Optera, A Leader In ESG: Scope 3 Emission Management For All

Optera, an ESG leader and carbon management software chief, has released the next steps of its supply chain management. 

This generational step will aid companies in meeting regulatory requirements for Scope 3 emission reporting. 

The updated version offers enhanced capabilities for managing supply chain emission data at a minuscule level, which drives organisations to expand their decarbonisation efforts. 

With the execution of these regulations, the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act are key examples. 

As supply chains become more essential but also more complex, it is crucial that companies increase their transparency and data collection regarding Scope 3 and supply chain emissions. 

Who are Optera?

Founded in 2006, Optera is the carbon management software for bold climate action, keeping an eco-conscious outlook to help reduce scope 3 emissions. 

Due to the increase of sustainability expertise, Optera can aid global corporations to reduce their environmental impact by providing: 

• Credible carbon accounting for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions 
• Actionable insights and forecasts
• Tools to collaborate with supply chain and investment partners.

Due to Optera’s expertise, the company can track over 225M tonnes of CO2 across 84,000 customer sites. 

Optera is dedicated to cutting Scope 3 emissions across all sectors, partnering with leading NGOs like BSR and CDP, the World Economic Forum and tech giants like HPE and Dell. 

Optera’s Operation

Optera is amplifying its Supply Chain Manager platform to aid organisations, aiming to meet these emerging requirements more efficiently and quickly. 

The latest research priorities from sustainability professionals include:

• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Financial services
• Information technology. 

These emerging science-based targets (SBTs) are becoming the new standard. 

The new supply chain manager project involves: 

• More detailed supplier data: Facility-level and business unit emissions data from suppliers, with the ability to incorporate product-level emissions insights in the near future
• Increased calculation transparency: The platform displays emissions calculations, sources and emissions factor mapping within the interface – supporting data traceability for sustainability teams, stakeholders and auditors 
• Faster time from onboarding to report: Access to initial supply chain emissions data in weeks for a faster start to their category 1 inventory, with automated reporting to streamline submission for the most common reporting frameworks
• Enhanced user interface: Collaboration among cross-functional teams, including company leadership and other stakeholders outside of sustainability teams.

Tim Weiss, CEO and co-founder of Optera explains, “We're not just providing a tool; we're enabling a transformative approach to sustainability.

"With enhanced supplier data granularity, transparent calculations and accelerated time to insight, Optera is making it easier than ever for companies to drive climate action throughout their value chains."

The Operation Outline

The upgraded platform builds on Optera’s existing features, featuring a new database consisting of emission data from over 10,000 companies. 

The new feature also includes advanced upstream calculation methods and supplier quality standard data. 

Communication is essential across the whole supply chain for emission reporting, a survey found:

• 73% have set a science-based target
• 70% of respondents are working across their value chain to help suppliers decarbonise
• Over 90% report emissions either publicly or to regulators and customers.

The affected scope 3 emissions 

• Category 1 - Purchased Goods and Services:  Emissions associated with the production of goods and services purchased by the reporting company
• Category 2 - Capital Goods: Emissions from the production of long-term assets used by the company, such as machinery or buildings
• Category 3 - Fuel- and Energy-Related Activities: Indirect emissions from fuel and energy production not covered in Scope 1 or 2 – including extraction, production, and transportation
• Category 4 - Upstream and Downstream Transportation and Distribution: Emissions from transportation and distribution services within the supply chain for products or services purchased or sold
• Category 5 - Waste Generated in Operations: Emissions from waste disposal and treatment due to company activities – relevant if waste management data is part of the emissions data Optera tracks
• Categories 6 and 7 - Business Travel and Employee Commuting: Emissions from corporate travel and employee commuting, often reported within Scope 3
• Category 11 - Use of Sold Products: Emissions from customer use of products – relevant for IT and manufacturing sectors
• Category 12 - End-of-Life Treatment of Sold Products: Emissions from the disposal and treatment of sold products at the end of their lifecycle.

The upgrades follow Optera’s recent release of its Outreach Module. The Module, along with the new Manager project enables companies to collect emission data directly from suppliers at various stages of emission reporting readiness.

Tim comments: "These metrics underscore the critical role our Supply Chain Manager plays in today's sustainability landscape, giving companies the data and collaborative capabilities necessary to make substantial value chain emissions reductions," 

Optera's enhanced supply chain platform marks a critical step for companies tackling Scope 3 emissions, often the largest part of their carbon footprint. By improving data detail, transparency and reporting speed, Optera helps organisations meet regulatory standards like the EU's CARD and drives meaningful, value-chain-wide decarbonisation. 

This evolution reinforces the essential role of Scope 3 management in advancing corporate sustainability goals.

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