What Is CDP and Why Does It Matter?
CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) is an independent global platform that enables companies to measure, manage, and transparently report their environmental impacts. Founded in London in 2000, CDP now collects environmental data from over 23,000 companies and coordinates information requests on behalf of more than 740 investors representing USD 136 trillion in assets under management (CDP, "CDP Global Disclosure Statistics," 2023).
While CDP disclosure is technically voluntary, investor and customer demand has made it increasingly essential. With the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) amplifying the strategic value of environmental data, CDP responses carry more weight than ever.
Three Questionnaires, Three Environmental Focus Areas
CDP collects data from companies across three distinct environmental themes:
Climate Change Questionnaire
This is the most widely used questionnaire. It requests comprehensive information on greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), energy consumption, board-level governance of climate issues, science-based targets, and transition plans. Over 23,000 companies responded to this questionnaire in the 2023 cycle (CDP, "CDP Scoring Introduction," 2023).
Water Security Questionnaire
Critical for companies in water-intensive sectors or those operating in water-stressed regions. It covers water withdrawal, consumption, discharge quality, water risk management, and basin-level collaboration.
Forests Questionnaire
Targeted at companies with supply chains linked to deforestation-related commodities (soy, palm oil, timber, cattle). It evaluates supply chain traceability and commitments to eliminate deforestation.
Most companies begin with the climate change questionnaire and add water security or forests in subsequent years based on sectoral relevance.
The Disclosure Cycle: Your Year at a Glance
The CDP disclosure process follows a defined annual calendar:
| Period | Activity |
|---|---|
| February–March | CDP publishes questionnaire updates and guidance |
| April | Online Response System (ORS) opens; companies begin entering responses |
| July (last Wednesday) | Response submission deadline |
| September–November | Scoring process |
| December | Scores communicated to companies and published publicly |
For first-time responders, the roughly four-month window between April and July is intense for data collection and internal coordination. Starting preparation no later than February is strongly recommended.
The Scoring System: From D- to A
CDP's scoring methodology evaluates companies across four progressive levels:
- Disclosure (D and D-): Has the company submitted data? The baseline level of transparency.
- Awareness (C and C-): Does the company demonstrate awareness of environmental issues?
- Management (B and B-): Is the company taking concrete actions to manage environmental impacts?
- Leadership (A and A-): Are best practices adopted? Science-based targets, verified data, and strategic integration present?
According to the CDP Technical Note on Scoring Methodology, each level builds on the previous one: achieving a Management score requires first meeting Awareness criteria (CDP, "Technical Note on Scoring Methodology," 2023). Earning an A score in a company's first year is exceptionally rare; most start at C or D and progress over time.
Not responding also has consequences: companies that are requested to disclose but fail to respond receive an "F" score, which is publicly interpreted as a lack of transparency.
The Supply Chain Program: Why Your Customers Want CDP
CDP's Supply Chain Program enables large purchasing organizations to request environmental data from their suppliers. As of 2023, more than 330 high-purchasing-power companies (CDP members) have requested data from over 48,000 suppliers through CDP (CDP, "Engaging the Chain: Driving Speed and Scale — CDP Global Supply Chain Report 2023," 2023).
For Turkish exporters, this is a concrete commercial reality: your EU or US-based customers may use your CDP response as a criterion in purchasing decisions. Requests through the supply chain program typically arrive as: "Your customer [Company Name] is requesting your environmental data through CDP."
Five Steps to a Successful First Submission
1. Prepare Your Data Inventory
Build a foundational dataset covering your greenhouse gas emissions (at minimum Scopes 1 and 2), energy consumption data, and climate risks. An ISO 14064-1 compliant greenhouse gas inventory is a strong starting point.
2. Secure Board-Level Ownership
The CDP questionnaire directly asks whether climate issues are on the board agenda. Senior management involvement is critical both for scoring purposes and for streamlining internal coordination.
3. Use Sector-Specific Guidance
CDP publishes sector-specific guidance documents. The "First Time Responder Guide" is particularly valuable for newcomers. Review best-practice examples from your industry.
4. Build a Realistic Timeline
Completing the questionnaire typically requires 80 to 120 hours of internal work. Allocate sufficient time for data collection, internal approval processes, and quality control. Do not leave it to the final week.
5. Aim for Transparency, Not Perfection
In your first year, focus on providing responses that are as complete and honest as possible rather than trying to answer every question perfectly. Acknowledging your data gaps is far more valuable than submitting incomplete or misleading information.
What Comes Next
The CDP disclosure process is a significant milestone in any organization's journey to measure and improve its environmental performance. The first year can be challenging, but the process becomes more efficient with each iteration. CDP data is playing an increasingly central role in investor relations, customer requirements, and regulatory compliance.
Action Item: Check whether your company has received CDP requests and start your data collection process no later than February. The goal for the first year is not a perfect score — it is mastering the process.
See how enterprise teams prepare and submit CDP disclosures with confidence.