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Updated on: August 01, 2025

Got an ESG Data Request from a Customer or Investor? Here's What to Do

You’ve just received an email from a major customer or investor asking for your “climate disclosures” or “ESG data.” If your first reaction is Wait, what does that even mean?, you’re not alone.

More and more companies especially suppliers and vendors are being asked to share sustainability data. It might be through a formal platform like EcoVadis, CDP, or BRSR Core or as a direct request for your carbon footprint and other ESG metrics.

And this isn’t just happening to big enterprises. MSMEs, franchisees, and even small logistics and packaging vendors are feeling the ripple effect.

In this article, we break it down:

Why you're getting these requests
What it actually means
And how to respond without getting overwhelmed

Why are you being asked for Climate or ESG disclosures ?

There are three main drivers :

Your customers are under pressure to report on their Scope 3 emissions

Large companies especially those reporting under BRSR, EU regulations, or EcoVadis/CDP, need to account for emissions across their supply chain (called Scope 3). That means they need data from you, even if you’re not legally required to report yourself.

Preferences are changing very quickly

It’s not just about regulation or compliance. Your buyers, partners, and customers increasingly prefer companies that are low-carbon, transparent, and future-ready. Sustainability is becoming a procurement differentiator. Green credentials are helping close deals. B2B contracts and RFPs increasingly include ESG clauses.

Investors want to assess your climate risks

If you're raising capital, through equity or debt, investors are increasingly assessing climate risk and ESG performance. Even Indian banks are starting to incorporate ESG filters, especially as the RBI’s climate disclosure norms start phasing in.

What should you do next ?

Here’s a simplified plan to help you respond confidently, even if you’ve never done this before.

Step 1 : Clarify what’s being asked

Find out :

Who is requesting the data an investor, or a buyer ?
What scope of information is needed ? For example check whether they want just Scope 1 and 2 or Scope 3. data also.
Is the format standardized (CDP, EcoVadis, BRSR) or their own internal format ?

Define your boundaries

Before you begin collecting data define :

Which operations and facilities fall under your control ?
Are you a subsidiary or part of a group ? Who holds financial or operational control ?
Which emission sources or ESG metrics are material to your operations ?

Identify the data you already have

Many companies already maintain :

Utility Bills
Fuel Logs
Travel Records
Safety, HR or CSR policies
And if nothing else, you always have your spend data as a starting point

Don’t start from scratch, you probably already have 50% of what is needed.

Get internal alignment

Bring together a small cross functional group :

Operations (for energy/waste/logistics data)
Finance (for procurement and reporting)
HR (for people related data and policies)

You don’t always need a separate sustainability team, but you do require clear data owners.

Use standard frameworks

Even if you’re responding informally, aligning your data with global standards builds trust. Use:

GHG Protocol to calculate emissions
BRSR or GRI to structure your ESG metrics and policies

Don’t try to be perfect, just be transparent

If you don’t have exact data, use estimates, but explain the basis. If you can’t cover all emission sources, just note what’s excluded and why. Document methodologies and keep proofs for all all your claims ready in case of an audit or supplementary request.

Leverage technology

Tracking emissions manually through spreadsheets is slow, error-prone, and hard to scale, especially when customers expect standardized data across multiple frameworks. A smarter way is to use a climate management platform like Klimates that automates calculations, organizes your data, and prepares audit-ready reports, whether you're disclosing through CDP, EcoVadis, BRSR core, or for a customer’s internal format or questionnaire.

Common Challenges and How to Handle Them

Don’t let a disclosure request panic you. This isn’t about ticking boxes or impressing a global rating agency. It’s about showing your partners, customers, and investors that you're serious about the future, and that you’re building a responsible, resilient business.

And if you get started today, you’ll be ready not just for this request, but the many that will follow.

You can Book a demo of Klimates to see how it can help you prepare for ESG and climate disclosures

hello@klimates.earth

Request a demo

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