We’ve kicked off our mini webinar series on disclosure frameworks with an in-depth session on CDP reporting. Corinne Hanson, Greenplaces VP of Sustainability, and Andrew Rizkallah, Greenplaces Director of Sustainability Reporting, shared valuable insights on what companies need to know for the upcoming reporting cycle.

This session marks the beginning of our comprehensive series that will continue through June, exploring essential sustainability frameworks that matter most to growing businesses.

Key updates for CDP reporting 2025

After a year of transformative changes in 2024, CDP is prioritizing stability for the 2025 reporting cycle. Companies preparing for CDP reporting in 2025 should understand these critical developments:

Commitment to stability and consistency: CDP has confirmed minimal changes to the questionnaire structure and portal interface for 2025, allowing companies to build on their previous submission experiences without navigating significant new technical challenges.

Refined scoring methodology: The complete scoring methodology for 2025 will be released in early May, providing essential guidance for companies aiming to improve their environmental disclosure ratings and demonstrate year-over-year progress.

SME questionnaire continuation: The streamlined questionnaire option for small and medium enterprises remains available, offering an accessible entry point for companies new to environmental disclosure while still allowing them to meet stakeholder expectations.

Enhanced essential criteria: Building on the expansion of essential criteria to B and C scoring levels in 2024, these critical questions will continue to be important gatekeepers for score advancement, particularly in governance and risk management modules.

Critical CDP reporting 2025 deadlines

The CDP disclosure cycle follows a structured timeline that companies must adhere to for successful submission:

Scoring criteria publication: Early May 2025 – This documentation will provide crucial insights into assessment standards and point allocation.

Official reporting portal opening: June 16, 2025 – Companies can begin inputting their environmental data and responses once the portal launches.

Final submission deadline: September 15, 2025 – All responses must be completed by this date to receive official scoring and recognition.

CDP scoring landscape and competitive analysis

Environmental disclosure standards continue to evolve as sustainability reporting becomes increasingly mainstream across global markets:

Growing participation with limited excellence: While 95% of the world’s largest companies now publish carbon targets, achieving leadership status remains exclusive—only about 2% of reporting companies receive an A rating, highlighting the rigorous standards of truly exemplary environmental disclosure.

Broader success distribution: Companies achieving an A score in at least one environmental category (climate, water, or forests) increased by approximately 30% in 2024, demonstrating incremental progress across disclosure themes.

Extended essential criteria framework: The expansion of essential criteria scoring to management (B) and awareness (C) levels has created more structured pathways for improvement while raising the bar for advancement beyond disclosure-only ratings.

Comprehensive CDP questionnaire structure

Comprehensive company profile including revenue details, sector classification, and operational descriptions that contextualize all subsequent responses.

Detailed methodology for identifying, assessing, and managing environmental impacts throughout the value chain, including upstream supplier relationships and downstream customer interactions.

Specific disclosure of identified environmental risks and opportunities, including financial impact estimations, timeframes, and response strategies.

Environmental oversight mechanisms at board and management levels, including responsibility structures and internal reporting procedures.

Integration of environmental considerations into corporate planning across short, medium, and long-term horizons.

Organizational boundary definitions and subsidiary inclusion methodology that clarifies the scope of environmental reporting.

Comprehensive carbon accounting across all scopes, with detailed breakdowns by category, activity, and geography.

Deforestation risk assessment, management approaches, and performance metrics related to forest-risk commodities.

Water stewardship practices, watershed impact assessment, and water risk management strategies.

Optional but increasingly important sections covering emerging environmental impact areas.

SME questionnaire: Making CDP reporting 2025 accessible

Recognizing varied organizational capacities, CDP maintains tailored options for smaller companies:

Clear eligibility guidelines: Companies with revenue up to $50M and headcount up to 500 are automatically recommended for the SME questionnaire, while those with revenue up to $250M and headcount up to 1,000 have flexibility to choose between questionnaire formats.

Streamlined response requirements: The SME questionnaire contains a maximum of 57 questions—substantially fewer than the full corporate questionnaire—significantly reducing the resource investment required for participation.

Strategic entry point: For companies beginning their sustainability reporting journey, the SME questionnaire provides a structured framework for gradual capability development while still meeting baseline disclosure expectations.

Greenplaces’ comprehensive CDP reporting support

Greenplaces offers end-to-end assistance throughout the CDP reporting 2025 cycle:

Data collection and management: Our platform streamlines the gathering of emissions data, utility information, and sustainability metrics required for comprehensive CDP responses.

Module 7 integration: Direct mapping of carbon footprint data from the Greenplaces platform to CDP’s Energy and Emissions module, ensuring consistency and accuracy in environmental performance reporting.

Response development support: Expert guidance for crafting effective responses that address scoring methodology requirements while accurately reflecting your sustainability initiatives.

Gap analysis and strategy enhancement: Identification of disclosure weaknesses and strategic opportunities for program development to improve future CDP performance.

Direct submission assistance: Technical support throughout the submission process, ensuring complete and timely filing through CDP’s integrated portal.

Stay connected for ongoing CDP insights

Maintain your competitive edge in sustainability disclosure by connecting with Greenplaces’ ongoing resources:

Scoring methodology analysis: Detailed breakdown of 2025 scoring criteria immediately following official publication (coming late April 2025).

Continuing education series: Join our comprehensive framework webinar series, with the next session covering EcoVadis reporting on May 15, 2025.

Implementation support: Connect with our sustainability experts for personalized guidance on integrating CDP best practices into your environmental management approach.

For more detailed guidance on CDP reporting 2025 preparation, explore these additional Greenplaces resources:

Get instant access to our CDP webinar recording!

Missed our recent CDP session? Sign up for our webinar mini-series and get immediate access to the recording, plus exclusive invites to future live sessions covering EcoVadis, SBTi, and California regulations. Learn how to choose the right sustainability disclosure framework and stay ahead of key deadlines.

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