You may have the scope 3 data needed to write a report, but is it granular enough to act on?
The independent research firm Verdantix has published the Smart Innovators: Supply Chain & Product Carbon Management, evaluating 14 software providers on this gap. Watershed scored market-leading or strong in all eight areas assessed.
Source: Verdantix
Where Watershed scored market-leading
- Supply chain emissions calculation engine: Activity-based supplier calculations built on 2.3M+ annually updated emission factors and supplier auto-mapping against a database of 20M+ companies.
- PCF calculation and methodology: AI-powered product footprints that take scope 3.1 from spend-based estimates to activity-based, product-level results.
- Hotspot identification and scenario modeling: Find the suppliers and products driving your footprint, then model what changes if you switch.
"Watershed stood out for the depth of its product carbon footprinting methodology, supported by AI-generated production graphs and portfolio-scale scenario modelling to help firms integrate product-level carbon data into broader Scope 3 management and emissions reduction initiatives." Alessandra Leggieri, Senior Analyst, Climate & Energy, Verdantix
Why the product level is where most decisions are made
For many companies, the bulk of emissions sit in purchased goods and services, and a spend-based estimate is enough to report that number but not enough to act on it. Two suppliers selling you the same component at the same price get the same estimated footprint, and choosing between them requires knowing which one is actually cleaner.
That's why product-level data has moved from a nice-to-have to the thing procurement teams, customers, and regulators are asking for.
How Watershed closes the gap
In just the last year, Watershed has established scope 3 leadership with the launch of several new features and capabilities. With the launch of automatic mapping, we enabled granular, activity-based calculations for scope 3.1 From there, Watershed Product Footprints uses AI to generate production graphs that break down the supply chain behind a product or material, giving teams visibility into where emissions are concentrated. And hotspot modeling lets you simulate what changes in your footprint when you switch a supplier or material.
Each release has built on the last, moving customers from reporting scope 3 to acting on it. The Verdantix recognition reflects that comprehensiveness.
"Watershed stood out for the depth of its product carbon footprinting methodology, supported by AI-generated production graphs and portfolio-scale scenario modelling to help firms integrate product-level carbon data into broader Scope 3 management and emissions reduction initiatives." Alessandra Leggieri, Senior Analyst, Climate & Energy, Verdantix
Read the report
For Verdantix's full analysis of the 14 providers evaluated, download the report.
