BCG Launches Supply Chain Net Zero Academy to Upskill Suppliers and Procurement Teams

BOSTON—Addressing scope 3 emissions, which can account for between 75% and 90% of total carbon output for end-product manufacturers,¹ is critical to achieving net-zero commitments—yet more than 60% of companies have yet to engage with their suppliers on emissions reduction. ² As a result, only 2.5% of suppliers had third-party approved science-based targets in 2021, and 56% had not set any climate targets at all.³ For suppliers looking to kickstart their decarbonization journey, up to 74% believe training is a critical first step.⁴

To address this skills and training gap and accelerate scope 3 decarbonization, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is launching the Supply Chain Net Zero Academy. The Academy’s modular curriculum offers a combination of interactive self-led courses and expert-led launchpad classes, to upskill both suppliers and internal procurement teams on topics from climate fundamentals to deep decarbonization levers, all powered by BCG U’s best-in-class learning platform. All courses can be tailored to the learner’s needs, and additional training modules can be developed upon the client’s request.

“Upskilling and collaborating with suppliers is essential to accelerating companies’ decarbonization journeys in face of this skills gap, particularly as scope 3 emissions make up a significant proportion of a company’s total emissions,” said Anastasia Kouvela, a BCG managing director and partner with deep expertise in scope 3 emission reductions. “Most suppliers are unsure of how they can begin to address scope 3 emissions—that’s why training is such a critical enabler to accelerating progress.”

“The Supply Chain Net Zero Academy by BCG offers a full suite of training, from foundational learning on the sources of emissions to deep engagement with experts on how suppliers can apply abatement levers in the supply chain,” said Elfrun von Koeller, a BCG managing director and partner.

Course Overview

The course’s core modules include:

• Climate Fundamentals: The introductory module, designed for an audience of suppliers and procurement professionals, guides learners through the causes and effects of climate change, industry emissions and trends, and the business case for supply chain sustainability and decarbonization.
• Net Zero Roadmaps: This next module outlines how to create the organization’s roadmap to net zero, zooming in on key learning objectives such as emissions baselining, ambition-setting, and accurately reporting emissions. 
• Decarbonizing Tiers 2-N: This module, designed specifically for suppliers with high scope 3 emissions, introduces tactics for how to segment and engage tiers 2-N on decarbonization and how to incentivize change.
• Decarbonization in Procurement: This complementary module includes two expert-led launchpad courses, with one targeting procurement leadership and another targeting procurement strategy teams. Through lessons on supplier incentives and engagement, policy and governance, and climate action through innovation, organizations can upskill their procurement teams and facilitate collaboration with suppliers.
• Activating Decarbonization: The final module builds on the educational foundation with a suite of expert-led launchpad classes designed to engage learners on emissions reduction levers and how to activate them to drive real-world impact. Each launchpad class can be customized to the learner’s needs and tailored to the organization’s specific supply chain.

The Supply Chain Net Zero Academy by BCG builds on the firm’s existing scope 3 decarbonization work helping clients establish baseline emissions, identify reduction levers, and develop supplier engagement plans to achieve their net-zero goals.

“Scope 3 emissions are particularly difficult to mitigate, as organizations do not hold exclusive control. Decarbonization initiatives must be partnered across the value chain to deliver on set targets,” said von Koeller. “The Supply Chain Net Zero Academy will help companies grow the climate maturity of their supply chains, collaborate with suppliers on decarbonization, and ultimately accelerate the path to net zero.”

For more information, please contact Anastasia Kouvela at Kouvela.Anastasia@bcg.com or Elfrun von Koeller at Koeller.Elfrun.von@bcg.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or gregoire.eric@bcg.com.

<sub>1. CDP, BCG, via the 'Net-Zero Challenge: The supply chain opportunity' report from BCG and WEF (Jan 2021)
2. Of CDP reporting companies, via CDP Supply Chain Report 2021; Feb 2022
3. Of Suppliers of CDP reporting companies only 385 currently engaging with suppliers on Scope 3 emissions reduction, via CDP Supply Chain Report 2021; Feb 2022
4. BCG client supplier climate survey (June 2022, N = 417)</sub>