Suppliers Are Drowning in Data Requests — Here’s the Fix

Charlotte Anne Whitmore

11 July 2025

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4 MIN READ

Introduction

As global brands accelerate their climate commitments, the demand for carbon data from across the supply chain is growing at an unprecedented rate. From Scope 3 emissions to lifecycle analysis and Corporate Carbon Assessments (CCAs), sustainability disclosures are no longer optional — they’re expected.

But for suppliers — especially those serving multiple clients — this flood of data requests is becoming a bottleneck. The process is repetitive, time-consuming, and often lacks a standardized structure. The same emissions metrics are being asked for in different formats, through different platforms, at different times.

These are exactly the challenges outlined in the recent Vogue Business article — and Carbalyze was built to solve them.

A recentVogue Business articleexplored these growing pains. While brands aim for transparency, suppliers are left juggling duplicative workflows, inconsistent data requests, and the burden of compliance costs — all without the tools or structure needed to respond efficiently.

The Systemic Problem Behind Supplier Fatigue

As Vogue rightly pointed out, bad data leads to poor decisions. Without accuracy, compliance is undermined. And without collaboration, the pressure on suppliers keeps increasing.

The Consequences

Repetitive requests with no standardization
Wasted hours reformatting the same data
Risk of human error in manual entry
Missed deadlines and compliance fatigue
Rising audit and reporting costs for both sides

Carbalyze: A Platform Built to Solve This

Carbalyze was designed in response to these very challenges—many of which were outlined in Vogue Business’s analysis. Here’s how our platform directly addresses the supplier pain points:

AI-Powered Data Reuse

Suppliers don’t need to start from scratch every time. Carbalyze’s AI engine auto-fills CCA and Scope 3 data based on prior submissions and contextual inputs—minimizing repetition and manual work.

Collect Once, Share with All

Instead of responding to individual brand requests, suppliers can complete a CCA once and share it with multiple clients via a secure link—solving the core issue of duplicative efforts.

Reduces Supplier Burden

Even small teams can comply easily with AI-powered assistance — freeing up resources to focus on what matters most, rather than being trapped in manual reporting cycles.

Supports Industry Collaboration

Brands can use Carbalyze as a shared tool to avoid duplicated efforts, ensuring everyone works from the same accurate dataset and easing the compliance load across the supply chain.

Cost-Efficient

By reusing data and automating routine tasks, Carbalyze helps suppliers spend less time on reporting and helps brands cut down on review and audit costs — making compliance more manageable and affordable overall.

Built to Tackle Scope 3 at Scale

Scope 3 data is one of the hardest areas to report — because it relies heavily on supplier input and seamless integration with bills of materials (BOMs). Most organizations struggle here, not because of unwillingness, but due to fragmented systems and outdated workflows.

Carbalyze makes it easier by:

Mapping Scope 3 data directly to BOMs

Embedding reminders and version control

Improving survey completion rates and data quality

This approach means faster turnaround, fewer reporting gaps, and higher accuracy — all at scale. With Carbalyze, Scope 3 no longer feels like the black hole of sustainability reporting — it becomes a strength.

A Reusable, Resilient Model for Supplier Collaboration

Where traditional tools treat sustainability reporting as a repetitive task, Carbalyze treats it as an asset.Completed surveys can be reused across brands —cutting workload, improving response time, and boosting transparency

The Solution to Supplier Data Drowning: A Win-Win Approach

How Carbalyze transforms the chaotic data landscape into streamlined collaboration

In Response to Vogue Business • Sustainability Solutions

The Data Drowning Crisis

As highlighted in Vogue Business's recent investigation, suppliers are drowning in an ocean of fragmented data requests. The problem isn't just volume—it's the complete lack of standardization that's crushing supply chain efficiency.

Full-time employees per supplier working on data collection

Major regulations requiring different data formats

80%

Fewer companies required to undertake sustainability reporting

'Most suppliers are not even answering all the questions [brands ask], either because they don't have the data or they don't have the capacity.'

- TrusTrace Sadock

Carbalyze: The Standardization Solution

While the industry struggles with fragmented approaches,Carbalyze offers a unified platform that addresses the root cause: lack of standardization. Our solution transforms the chaotic data landscape into a streamlined, collaborative ecosystem.

Current State: Data Chaos

Multiple brand-specific formats
Endless spreadsheet submissions
Duplicated efforts across brands
Short timelines, high costs
Reactive compliance approach

With Carbalyze: Unified Efficiency

Single standardized platform
One-time data entry, multiple uses
Automated distribution to brands
Reduced costs and timelines
Proactive collaboration model

A True Win-Win for the Ecosystem

By removing friction and standardizing processes, Carbalyze unlocks value across the entire supply chain ecosystem:

For Suppliers

Save time through streamlined processes, lower costs with efficient systems, and eliminate duplication of efforts across multiple brand relationships.

For Brands

Receive faster data delivery, access standardized high-integrity information, and improve compliance without burdening suppliers.

For the Industry

Enable easier Scope 3 emissions management, build trust across supply chains, and establish new standards for collaboration.

For Compliance

Transform reactive reporting into proactive collaboration, ensuring future-ready data collection that meets evolving regulations.

The Future of Supplier Data is Smarter—And Sharable

AsVogue Business emphasized, global standardization is the way forward—mirroring what exists in the financial industry. Carbalyze is aligned with that vision: a centralized, AI-powered, and collaborative platform where suppliers and brands thrive together.

Automation is no longer optional—it’s the path to sustainable, scalable compliance.

'By shifting from reactive reporting to proactive collaboration, we're not just solving today's data problems—we're building the foundation for tomorrow's sustainable supply chains.'

- The Carbalyze Team

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