CDP Reporting: A Complete Guide for UK Companies

The Global Standard for Environmental Disclosure

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What is CDP?

CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) is the world's leading environmental disclosure platform. Over 18,700 companies worth 50% of global market capitalization disclose through CDP, making it the gold standard for corporate environmental transparency.

18,700+

Companies Reporting

£110tn

Assets Under Management

680+

Investor Signatories

280+

Major Purchasers

CDP Disclosure Programs

Climate Change

Disclose greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks and opportunities, governance, and strategy. Most comprehensive program covering Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

  • • GHG emissions inventory
  • • Climate risk assessment
  • • Transition planning
  • • Target setting & performance

Water Security

Report water usage, risks, and management strategies. Critical for water-intensive industries and operations in water-stressed regions.

  • • Water accounting
  • • Water risk exposure
  • • Water governance
  • • Water targets & initiatives

Forests

Address deforestation risks in supply chains. Focuses on key forest-risk commodities: timber, cattle, soy, and palm oil.

  • • Supply chain mapping
  • • Deforestation policies
  • • Traceability systems
  • • Forest conservation

CDP Scoring Methodology

A

Leadership

Best practice environmental management and disclosure

B

Management

Taking coordinated action on environmental issues

C

Awareness

Knowledge of impacts on, and of, environmental issues

D

Disclosure

Transparent about environmental impacts

Scoring Criteria Include:

  • • Completeness of disclosure
  • • Awareness of environmental issues
  • • Management methods
  • • Progress towards environmental stewardship
  • • Board-level oversight
  • • Environmental targets
  • • Risk assessment quality
  • • Third-party verification

CDP Reporting Process

1

Registration

January - March

Register on CDP platform. Receive invitation from investors or customers, or self-select to report.

2

Data Collection

March - May

Gather environmental data including emissions, water usage, targets, governance structures, and risk assessments.

3

Questionnaire Completion

May - July

Complete relevant CDP questionnaires (Climate, Water, Forests). Average completion time: 40-60 hours.

4

Internal Review

July

Review responses for accuracy and completeness. Ensure alignment with other corporate disclosures.

5

Submission

July 31

Submit final responses by deadline. Late submissions may not be scored or published.

6

Scoring & Results

December

Receive CDP score and benchmark report. Scores published on CDP website and shared with stakeholders.

Benefits of CDP Reporting

Investor Confidence

680+ investors with £110 trillion AUM use CDP data for investment decisions. CDP A-List companies see 5.5% higher share price performance.

Risk Management

Identify and manage climate, water, and deforestation risks. Build resilience against physical and transition risks. Meet regulatory requirements.

Competitive Advantage

Win business from 280+ major purchasers requiring CDP disclosure. Access preferential supplier status and green finance opportunities.

CDP in the UK Context

UK CDP Statistics

  • •1,100+ UK companies reporting to CDP
  • •49 UK companies on 2023 A-List
  • •FTSE 100: 92% CDP participation
  • •Average UK score: B (Management level)

Regulatory Alignment

CDP reporting aligns with UK mandatory requirements:

  • • TCFD - Climate risk disclosure
  • • SECR - Energy and carbon reporting
  • • UK SRS - Sustainability reporting (coming)
  • • UK Green Taxonomy alignment

CDP Performance by Sector

Financial Services

Average Score:B+
  • • Strong governance disclosure
  • • Leading on TCFD alignment
  • • Focus on financed emissions

Manufacturing

Average Score:B
  • • Strong on operational emissions
  • • Supply chain challenges
  • • Innovation in low-carbon products

Energy & Utilities

Average Score:B-
  • • Transition planning focus
  • • Renewable energy targets
  • • Physical risk exposure high

Tips for CDP Success

Do's

  • ✓Start early - allow 3-4 months for first submission
  • ✓Get board-level buy-in and oversight
  • ✓Use CDP's guidance documents and scoring methodology
  • ✓Align with Science Based Targets
  • ✓Get third-party verification for emissions data
  • ✓Be transparent about challenges and improvement plans

Don'ts

  • ✗Leave responses blank - use 'Not Applicable' if needed
  • ✗Submit without internal review and sign-off
  • ✗Copy previous year without updating
  • ✗Ignore Scope 3 emissions - attempt estimation
  • ✗Miss the July 31 deadline
  • ✗Provide inconsistent data across questions

CDP Frequently Asked Questions

Is CDP reporting mandatory in the UK?
CDP is voluntary but increasingly expected by investors and customers. It complements mandatory UK reporting likeSECR andTCFD. Many FTSE companies treat it as quasi-mandatory due to investor pressure.
How much does CDP reporting cost?
CDP charges an annual administrative fee of £925 for first-time disclosers, £1,175 for companies disclosing for 3+ years. Additional costs include data collection (£10,000-50,000), consultant support (£15,000-40,000), and verification (£5,000-20,000).
What's the difference between CDP and TCFD?
TCFD provides a framework for climate-related financial disclosures, while CDP is a disclosure platform with scoring. CDP's climate questionnaire is fully aligned with TCFD recommendations. Completing CDP effectively satisfies TCFD requirements while providing additional benefits like scoring and benchmarking.
How can we improve our CDP score?
Key improvement areas: Set Science Based Targets, improve Scope 3 disclosure, implement board-level oversight, conduct scenario analysis, get third-party verification, and demonstrate year-on-year performance improvements.
Should SMEs report to CDP?
CDP offers a simplified questionnaire for SMEs and private companies. Benefits include meeting customer requirements, accessing green finance, and building ESG credentials. Consider starting with CDP's supply chain program if you're a supplier to large corporations.

Official CDP & Environmental Disclosure Resources

CDP Official Platform

Global environmental disclosure system and scoring methodology

TCFD Framework

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures guidelines

UN Climate Action

UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign and climate commitments

Science Based Targets

SBTi validation and climate target setting guidance

GHG Protocol

Greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standards

CDSB

Climate Disclosure Standards Board reporting framework

We Mean Business Coalition

Corporate climate action and disclosure advocacy

ISSB Standards

International sustainability disclosure standards development

IIGCC

Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change guidance

Carbon Trust

Independent carbon footprint certification and standards

WBCSD

World Business Council for Sustainable Development resources

UK Government Guidance

Official UK environmental reporting guidance for businesses

Start Your CDP Journey

Join 18,700+ companies demonstrating environmental leadership through CDP

Free CDP Readiness Assessment

Understand your readiness and pathway to CDP A-List status

Related Reporting Standards

TCFD Reporting

Climate-related financial disclosures aligned with CDP

Science Based Targets

Set targets recognized by CDP for leadership scoring

UK Carbon Reporting

Navigate all UK reporting requirements including CDP