Skip to content 
“We’ve seen a hell of a lot of commitments in the nature space over the past number of years, but many of them actually never materialize,” says Dexter Galvin, CDP’s global director for corporations and supply chains.
Corporations face the growing pressure to be transparent and accountable for their impact on the planet. CDP score, a powerful tool that empowers investors and stakeholders to assess a company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
What is the CDP Score?
The CDP score, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project score, is a rating system that evaluates a company’s environmental management and reporting practices. Developed by CDP, a non-profit organization at the forefront of corporate environmental transparency, the score focuses on three key areas:
- Climate Change: This category assesses a company’s approach to greenhouse gas emissions, including disclosure of their footprint, reduction activities, and strategies for adapting to climate change.
- Water Security: Here, the focus shifts to how effectively companies manage and report on water usage. This includes risk assessments, reduction strategies, and responsible water stewardship practices.
- Forest Management: The CDP score also evaluates a company’s efforts to combat deforestation and minimize the impact of their supply chain on forest ecosystems.
Decoding the CDP Score:
CDP utilizes a graded scoring system, ranging from A to D-. Let’s break down what each letter signifies:
| CDP Score | Description | Performance & Disclosure |
| A | Leadership | Exceptional environmental transparency, robust management practices, ambitious sustainability goals achieved. |
| B | Strong Management | Effective environmental impact disclosure, strong practices for managing environmental risks, working towards ambitious sustainability targets. |
| C | Awareness | Takes some steps towards environmental responsibility, discloses environmental footprint, lacks robust management practices or clear sustainability goals. |
| D | Poor | Poor environmental disclosure or performance, lacks transparency about environmental impact, inadequate strategies to address environmental challenges. |
| F | No Score | Fails to provide sufficient information to be scored, complete lack of transparency regarding environmental impact. |
Why Does the CDP Score Matter?
The CDP score is a game-changer for investors and stakeholders seeking to understand a company’s environmental commitment. Here’s how it plays a crucial role:
- Investment Decisions: With growing investor interest in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors, the CDP score provides valuable insights. A strong CDP score can significantly influence investment decisions, attracting investors who prioritize sustainability.
- Accountability and Transparency: The CDP score acts as a powerful tool for holding companies accountable for their environmental impact. By comparing scores, stakeholders can track a company’s progress over time and gauge their commitment to sustainability efforts.
Real-World Impact: Stats and Examples
- Investor Influence: A 2020 Morgan Stanley report revealed that sustainable funds attracted a staggering $50 billion in net inflows globally during the first quarter. This clearly demonstrates the growing investor focus on ESG factors, and the CDP score plays a vital role in their decision-making process. [ESG Investor Survey 2020, Morgan Stanley]
- Market Recognition: A strong CDP score can enhance a company’s brand reputation and market recognition. A 2022 Cone Communications survey found that 83% of global consumers would switch brands based on their social and environmental impact. [Cone Communications Sustainability Survey 2022] Demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility through a high CDP score can be a powerful differentiator in today’s competitive market.
Success Story: Unilever’s CDP Journey
Unilever, a leading consumer goods company, is a prime example of how a company can leverage the CDP score to drive positive change. In 2010, Unilever received a ‘C’ score, highlighting areas for improvement. Since then, the company has implemented significant sustainability initiatives, resulting in a consistent ‘A’ score for several years.
Looking Forward: The Future of Environmental Transparency
The CDP score is a powerful tool that continues to evolve, reflecting the ever-changing environmental landscape. As climate change concerns escalate and resource scarcity becomes a pressing issue, we can expect the CDP score to play an even more critical role in driving corporate accountability and promoting sustainability.
Sonal is leading product and content marketing initiatives at Zycus. She is a problem solver. She has a proven track record of defining positioning and messaging for various product modules, creating go-to-market strategies for new features and product launches, and fostering collaboration between Product Management, Sales, and Customer Success teams.
