Publications
Publications
- July–August 2024
- Harvard Business Review
Disclosing Downstream Emissions
By: Robert S. Kaplan and Karthik Ramanna
Abstract
An increasing number of companies are using the E-liability carbon-accounting method as an important tool for tracking progress toward reducing global emissions in their supply chains. The system does not require formal accounting for downstream emissions—those occurring after a company sells its products to immediate customers, for several good reasons.
Certain companies, however, are accountable for disclosing downstream emissions generated by consumers’ use of their products. Three principles govern accountability: (1) Downstream accountability is limited to companies whose products are directly used by end customers. (2) Accountability for B2C companies is limited to cases where a reasonable causal link exists between product-design decisions and the downstream emissions generated by consumers. (3) Companies are accountable for disclosing emissions produced per unit of use, not for total emissions.
This article presents the principles and explains how and to what standards of reliability the companies should disclose downstream emissions.
Certain companies, however, are accountable for disclosing downstream emissions generated by consumers’ use of their products. Three principles govern accountability: (1) Downstream accountability is limited to companies whose products are directly used by end customers. (2) Accountability for B2C companies is limited to cases where a reasonable causal link exists between product-design decisions and the downstream emissions generated by consumers. (3) Companies are accountable for disclosing emissions produced per unit of use, not for total emissions.
This article presents the principles and explains how and to what standards of reliability the companies should disclose downstream emissions.
Keywords
Carbon Emissions; Environmental Accounting; Corporate Accountability; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Corporate Disclosure; Environmental Sustainability
Citation
Kaplan, Robert S., and Karthik Ramanna. "Disclosing Downstream Emissions." Harvard Business Review 102, no. 4 (July–August 2024): 124–133.