CDP reporting is becoming a pretty big deal for companies everywhere, especially heading into 2025. More businesses are being asked to share details about their environmental impact, not just by investors, but also by customers and even governments. If you haven't dealt with CDP reporting yet, chances are you will soon. The process can feel overwhelming at first—there are deadlines, lots of data to gather, and new topics like biodiversity and plastics that keep popping up. But getting it right can mean better relationships with investors, a stronger reputation, and even savings down the line. This guide breaks down what you need to know about CDP reporting for 2025, from who needs to report to what's changing this year.

Key Takeaways

• Start collecting your environmental data early to avoid any last-minute headaches.
• Understand which CDP questionnaires apply to your business, since requirements can change from year to year.
• Third-party verification is more important than ever if you want a strong CDP score.
• CDP reporting now covers more topics, like biodiversity and plastics, so be ready for broader questions.
• A good CDP score can help your business stand out to investors, customers, and partners.

Understanding CDP Reporting and Its Global Impact

Origins and Evolution of CDP Reporting

CDP, known originally as the Carbon Disclosure Project, began back in 2000. It started as a straightforward tool for companies to tell investors about their climate impact. Over time, the whole thing snowballed. What was once a small survey shared by only a couple hundred businesses is now an international reporting machine. Fast forward to 2025: over 24,000 companies around the world are using the CDP system each year. The focus expanded too—what used to be only climate questions now covers water, forests, biodiversity, and even plastic use. CDP has quietly set the standard for environmental data, giving everyone a common language for disclosure.

• Began with just climate data in 2000
• Broadened coverage to water, forestry, biodiversity, plastics
• Changed their name to just "CDP" in 2013
• Offers a trusted way for businesses to track, compare, and improve their environmental impact

CDP’s growth isn’t just about more paperwork; it’s changed how companies talk about their role in the world and raised the bar for what everyone considers normal disclosure.

Who Participates in CDP Disclosure

The reach of CDP is massive these days. Not just mega-corporations anymore:

• Public companies, private businesses
• Small and medium-sized suppliers
• Cities and regional governments
• Investors and financial institutions

Even industries that didn’t initially see the point—think retailers or manufacturers—are feeling pressure to join in, mostly because their larger customers and partners ask for it. Supply chain requests are driving a huge part of the reporting growth. In fact, in 2025, cities and states are also using CDP platforms to report their environmental risks and progress, so it’s not just for businesses anymore.

Why CDP Reporting Matters in 2025

So, why does CDP have everyone’s attention now? There’s a handful of reasons:

1. Investor and customer pressure. Some big funds won’t even look at companies without a respectable CDP score.
2. Regulations are catching up. Governments and trade groups are starting to point to CDP as a model for what data should look like.
3. Peer benchmarking. Because tens of thousands of organizations use CDP, it creates fair comparisons for performance.

Here’s a quick table showing CDP’s growth:

In 2025, reporting to CDP is less about ticking boxes and more about shaping environmental priorities across entire industries and markets. Most companies that take part say the practice actually highlights savings, risks, and business opportunities they wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.

Key Elements of the 2025 CDP Reporting Cycle

Understanding the structure and expectations of the 2025 CDP reporting cycle is a must for any business looking to stay aligned with growing expectations for environmental transparency. Let’s go step by step through the main aspects: timelines, the changing questionnaire, and who’s in scope to report this year.

Timeline and Deadlines for Disclosure

The CDP reporting window is set up so companies have a clear start and finish each year. For 2025:

• Questionnaires and guidance are released early in Q1.
• The online response portal (ORS) opens in Q2 of 2025.
• Submissions are due before the end of Q3, usually by mid-to-late July.
• Scores are published in Q4, providing organizations and stakeholders a look at how each company performed.

Getting your data organized before Q2 makes the whole process less stressful and leaves room for quality checks, which can help avoid last-minute mistakes.

Types of Questionnaires and Their Focus Areas

In 2025, the CDP streamlined its disclosure by combining what used to be separate questionnaires (for climate, forests, water, and other factors) into one single, comprehensive form. This means:

• All environmental elements—climate, water, forests, biodiversity, and plastics—are now included.
• Different versions exist for companies, cities, regions, and financial institutions.
• The structure prompts for both quantitative metrics and open responses, based on activity and sector.

Main sections in the 2025 questionnaire:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, 3)
2. Water usage, risks, and impacts
3. Deforestation and land-use change
4. Biodiversity impacts and priorities
5. Plastic use and waste management

For more context on evolving environmental disclosure, including regulatory updates and specific reporting topics like carbon neutrality, see these ESG resource guides.

Who Is Required to Report and Why

Who needs to submit a CDP report is not always straightforward, but in 2025, the net is wider than ever:

• If you receive a formal request from an investor or large customer (often as part of their supply chain management), you’ll be expected to respond.
• Many regulations and voluntary commitments now reference or require CDP-aligned data, pulling in more mid-sized firms and even some small businesses.
• Publicly listed companies, particularly those in high-impact industries, are regularly prioritized by CDP for disclosure due to their influence and risk profile.

Key drivers behind mandatory or encouraged reporting include:

• Investor and lender demand for transparent ESG information
• Customer pressure, especially from large retailers and manufacturers
• Regulatory compliance under global climate and sustainability frameworks

The push for CDP participation in 2025 is reshaping how companies interact with both financial and supply chain partners, often making it less about compliance and more about long-term business viability.

As more stakeholders expect high-quality, comparable environmental data, understanding these CDP reporting basics is no longer a nice-to-have—it's quickly becoming table stakes for many organizations.

Data Collection and Verification for CDP Reporting

Gathering the right information for CDP reporting in 2025 feels like a full-time job, but there’s no way around it if your company wants to show it takes sustainability seriously. Diligent data collection and careful verification are the backbone of a strong CDP submission. Here’s how companies can get things right this year:

Environmental Metrics Required in 2025

In 2025, organizations need to pull together a whole bunch of environmental metrics—gone are the days of just checking your carbon footprint. The CDP asks for:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—broken down into Scope 1, 2, and 3 (more on those in a bit)
• Energy consumption and sources (renewable vs. non-renewable)
• Water withdrawal and discharge data
• Deforestation and land use impacts
• Biodiversity risks and plastic use
• Climate change risks and mitigation strategies

To keep track, many companies use spreadsheets or sustainability software, especially since these numbers must line up with what’s in other ESG reports (see how standards compare with sustainability reporting frameworks).

Third-Party Assurance and Verification Processes

Verification is more than a box to check if you want to score well. CDP scores now place real weight on third-party assurance—especially for GHG emissions data. This means providing evidence your numbers have been audited, usually by an established verifier.

These are typical steps for assurance:

1. Choose a verification provider, such as an environmental consultancy or audit firm.
2. Collect supporting documentation for claimed figures (utility bills, invoices, supplier statements).
3. Undergo interviews and sampling of your data sources.
4. Receive an assurance statement to upload to the CDP portal.

Some companies just get their emissions numbers verified, while others go for full assurance of every data point—depends on resources, but more is always better for credibility.

Reliable verification demonstrates a company’s commitment to transparency and helps avoid nasty surprises during CDP scoring.

Handling Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions Data

This part gives people headaches. Scope 1 and 2 are within your control:

• Scope 1: Direct, like fuel your buildings burn
• Scope 2: Indirect, mostly purchased energy

Scope 3, though, is trickier—it covers everything up and down your value chain, from suppliers to product disposal. Most of the time, this means chasing suppliers for data or using estimates if that’s all you can get.

Common challenges companies face:

• Lack of reliable supplier data
• Inconsistent tracking methods
• Gaps in understanding where emissions happen outside their operations

To handle this better in 2025, companies are:

• Building closer supplier relationships
• Mandating data sharing as a contract condition
• Using lifecycle analysis or tools to fill in gaps

Collecting and verifying all this data isn’t quick or easy, but it’s the only way to make sure your CDP report stands up to the scrutiny. And if it keeps investors and regulators off your back? Probably worth the effort.

The CDP Scoring Process and Performance Benchmarks

If you’ve ever wondered how CDP puts a number (well, actually a letter) on your company’s environmental efforts, you’re not alone. CDP uses a simple A to F grading system that digs into both the detail and quality of your disclosure and your actual performance. The scoring reviews whether you’re just sharing basic info or showing real management and leadership.

Here’s what those CDP scores actually mean:

CDP isn’t just about ticking boxes. It looks at your disclosure’s completeness, your approach to managing environmental issues, and if you’re setting the pace on sustainability.

Getting an "A" puts you on a select list that most never reach—but even just improving a grade can make a big difference internally and with outside stakeholders.

Leadership means going further than the minimum. To make it onto the CDP A-List, your business will need to show evidence that you’re ahead on matters like governance, strategy, risk management, and setting actual, trackable targets. For 2025, more attention is placed on verified emissions data, particularly around Scope 3 numbers like supply-chain impacts.

Benchmarks are based on how peers in your sector score, so you’re not just trying to do well individually, but also outshine direct competitors. Some industries have stricter expectations—think energy, manufacturing, and food. If you want to stand out, it helps to compare your progress with these CDP benchmark levels, especially when you’re aiming for strong ESG ratings and business advantages.

Raising your CDP score isn’t luck; it’s about planning and steady work. Here are a few key actions you can take:

1. Get a clear sustainability strategy in place, with top leadership directly involved.
2. Quantify your risks and track progress—don’t guess, use real data every year.
3. Have your reported numbers (especially emissions) checked by credible, independent verifiers.
4. Explain your targets and make sure they’re grounded in science, not just vague goals.
5. Line up your reporting with frameworks like GRI or SASB, to ensure consistency.

Take time to do these steps—don’t rush. Even small companies can make meaningful progress, and the extra effort gets noticed by investors and supply chain partners.

Aiming for a higher CDP score helps you organize your environmental reporting and proves your business is serious about sustainability.

Practical Steps to Prepare for CDP Reporting

Getting ready for CDP reporting in 2025 means being methodical, timely, and willing to get your hands into the nitty-gritty of your organization’s environmental data. You can’t just slap a report together last-minute and expect a good score. Here’s what the process should look like:

Planning a Robust Sustainability Strategy

So first off, make a plan. Don’t wait until the portal is about to close—this isn’t a college essay you can pull off all-nighter style. Companies that breathe easy during reporting season usually have a few things in common:

• Set clear reporting objectives for environmental performance.
• Pinpoint data sources across departments—think energy teams, procurement, operations, and even HR.
• Map out who owns each piece of the reporting process (and make sure they know it).
• Lay down scheduled checkpoints to keep everyone on track.

If you’re stuck at the strategy phase, remember: a simple outline today saves a world of scrambling tomorrow.

Integrating Sustainability Into Governance and Risk

Building sustainability into daily decision-making isn’t just about policies—it’s about habits. Companies doing this well typically:

1. Assign oversight to senior leaders who can push through roadblocks.
2. Add environmental performance to risk assessments and business planning.
3. Make periodic reviews of sustainability progress part of routine meetings.
4. Get buy-in from senior management, so it isn’t the “green team’s” burden alone.

Here's a quick table highlighting common governance tasks and who usually owns them:

Setting and Tracking Environmental Targets

This part is where you roll up your sleeves and make commitments. Companies aren’t just gathering data for the sake of it; they set, monitor, and revise real targets. In 2025, your process could look like:

• Pick specific KPIs for climate, water, forest, and now plastics and biodiversity.
• Set targets with years and numbers attached (not just “reduce emissions someday”).
• Track progress monthly or quarterly, not just at reporting time.
• Regularly review targets and adjust upward if you’re overachieving—or fix problems if you’re falling behind.

Consistent tracking not only boosts your CDP score, but it builds credibility with investors, customers, and your own employees.

Preparing for CDP isn’t just about filling in metrics—it’s about building habits that leave your company poised for any sustainability request that comes your way.

Benefits of CDP Reporting for Businesses and Stakeholders

Participating in CDP reporting isn’t just another box to check—it can really change how a business is seen from the outside and how it handles environmental risks on the inside. As of now, most large organizations and, increasingly, their suppliers are requested to report and improve their transparency about environmental impacts. Let’s look at exactly how this plays out for companies, investors, and the wider set of stakeholders.

Improving Investor and Supply Chain Relations

Investors pay close attention to CDP scores and disclosures. This is because they want to understand whether companies are aware of, prepared for, and actively managing environmental risks. The CDP, according to its supporters, helps with risk identification, so the business can act before trouble hits. Some key details:

• Many investment funds require a minimum CDP score (e.g., B or higher) for companies to be considered for their portfolios.
• Suppliers serving major brands (like Nike, Microsoft, and Airbus) are often required to submit environmental disclosures through CDP.
• By sharing data, companies avoid getting dropped by big customers who want cleaner supply chains.

There's more on how companies use CDP data to assess risk in their operations at improved environmental responsibility.

Unlocking Business Value Through Transparency

Open disclosure through CDP goes beyond reputation—it has practical business benefits too, such as:

• Identifying energy cost savings: Tracking emissions can reveal areas for efficiency and real cost cuts.
• Creating competitive advantage: Businesses using CDP tend to set themselves apart from peers who aren’t transparent.
• Stronger brand trust: Stakeholders, including customers and employees, value companies that are upfront about their challenges and progress.

CDP reporting works best when it’s not just a compliance exercise, but part of a bigger shift toward transparency and smarter decision-making in the company.

Influences on ESG Ratings and Access to Capital

These days, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings can decide how easily companies find money and partners. Here’s how CDP disclosure feeds into that:

1. CDP data is widely used by global ESG rating agencies like Bloomberg, MSCI, and Euronext.
2. Higher CDP scores can directly boost ESG ratings, as these agencies trust CDP’s data quality.
3. An improved ESG rating can unlock lower borrowing rates or wider investor interest.

It’s not just about getting an "A" on the report card. These disclosures translate into real-world business advantages—lower costs, new business, and stronger brand value.

Altogether, CDP reporting is about showing leadership, being prepared for the next round of regulations, and attracting attention—from the right stakeholders and investors—by just being honest about where the company stands and where it still needs to go.

New Developments and Trends in CDP Reporting for 2025

CDP reporting saw some huge shifts in 2024. This year, in 2025, there’s less dramatic change but a clear pattern of consolidating—making it simpler and more focused.

Integration of Biodiversity and Plastic Use Questions

Last year, CDP rolled out a single questionnaire that covers not just climate, water, and forestry, but biodiversity and plastic use too. That means companies now address all environmental factors in one streamlined survey.

• Biodiversity and plastics are no longer add-ons—they have equal weight alongside climate, water, and forestry.
• The main questionnaire applies to most, but there’s also a version for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), making the process more manageable for those with fewer resources.
• Environmental themes are treated as interlinked—not separate silos.

With this integration, companies need to pull data from broader parts of their operations, breaking down walls between teams.

Updates to Reporting Guidance and Requirements

2025 brings stability. The major overhaul last year means this year, companies can rely on a more consistent approach. Still, there are a few updates worth noting:

• SME questionnaires remain simpler—fewer data points, clearer instructions, stripped-down questions.
• More hands-on support and detailed help guides are available to walk businesses through tough questions.
• Alignment with standards like ISSB (S2) improves comparability across disclosures, reducing duplication of effort.
• Some companies can use a minimum version of the questionnaire if they’re reporting due to a supply chain request and their revenue is under $250 million.

Many businesses feel relieved by the steadier ground in 2025, giving them more confidence in meeting the updated reporting guidance and requirements without scrambling to adjust to something entirely new.

Expanding Role of Technology in CDP Submissions

Technology has become a backbone for CDP reporting in 2025. Here’s what’s trending now:

1. Automation tools for GHG tracking are more common, especially among those looking to submit timely, mistake-free data.
2. Online portals are more user-friendly, with built-in data checks and tips for common mistakes.
3. Integration with ERP and data management systems helps companies pull environmental metrics without manual number crunching.
4. Some platforms are even connecting their CDP data with customer data platform insights, as discussed in the CDP Institute's July 2025 report.

Benefits of investing in tech for CDP:

• Fast, clean data collection
• Lower risk of errors
• Time saved for overworked sustainability teams

2025 is less about adapting to major new rules and more about using smarter tools and better guidance to ensure clear, accurate, and transparent environmental disclosure. That’s how companies are finding it easier to keep up and show stakeholders that they take environmental issues—and reporting—seriously.

The world of CDP reporting is quickly changing as 2025 gets closer. Companies are using easier tools and new ideas to make their reports better and more helpful. Stay ahead—check out all our resources and tips to help your business get ready for these changes. Visit our website to learn more and get the latest updates.

Conclusion

So, that’s CDP reporting in a nutshell for 2025. It’s not just about filling out forms or chasing a score—it’s about showing your cards when it comes to the environment. More companies are being asked to report every year, and the process is getting more detailed. If you’re running a business, big or small, it’s smart to start collecting your data early and get your team on board. The sooner you get used to tracking things like emissions and water use, the easier it’ll be when the next reporting cycle rolls around. CDP isn’t going away, and being open about your environmental impact is quickly becoming the norm. It might feel like a lot at first, but taking it step by step makes it manageable. Plus, it’s a good way to spot where you can save money or improve how you do things. In the end, CDP reporting is just another part of running a responsible business in today’s world. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of tools and people out there who can help. Just remember: transparency is the name of the game, and it’s better to get ahead of it now than scramble later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CDP reporting?

CDP reporting is when companies share information about how their actions affect the environment. This includes things like how much pollution they create and what they are doing to help the planet. CDP stands for Carbon Disclosure Project, which is a group that collects this information from businesses all over the world.

Is CDP reporting required by law?

No, CDP reporting is not a legal requirement for most companies. But, many big customers, investors, and even some supply chain partners ask companies to report to CDP. Sometimes, if you want to work with certain companies or be included in special investment groups, you need to complete CDP reporting.

Who needs to fill out the CDP questionnaire?

Any company can fill out the CDP questionnaire, but most often, large businesses and their suppliers are asked to do it. Some cities, regions, and even investors also use CDP to share their environmental data. If your company is part of a big supply chain or works with large brands, you might be asked to participate.

What kind of information do companies report to CDP?

Companies report facts and numbers about their environmental impact, like how much energy they use, how much greenhouse gas they produce, and what steps they are taking to reduce harm to the environment. In 2025, companies also answer questions about water use, forests, biodiversity, and plastics.

How does CDP scoring work?

After a company sends in their answers, CDP reviews the information and gives a score from A to F. The score shows how well the company understands and manages its environmental impact. Higher scores mean better actions and more transparency.

Why should my company participate in CDP reporting?

Being part of CDP reporting can help your company look more trustworthy and responsible. It can make it easier to get new customers or investors, improve your reputation, and sometimes even save money by finding ways to use less energy or resources. It also helps your company keep up with new rules and expectations about caring for the environment.