CDP
Environmental Data Disclosure and Assessment
CDP is one of the world’s leading ESG rating systems and offers companies the opportunity to disclose their sustainability performance in a structured manner. We support you from the initial assessment right through to the final report – ensuring greater transparency, optimal rating results and better information for investors, customers and regulatory authorities.
Last updated: 04.06.2026
CDP at a glance
CDP is an international non-profit organisation that operates a globally used disclosure system for environmental data. Companies provide standardised reports on climate, water and forests. Disclosure takes place via annual questionnaires and is assessed according to a clearly defined methodology. The results are relevant to investors, customers and other market participants because they show how systematically a company manages environmental impacts, risks, targets and measures. For SMEs, there is also a simplified questionnaire with its own assessment logic.
How disclosure and scoring work
Disclosure takes place once a year via the CDP platform. Companies answer the questionnaires relevant to them and disclose both qualitative and quantitative information on environmental impacts, risks, strategies, targets and actions. For each disclosure cycle, CDP publishes questionnaires, guidance and scoring methodologies in the portal.
The deadline for submitting the questionnaire in 2026 is the week of 14 September.
The assessment looks not only at whether a company discloses data, but also at how well it understands environmental impacts, manages risks and implements actions. The scoring logic follows a maturity model from Disclosure through Awareness and Management to Leadership. In the full corporate questionnaire, the scale ranges from A to D; in cases of missing or incomplete disclosure, no score is awarded or the company is classified as non-disclosing.
CDP assesses companies based on:
• Quality and completeness of disclosure
• Identification and management of environmental and climate risks
• Targets and actions for emissions reduction
• Integration of sustainability into business strategy
• Alignment with international standards such as TCFD and SBTi
Simplified Process for SMEs
Since April 2024, CDP has offered a dedicated SME Questionnaire for smaller companies. It is more compact, includes fewer and simplified data points and is tailored to the reporting capabilities of smaller businesses.
- Focus exclusively on climate change: water security and deforestation can be disclosed voluntarily, but will not be included in the assessment in 2026.
- Lower barriers to reporting: the SME questionnaire is designed to enable companies with limited human and financial resources to participate more easily in CDP disclosures.
In principle, the SME questionnaire is suitable for companies with fewer than 500 employees and less than USD 50 million in revenue. Certain slightly larger companies may also be eligible, while companies with more than 1,000 employees or more than USD 250 million in revenue cannot use the SME questionnaire.
SMEs are assessed on a separate scale from SME A to SME D. SME A was newly introduced in 2026; previously, SME B was the highest score.
Benefits of disclosure through CDP
Disclosure through CDP primarily creates transparency, comparability and alignment with market expectations. It gives companies a structured way to provide environmental information to investors, customers and other stakeholders. At the same time, the process helps identify risks, governance gaps and opportunities for improvement within a company’s own environmental management. CDP itself emphasises that disclosure and scoring help companies manage risks more effectively and identify opportunities.
In practice, CDP is often also relevant because participation is actively requested. Companies may, for example, be asked to disclose through Supply Chain Requests, Capital Markets Requests, banks or other requesters. In addition, voluntary participation as a Self-Selected Company is possible.
Your next steps
Determine the relevant questionnaire and scope of disclosure
At the outset, it should be clarified whether the full corporate questionnaire or the SME questionnaire is relevant and which environmental areas should or must actually be disclosed. The deciding factors are company size, external requests and the environmental relevance of the business activity.
Build the data foundation and supporting evidence
CDP requires structured and robust disclosure. Companies should therefore bring together relevant environmental data, responsibilities, methodologies and supporting evidence at an early stage. For the climate questionnaire, a robust greenhouse gas inventory is generally the central foundation.
Align responses specifically with quality and score
Companies that use CDP not only as a disclosure tool but also as an assessment instrument should not formulate responses in a purely descriptive way. Targets, actions, governance, strategies and supporting evidence must be prepared in such a way that they are understandable within CDP’s scoring logic and relevant to the score.
How our services support you
We support companies throughout the entire CDP process — from the initial assessment to final submission. This is not just about completing the questionnaire, but about structured preparation, robust data, a clear line of argument and a disclosure approach that fits your company.
Our support services
Book a free initial consultation.
We invite you to acquaint yourself with us – with no obligation and tailored to your specific requirements.
FAQs on CDP
CDP disclosure enhances transparency, ensures regulatory compliance, and provides investors and customers with insights into your sustainability performance.
CDP offers three questionnaires: Climate Change, Water Security, and Forests, each requiring sector-specific disclosures:
- Climate Change: CO₂ emissions (Scope 1-3), climate risks, reduction targets, energy use, and strategy alignment with global frameworks.
- Water Security: Water withdrawal, consumption, discharge, efficiency measures, risks, and management strategies.
- Forests: Sourcing of key commodities (e.g., palm oil, soy, timber), deforestation risks, supply chain traceability, and sustainability commitments.
No, participation is voluntary. However, many investors, customers, and regulators expect sustainability data.
Companies can improve their rating by providing detailed data, setting ambitious goals, implementing effective measures, and integrating sustainability into their business strategy.
We offer expert CDP consulting, from data collection to submission optimization. Request a free consultation today.
Our support includes:
- CDP score analysis and improvement recommendations
- Data collection and processing
- Questionnaire completion and review
- Pre-scoring assessment to maximize your rating