CO₂e attestation — Supplier requirement
Why companies ask for it
Procurement teams, banks, insurers and public institutions increasingly request a standardized CO₂e attestation from their suppliers. This page explains the institutional reasons behind this request, and what this attestation truly represents — and what it does not.
1. Supplier risk classification
Large organizations must classify suppliers based on environmental exposure as part of procurement governance and ESG policies, including responsible purchasing frameworks such as ISO 20400.
- ESG supplier screening
- environmental indicators required in tenders
- alignment with internal procurement policies
2. Regulatory pressure on financial institutions
Banks and insurers are expected to integrate environmental risks into their analysis processes under frameworks such as the EU Taxonomy, EBA guidelines, or Solvency II. A standardized CO₂e attestation helps document exposure without requiring full CSRD or ESRS reporting.
3. Due diligence and supplier onboarding
Many organizations request a CO₂e estimate as part of supplier due diligence. The attestation provides a structured and verifiable document compatible with institutional onboarding patterns.
It enables SMEs to respond to requirements that previously implied long processes or costly audits.
4. Accessibility for non-technical suppliers
Most SMEs cannot produce CSRD/ESRS reporting or a full greenhouse gas inventory. The attestation provides an institutional-grade indicator derived from annual spending data only, without requiring technical expertise.
5. Faster supplier approval cycles
Supplier approval is often delayed by missing or inconsistent environmental information. A standardized CO₂e document reduces review time and supports onboarding decisions.
6. Immediate and independent verification
- unique attestation identifier
- integrity guarantees embedded in the document
- permanent verification URL
- QR code usable in institutional workflows
Reviewers can verify the authenticity in seconds and confirm that the document has not been altered.
7. Cross-border usability
The attestation format is aligned with expectations from procurement teams and financial institutions across multiple European jurisdictions.
8. What this attestation is not
- it is not a certification
- it is not an audit
- it is not an assurance engagement
- it is not a regulatory carbon report
- it is not CSRD or ESRS reporting
- it is not a Scope 1, Scope 2 or Scope 3 inventory
9. Legal scope and intended use
This attestation is indicative only. It is not an audit, not a certification, not an assurance engagement, and not a legally binding carbon footprint.