Modeling tool for determining an organization's supply chain emissions footprint
A CO2e modeling system is implemented via a host server that is remotely accessible by a large number of clients (organizations) and suppliers of goods and services to the clients. The host server accesses a database containing CO2e emission-related data from a large number of suppliers. The client, when determining their indirect CO2e emissions resulting from their supply chain network, then identifies to the host server, via the web, the various suppliers used by the client and the client's amount of usage of the various suppliers. The host server uses its stored conversion factors and other data from the database to calculate the client's indirect CO2e emissions as a result of the client's usage of the particular suppliers. The server may calculate the total CO2e emissions generated by the entire chain of suppliers that are involved with providing a particular product to the client.
1. A method performed by at least one programmed server, the server being remotely accessed by client organizations and suppliers of goods or services for the client organizations, the method comprising:
receiving first data by the server input by a client identifying a first supplier and an extent of usage of the first supplier;
receiving second data by the server input by the first supplier identifying the first supplier's usage of at least one resource;
retaining the first data and the second data in a database memory for access by the server;
receiving third data by the server input by at least a second supplier, the third data identifying the at least the second supplier's usage of at least one resource, the first supplier and the at least the second supplier being in a supply chain that provides goods or services to the client;
retaining the third data in the database memory for access by the server;
calculating by the server a value related to a total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier attributed to the client's usage of the first supplier and the at least the second supplier; and
transmitting the value related to the total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier to the client for evaluating by the client so that the client can determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the supply chain.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the first data by the server comprises receiving the first data sufficient to determine what percentage of the first supplier's total usage over a time period is attributable to the client.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the first data by the server comprises receiving the first data sufficient to determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent per unit of goods provided to the client by the first supplier.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the first data by the server comprises receiving the first data sufficient to determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent per unit of services provided to the client by the first supplier.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the second data by the server comprises receiving the second data by the server input by the first supplier identifying the first supplier's usage of energy resources over a time period.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving the second data by the server comprises receiving the second data by the server input by the first supplier identifying the first supplier's usage of materials resources over a time period.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the extent of usage of the first supplier is proposed.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the extent of usage of the first supplier is actual.
9. A modeling system that models a greenhouse gas emission equivalent based on a supply of goods or services by a supply chain to a client, the system comprising at least one processor and software tools used by the at least one processor to perform modeling, the system comprising:
first software tools to receive first data by the at least one processor input by a client identifying a first supplier and an extent of usage of the first supplier;
second software tools to receive:
second data, by the at least one processor, input by the first supplier identifying the first supplier's resource usage; and
third data, by the at least one processor, input by at least a second supplier identifying the at least the second supplier's resource usage, the first supplier and the at least the second supplier being in the supply chain;
a database memory to retain the first data, the second data, and the third data for access by the at least one processor;
third software tools to calculate, by the at least one processor, a value related to a total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier attributed to the client's usage of the first supplier and the at least the second supplier; and
fourth software tools to transmit the value related to the total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier to the client for evaluating by the client so that the client can determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the supply chain.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second software tools have a limited capability compared to the first software tools in that the second software tools do not allow the first supplier to determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent of other than the first supplier.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first software tools comprise first software tools to receive the first data sufficient to determine what percentage of the first supplier's total usage over a time period is attributable to the client.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the first software tools comprise first software tools to receive the first data sufficient to determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent per unit of goods provided to the client by the first supplier.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the first software tools comprise first software tools to receive the first data sufficient to determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent per unit of services provided to the client by the first supplier.
14. The system of claim 9 wherein the second software tools comprise second software tools to receive the second data identifying the first supplier's usage of energy resources over a time period.
15. The system of claim 9 wherein the second software tools comprise second software tools to receive the second data identifying the first supplier's usage of material resources over a time period.
16. The system of claim 9 wherein the extent of usage of the first supplier is proposed.
17. The system of claim 9 wherein the extent of usage of the first supplier is actual.
18. A method performed by a client running modeling software that models a greenhouse gas emission equivalent based on a supply of goods or services by a supply chain to the client, the method comprising:
transmitting first data to a server, input by the client, identifying a first supplier and an extent of usage of the first supplier, the server receiving second data input by the first supplier identifying the first supplier's usage of at least one resource and third data input by at least a second supplier identifying the at least the second supplier's usage of at least one resource, the server calculating a value related to a total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier attributed to the client's usage of the first supplier and the at least the second supplier, the first supplier and the at least the second supplier being in the supply chain; and
the client receiving from the server the value related to the total greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the first supplier and the at least the second supplier for evaluating by the client so that the client can determine a greenhouse gas emission equivalent by the supply chain.