7 steps to a good CDP score

The CDP is a recognized framework for assessing the environmental performance of companies, cities and regions. 

Using an integrated questionnaire, CPD awards companies an A to F score for their performance in the areas of climate change, deforestation, water management, plastic waste and biodiversity.

This assessment enhances the company's standing in the eyes of its stakeholders, particularly investors. 

In this article, we're going to share with you our experts' advice on how to successfully complete the CDP questionnaire and obtain the best score .

For a better understanding of CDP, we invite you to read this article.

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7 steps to a good CDP score

To obtain a good CDP score, you need to bear in mind that it's not just a score, but a reward awarded to companies that fully integrate environmental issues into their policies, strategy, actions, etc.

To get a good score, we advise you to have a person dedicated to the project to monitor and adjust your performance on environmental issues.

We've listed below all the essential steps for achieving the best possible score.

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Take stock and identify risks, opportunities and impacts (IRO)

The first step is to take stock of the situation to understand the extent of your impact on the environment, water, etc. 

This phase of analysis allows us to assess the impact of our products, and to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

You also need to think about assessing and integrating risks, opportunities and associated costs into your strategy to help you make sustainable decisions and reduce financial risks.

Identifying the areas where you have the greatest impact enables you to focus your efforts and resources effectively. Here are some actions you can take to identify these areas:

• Carry out a full audit, a scope 1, 2 or 3 carbon footprint, a water consumption audit, etc.
• Analyze your operational, production, logistics and transport processes to assess the processes that consume water and emissions, for example.

• Assess your supply chain

• Evaluate employee practices, office practices, commuting and business trips
• Conduct a life-cycle analysis of products and services to assess their impact on water consumption, carbon emissions, etc.
• Carry out a comparative analysis to identify industry standards that could apply to your company, and draw inspiration from industry best practices.

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Define your strategy

To pass the CDP questionnaire and obtain the best result, we advise you to define your environmental strategy well in advance. 

Your strategy should specify :

• your commitments, 
• your objectives and their timing
• planned investments
• governance and allocation of responsibilities for its implementation.

A clear strategy and committed teams will enable you to move the project forward efficiently! 

Targets are essential for setting a course and adjusting your strategy, and must be quantified and dated. For example, you could aim to reduce your CO2 emissions by 20% by 2030. To be effective, targets must be scientifically defined, so as not to exceed planetary limits.

Throughout this process, don't hesitate to involve your stakeholders.

To define a coherent strategy, we invite you to carry out a benchmark of companies in your sector and best practices, as well as to follow benchmarks and standards (GHG Protocol, SBTi, etc.). 

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Drafting policies and formalizing proof of action

A policy is a key document for a company, defining the way in which you will deal with these issues.
The policy is aimed at your employees internally, to provide them with a strategic framework, but can also be communicated to your external stakeholders. 

For an effective environmental policy, we recommend : 

• clearly define the scope of action, sites and activities covered by the policy,
• detail the organization's objectives, including global commitments and specific quantitative targets for each area. Setting good targets requires a baseline year, and using scientific data to check that targets are in line with planetary limits,
• explain governance, the distribution of responsibilities and the policy implementation process,
• describe mechanisms for reviewing and updating the policy.

Next, think about formalizing the evidence for all the actions you're going to implement.
This will help you earn points and improve your score.

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Set up an action plan

All the actions you define must help you achieve the objectives you have defined beforehand!

Once you've listed the actions that are relevant to your business, we advise you to prioritize them according to their impact, i.e., their contribution to achieving your objectives, in relation to their feasibility.

Next, identify the person in charge and the governance, the deadlines and intermediate stages, and any dependencies.

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Manage your data

Tracking and calculating your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) enables you to see your progress.
To optimize project management, we suggest that you choose the right environmental indicators to monitor the achievement of your objectives.

In fact, monitoring and evaluating the impact of your initiatives helps you make informed decisions and promote continuous improvement.

Through these indicators, you need to be able to show that your company collects and communicates consolidated data on the various themes evaluated. We advise you to use the best possible methodology, based on the benchmarks and standards for your sector, such as the GHG Protocol or SBTi for climate change.

On climate change, here are some indicators to follow: 

• Total scope 1, 2, 3 emissions
• Total energy consumption
• Total renewable energy consumption
• Company carbon intensity per employee or per M€ of sales
• Quantity of credits or carbon offsets
• Etc.

In this resource, you'll find an exhaustive list of indicators to track for successful environmental reporting.

For plastic waste management, you can follow these indicators: 

• Monitoring waste management and/or recycling
• Quantity of waste produced by the company
• Quantity of waste recovered and/or recycled
• Waste intensity of the company's activities per M€ of sales = Quantity of waste generated per M€ of sales
• Etc.

To monitor indicators related to water management : 

• Monitoring water consumption management
• Quantity of water used by the company
• Quantity of wastewater discharged 
• Quantity of wastewater treated/recovered

Depending on your impacts, risks and opportunities, it's up to you to define the right indicators to track. To help you, we're sharing with you a list of a large number ofindicators to monitor in the environmental field.

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Answer the questionnaire

Answer each question transparently and in detail, providing verifiable data and explaining the methodologies used for data collection and analysis.

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Submit and publicly communicate results

Once you've submitted your score, don't hesitate to share it publicly.

Transparency is crucial for the CDP. 

Publish regular data on your emissions, water consumption and sustainability initiatives. Share your goals and progress with stakeholders and engage them in your environmental efforts to build trust and commitment.

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Going the extra mile to become a leader (CDP A score)

Adhere to recognized frameworks

The importance of using recognized sustainability frameworks should not be underestimated. These frameworks provide external validation of a company's efforts to manage and reduce its environmental impact. 

It's proof that the company is serious about its ecological commitment to all its stakeholders! 

Obtaining recognized certifications and attestations can also promote operational efficiency gains, reduce risks and open up new market opportunities.For the environmental part, here are some international frameworks: 

• Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol)to measure and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions,

• Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)to set reduction targets to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement,
• ISO 14064a standard for quantifying, reporting and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and reductions.

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Always promote continuous improvement

Aiming for continuous improvement is valued by the CDP because it demonstrates a serious, long-term commitment to reducing environmental impacts. Continuous improvement enables companies to adapt to new regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. 

By constantly improving their practices, companies can identify new opportunities for reducing emissions, managing water resources efficiently, protecting forests, reducing plastic waste and protecting biodiversity.

To achieve long-term improvement, one of the major challenges is to build a solid management system. The idea is to be able to put in place a clear, sustainable structure for monitoring environmental performance.

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Building a detailed transition plan 

To take things a step further, you can create detailed transition plans .

For example, a global warming transition plan is a plan that details the measures your company is putting in place to align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to keep "the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and to continue efforts "to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels". 

This transition plan will enable you to share in detail your quantified objectives and clear steps for staying below 1.5 degrees.

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CDP, save time with one tool

Using a dedicated tool for Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting offers a number of advantages, not least that it centralizes all stages of the process.

A dedicated tool brings together all the indicators you track, the policies you've implemented and the actions you've taken.

You' ll save time on the formalization required by this questionnaire, freeing up your bandwidth to take concrete action on climate change.

Using a tool not only simplifies the environmental reporting process, but also allows you touse the same data for other reports. You can concentrate more on continuously improving your sustainability performance!

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Conclusion

The CDP is much more than just an environmental assessment tool. 

It's an opportunity for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and position themselves as leaders in the fight against climate change, water resource management, forest protection, plastic waste reduction and biodiversity preservation.

By following CDP's recommendations and aiming for a high score, companies can not only improve their brand image and attract responsible investment, but also anticipate future regulations and reduce their risk of non-compliance. 

Adopting sustainable practices, demonstrating transparency and implementing concrete actions are the keys to success in this approach. 

The CDP invites companies to make an active commitment to protecting our planet, while strengthening their competitiveness in the global marketplace!