Dolby Uses Emitwise To Capture Higher Levels Of Supplier Data

Dolby Uses Emitwise To Capture Higher Levels Of Supplier Data

Electronics manufacturer Dolby has turned to innovative data collection methods from its new software partner to help it hit its own emissions targets.

Supply chain carbon management is an integral component of mature decarbonization strategies, as firms seek to tackle Scope 3.1 (Purchased Goods and Services) and product-level emissions hotspots (see Verdantix Smart Innovators: Supply Chain Carbon Management). For example, in 2022 Dolby Laboratories reported that Scope 3.1 emissions accounted for 36% of its Scope 3 emissions and 34% of its total emissions. To combat these indirect emissions, Dolby has a public target whereby suppliers accounting for at least 58% of its Scope 3.1 emissions will have their own SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) targets by 2027. Achieving such targets requires the effective engagement of suppliers on a scale beyond the capacities of manual, spreadsheet-centric processes. Verdantix data show that more than 1 in 10 firms expect supplier engagement to be the most time-consuming climate initiative this year.

In order to improve and accelerate its provision of suppliers’ emissions data, Dolby has taken a number of steps, with the support of software capabilities from its partner, Emitwise. These steps encompass:

• Incorporating credible third-party data. With the Emitwise network already covering around 30,000 suppliers, Dolby can access supplier-specific data without needing to engage with multiple suppliers.

• Pre-filling emissions data. Dolby’s suppliers can confirm CDP-disclosed data, when available, and upload Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to provide product-specific data. All supplier-provided data undergo auditable data quality controls, allowing Dolby to validate the Scope 3 data and align the information with the requirements of regulations such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

• Analysing suppliers by SBTi progress. To track progress against its target of SBTi coverage – as well as to assess supplier maturity – Dolby uses Emitwise to segment its suppliers by status and classification of SBTi targets; presence and quality of CDP disclosures; maturity and coverage of emissions accounting; and presence and timeline of net zero targets. Dolby then rates each supplier according to a customized traffic light scoring system.

Firms such as Dolby Laboratories and CBRE are increasingly turning to software tools like those of Emitwise to scale supplier engagement, maximize accessibility to primary emissions data and empower suppliers to reduce emissions. CBRE has been able to onboard 1,500 suppliers within the first 12 months, providing many with a free means of calculating their carbon footprint, as well as a dashboard, with reduction initiative suggestions and the establishment of a knowledge academy.