In CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) question 7.8, what counts as data obtained from suppliers, and can it come from a different year?

The supplier-data column asks what percentage of a category's emissions you calculated from data your suppliers or partners gave you, as a figure from 0 to 100. Their data may cover a different period only if three conditions hold, and you must say which period.

What the column asks

"Percentage of emissions calculated using data obtained from suppliers or value chain partners", a number from 0 to 100 with up to two decimals. It shows only for categories marked "Relevant, calculated" or "Not relevant, calculated". My reading: the percentage is of that category's emissions in the row.

What counts as supplier data

CDP says such data may be primary activity data, or emissions data calculated by suppliers that are specific to the suppliers' activities. In my reading, a spend-based figure built from your own purchase ledger and a general factor is not data from the supplier.

When a different reporting period is allowed

CDP says to use the same reporting period for data from suppliers or value chain partners. You may use a different period only if all three of these hold:

1. You use the most recent data available from suppliers or partners without undue cost or effort.
2. The length of the reporting periods is the same.
3. You disclose the effects of significant events and changes in circumstances that occurred between the supplier's reporting date and yours.

What to write in the explanation box

• The period the supplier data covers and why more recent data was not available.
• Any relevant changes since the data was collected.
• The types and sources of data, factors and global warming potential values, and how far the data is verified.

Example: Category 1 with some supplier figures

• Category 1 total: 640 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
• Of that, 256 tonnes come from two suppliers who sent their own product emissions figures.
• Share from supplier data: 256 / 640 = 0.4, so enter 40.
• Remaining 384 tonnes come from your spend ledger and average factors. The explanation box names both sources.

Numbers are an example, not a benchmark.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills into monthly records, so the litres, kilowatt hours and months are in one place to copy from. Figures from your own suppliers come from them: ask for activity data or their emissions and keep what they send.

• CDP 7.8: the five status choices
• Scope 3 data quality: five indicators
• CDP request: what to do
• Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) carbon number

Sources: CDP, Full Corporate Questionnaire Module 7 reporting guidance, April 2025 edition

Last reviewed 2026-11-05. CDP revises its questionnaire and guidance every year. Check the version your customer sent you before you answer.