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The EcoVadis Carbon Action Manager: How the rating aims to decarbonize supply chains

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DATE

20.8.2025

AUTHORS

Dr. Florian Niedermeier

TOPICS

Climate management

Ratings & certifications

The EcoVadis Carbon Action Manager (CAM) is a standalone, SaaS-based tool for Scope 3 emissions management that helps companies systematically manage the carbon footprint of their supply chains in a collaborative manner. With features such as heat maps, supplier scorecards, the Carbon Data Network, and learning modules, CAM addresses declaration requirements, risk assessments, and targeted measures for dedicated decarbonization. Five Glaciers Consulting, as an official EcoVadis Training Partner, provides strategic support to companies in the application, integration, and implementation of the tool—specifically within the supply chain context.

What is the Carbon Action Manager?

The Carbon Action Manager is a SaaS platform from EcoVadis designed specifically for carbon management in supply chains. It enables:

Identification of hotspots using carbon heatmaps,
Supplier evaluations using scorecards and carbon ratings,
Transparency through dashboards and KPIs,
Data quality through the Carbon Data Network and PCF Data Exchange,
Scalability through guidance, learning modules, and automated processes.

In this way, CAM complements traditional sustainability ratings with a focused carbon perspective and serves as a tool for achieving climate goals throughout the supply chain.

Learn more at EcoVadis »

Key Features at a Glance

The key CAM components provide not only data but also strategic value for procurement, sustainability, and management:

2. Overview of Key Features

The key CAM modules and their direct benefits for Scope 3 management and supplier engagement.

Feature	Function & Value
Carbon Heatmap	Risk and hotspot mapping by industry/region to prioritize supplier engagement; initially works with secondary data as well.
Detailed Supplier Scorecards	Transparency regarding governance, inventory, goals, and measures—including recommendations and progress tracking—serves as the foundation for targeted development plans.
Carbon Data Network (CDN)	Sharing primary emissions data through a growing network; integrations with carbon accounting partners improve data quality and reduce the burden of data collection.
Carbon Dashboards	KPI visualization at the portfolio, product category, and supplier levels (e.g., trends, SBTi coverage, progress) for management and reporting.
Program Guide & E-Learning	Guides, templates, and training modules for rapid rollouts; procurement playbooks for scalable supplier onboarding.
Carbon Estimator	Initial emission estimates in the absence of primary data (industry- or revenue-based) for prioritization and progress tracking until the data is ready.
PCF Data Exchange	Sharing of product carbon footprint data throughout the supply chain (ISO/PACT-compliant) – enables more granular category and product decisions.

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Methodology & Validation – How CAM Evaluates and Validates

The EcoVadis Carbon Rating is based on a clear methodology:

1. Carbon Rating: Inputs & Calculation Logic

The EcoVadis Carbon Rating aggregates evidence provided by suppliers (e.g., inventories, targets, measures, governance) into a methodologically defined result that includes maturity levels and recommendations for action. The methodology is documented and designed to ensure comparability across industries and company sizes —a critical factor for scalable supplier engagement and performance tracking.

2. Reliability Levels & Data Path

CAM assigns reliability ratings to primary data and guides suppliers step by step toward higher levels of evidence (e.g., from estimator values to auditor-ready PCF/Scope data), including “Actions to improve data quality” in the scorecards. This allows you to justify decisions transparently (e.g., bonus systems, sourcing criteria).

3. Carbon Estimator – A bridge function, not a replacement

The estimator is intentionally designed as a starting point: it provides quick, model-based emission estimates when primary data is unavailable, to help prioritize actions and measure early progress; the ultimate goal remains to replace these estimates with primary data verified by suppliers.

In this way, CAM combines practical input data with a robust evaluation framework that is essential for benchmarks, comparisons, and supplier development.

Focus on Supply Chain Management & Current Developments

The biggest challenge with Scope 3 emissions lies in supplier engagement. This is exactly where CAM comes in:

Carbon Data Network: Through partnerships with Sweep and other accounting providers, data can be directly integrated and reused. (Source)
PCF Data Exchange: For the first time, it enables the standardized exchange of product carbon footprints throughout the supply chain—a crucial step for category management and CSRD reporting. (Source)
Adoption: According to the EcoVadis Index 2025, the number of assessments in global supply chains rose by 167% —a clear sign that supplier data is now becoming widely accessible. (Source)

As a result, CAM is evolving into the central platform for supply chain decarbonization, bringing together data quality, engagement, and compliance.

Why Five Glaciers Consulting is the right partner

As an EcoVadis Training Partner, Five Glaciers Consulting helps companies not only implement the CAM technically, but also make it strategically effective:

Supplier Engagement Design: Segmentation by hotspots, communication packages, rollout plans.
Data and Methodological Expertise: Integration of CAM data into CSRD/SBTi strategies and carbon accounting.
Enablement: Training for procurement and suppliers, scorecard interpretation, action roadmaps.
Management & Reporting: Integrating dashboards with internal KPI systems and governance processes.

In this way, CAM becomes not just a reporting tool, but an operational management tool for climate targets in the supply chain.

Conclusion

The EcoVadis Carbon Action Manager enables companies to systematically address their Scope 3 emissions, actively engage suppliers, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Through features such as heat maps, scorecards, the Carbon Data Network, and the PCF Data Exchange, it combines data quality with strategic supply chain management.

Five Glaciers Consulting supports companies as a training partner during the introduction, implementation, and integration of the platform. Would you like to actively integrate your supply chain into your climate strategy? Contact us—we’ll show you how to effectively use the EcoVadis Carbon Action Manager to reduce your Scope 3 emissions.