The Supplier Cascade

Our Mission

To provide businesses of all sizes with a manageable way to address upstream Scope 3 emissions through Tier 1 supplier engagement and to enable climate action and transparency in areas within a company’s control.

Our Strategy for Impact

The Supplier Cascade has been designed to kick-start climate action through the supply chain by helping businesses ask their Tier 1 suppliers to:

• Set a credible reductions target aligned with science;
• Start a cascade by asking all their own Tier 1 suppliers to do the same; and
• Report progress on their targets and supplier action annually.

Activities/interventions:

• Collective supplier engagement
• Awareness raising
• Capacity building and education
• Knowledge sharing
• Convening

Impacts: SDG 13

How We Work

• Supplier Cascade was created by the We Mean Business Coalition in partnership with BSR, CDP, Ceres, Environmental Defense Fund, Exponential Roadmap Initiative and SME Climate Hub, and in collaboration with the Science Based Targets initiative. The Early Adopter Group, which consists of participant companies piloting the approach, is managed by BSR and We Mean Business.
• Supplier Cascade is made up of businesses of all sizes and from all sectors who have committed to starting their own Supplier Cascade.
• The Early Adopter Group has committed to road test the Supplier Cascade approach, agreeing to report how many of their Tier 1 suppliers have set credible reductions targets on an annual basis and to supply key metrics that can be used to track the impact of the approach.
• Early Adopters have the opportunity to receive tailored support from NGO partners to help shape guidance to engage suppliers and take proactive approaches to upstream Scope 3 emissions.
• The Early Adopter Group meets periodically to share learnings, successes, and challenges while implementing the Supplier Cascade approach and learn from NGO partners.