Supplier Engagement Checklist for SBTi Validation

If your company is setting or validating near term or net zero targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Scope 3 supplier engagement is no longer optional.SBTi requires that you actively involve your suppliers, and be able to demonstrate it. But what exactly does good supplier engagement look like in an SBTi aligned strategy?This checklist outlines everything you need to have in place to meet SBTi's criteria, and to turn your supplier engagement plan into real emissions reductions.---## Why Supplier Engagement Matters for SBTiUnder SBTi guidance, companies with material Scope 3 emissions must meet one of the following:- Have 67% of Scope 3 emissions covered by supplier or customer specific targets, OR- Engage suppliers representing 67% of emissions in a way that supports alignment with SBTi targets.To do that, you need more than a survey or an email.---## The Supplier Engagement ChecklistUse this list to assess whether your supplier engagement program is SBTi ready.---### 1. Supplier Emissions Visibility- Do you have emissions data from key suppliers?- Is the data broken down by supplier, not just category or spend?- Is the data forecastable, i.e. can you model changes?_Tools like DitchCarbon provide supplier level emissions modeling to show current impact and potential improvement scenarios._---### 2. Targeted Supplier Outreach- Have you clearly communicated your SBTi targets and expectations to suppliers?- Is engagement prioritized by emissions impact, not just spend or contract size?- Do suppliers know what role they play in your target achievement?---### 3. Defined Emissions Reduction Actions- Are you recommending specific, relevant actions suppliers can take?- Do these actions map to meaningful reductions (e.g. energy source, transport mode, material change)?- Are recommendations tailored by industry, geography, or business model?_DitchCarbon's reduction engine analyzes over 1 million sustainability reports to deliver supplier specific guidance that moves the needle._---### 4. Support & Enablement- Have you removed or reduced reporting burdens (e.g. no complex spreadsheets)?- Are you providing toolkits, templates, or funding support to help suppliers act?- Can suppliers see how their efforts affect your shared climate goals?---### 5. Tracking & Follow Up- Can you monitor supplier progress over time, even without perfect primary data?- Are emissions changes linked to your overall progress against SBTi targets?- Are supplier actions being captured in a structured and auditable format?---## Optional but Powerful Extras- Co investment programs or financing access- Supplier emissions dashboards- Internal incentives for procurement to prioritize low emission vendors- Verified platforms to support audit and assurance processes---## Wrap UpMeeting SBTi's supplier engagement requirements isn't just about collecting data, it's about helping your suppliers act. And the most successful programs make it easy, measurable, and mutually beneficial.---### Want to automate your SBTi aligned supplier engagement plan?DitchCarbon helps enterprises scale supplier engagement with:- Verified Scope 3 methodologies- Forecasting tools that show suppliers their impact- Reduction actions tailored to each vendor- Automated tracking and nudging workflows👉 Book a demo to build an SBTi compliant supplier program that actually delivers emissions reductions.