Water Security questionnaire focuses on water use and risk exposure. Withdrawals, consumption, and discharge all come into play. So does geography. Site-level water stress matters here, as does how companies respond when risks are identified.

The Forests questionnaire examines deforestation risk associated with specific commodities. It asks where materials come from, how suppliers are engaged, and what controls are in place to prevent land-use change. This tends to be relevant to fewer companies, but scoring expectations remain strict.

Each questionnaire is updated every year. Relying on last year’s approach usually shows.

Scoring (A–D)

CDP scores range from A to D. They are often treated like grades, even though CDP does not describe them that way.

An A score signals leadership. Clear oversight. Targets supported by evidence.
A B score suggests systems are in place, but not fully embedded.
A C score points to awareness but little follow-through.
A D score reflects minimum disclosure and limited detail.

CDP does not try to interpret intent. If something is not explained correctly, it is not counted.

What data is required?

One of the more common surprises with CDP reporting is how much emphasis is placed on process, not just numbers.

Governance + risk disclosure

Governance plays a big role. Companies are expected to explain who makes climate-related decisions and how those decisions move through the organisation.

This includes board oversight, senior management responsibility, and formal processes for identifying climate risks. Both physical and transition risks matter. Their potential impact on operations and strategy should be explained in practical terms.

Vague statements rarely help. Examples and clarity usually do.

Value chain reporting

Value chain disclosure is often where responses start to thin out.

CDP expects Scope 3 emissions to be reported when they are material. That means looking beyond direct operations. Supply chains. Logistics. Employee commuting. Business travel. In many cases, these categories dominate the footprint.

Perfect data is not expected. What matters is openness, where estimates were used. Why are certain categories included or excluded? How were they made?

Common mistakes

Low CDP scores often follow a familiar pattern.

Subsidiaries are excluded without explanation. Reporting boundaries do not line up with financial accounts. The governance sections list roles but never explain how decisions are actually made.

Scope 3 emissions are presented as single numbers with no background. Targets are mentioned, but baselines are unclear. Methodologies change from one year to the next, without any explanation for the shift.

Individually, these seem minor. Together, they weaken the response.

How to improve the CDP score through EV charging?

EV charging often sits between daily operations and climate reporting. More relevant to CDP than it first appears.

Electrifying company vehicles cuts fuel use. Direct reduction in Scope 1 emissions. Clear and measurable.

Workplace charging raises electricity demand. A Scope 2 impact. Cleaner grids or renewable sourcing improve the overall emissions profile.

Scope 3 effects also show up. Employee charging reimbursements. Personal vehicles are charged at the workplace, contractor, and vendor vehicles. Still emerging data, but impacts need to be identified and explained.

Smart charging makes this easier. Better visibility on electricity use. Data by location and time. More defensible calculations. More consistent reporting year after year.

The biggest CDP gains come when EV charging is not treated as an add-on. Clear targets. Defined timelines. Approved budgets. Senior leadership oversight.

FAQs

Q: What is CDP reporting?
A: An annual environmental disclosure process. Companies share data on climate, water, and forests. Used by investors and large buyers.

Q: How does CDP scoring work?
A: Responses are reviewed against a fixed methodology. Scores reflect disclosure depth and evidence, not intent.

Q: CDP vs TCFD vs ISSB?
A: CDP focuses on data disclosure. TCFD on climate risk governance. ISSB on financial reporting standards. Often used together.

Q: What is a good CDP score?
A: A or B scores are generally seen as strong. They indicate structured management and visible action.

Q: How to improve the CDP score quickly?

A: Tighten governance disclosures. Clarify the Scope 3 methodology. Improve data consistency across years.

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