Why is my customer asking me to set a science-based target?

Because its own target probably depends on it. Under the SBTi's criteria a company can meet part of its Scope 3 target with a supplier engagement target: a commitment that a set share of its suppliers, by emissions or by spend, will have science-based targets within five years.

Does my target have to be validated by the SBTi?

Not always. The SBTi's near-term criteria say the customer's suppliers should have targets in line with the SBTi criteria, and recommend, but don't require, SBTi validation. Ask your customer what it will accept: some want validation, some accept a target that follows the criteria.

What target would a small supplier need?

On the SBTi's SME route, an absolute cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions of at least 4.2% for each year between the base year and the target year, with 2030 the recommended target year. A near-term Scope 3 target isn't required on that route.

What if we can't set a target this year?

Say so, and say when you will. Share your current emissions, a reduction target you can stand behind and a date for submitting to the SBTi. A clear plan is usually a better answer than silence or a target you can't meet.

When a customer asks you to set a science-based target

When a customer asks you to set a science-based target, it is usually counting you towards its own SBTi supplier engagement target, which must be met within five years. As of 2026, a small supplier can answer with the SBTi's SME route: a Scope 1 and 2 cut of at least 4.2% a year, which from a 2024 base year means at least 25.2% by 2030. The SBTi recommends, but doesn't require, that suppliers' targets are validated.

Updated 19 October 2026 by the Carbon Recycling team. Figures use the official UK government conversion factors and are checked against the current gov.uk guidance.

Why the request has landed with you

Velike kompanije sa naučno zasnovanim ciljevima obično moraju da se pozabave Opsegom 3, emisijama u svom lancu snabdevanja. Prema kratkoročnim kriterijumima SBTi-ja, verzija 5.3.1, kompanija čiji Opseg 3 čini 40% ili više njenog ukupnog otiska mora da postavi ciljeve za Opseg 3 koji zajedno obuhvataju najmanje 67% njenih emisija iz Opsega 3. Jedan način da se to postigne je cilj angažovanja dobavljača: obećanje da će dobavljači koji čine određeni procenat njenih emisija iz Opsega 3, ili njene potrošnje, imati naučno zasnovane ciljeve u roku od pet godina.

Ako ste jedan od tih dobavljača, vaš cilj pomaže kupcu da ostvari svoj. Zato zahtev često dolazi sa rokom i zato kupac može da nastavi da pita svake godine dok ga ne postavite.

What exactly the customer needs

The criteria are more flexible than many requests suggest. For a supplier engagement target:

Your target must be in line with the SBTi's near-term criteria.
SBTi validacija se preporučuje, ali nije obavezna. Kriterijumi to navode u preporuci R9. Neki kupci ipak insistiraju na validaciji, pa pitajte.
Rok kupca je najviše pet godina od trenutka kada je njegov sopstveni cilj podnet SBTi-ju, a SBTi preporučuje 2030 ili ranije.

Pre nego što odgovorite, postavite tri pitanja:

Da li vam treba cilj koji je validirao SBTi ili cilj koji sledi SBTi kriterijume?
Do kada?
Would a public commitment with a date for submitting the target be enough for now?

The target a small supplier can set

The SBTi's SME route is the simplest option for most small firms. Our guide to science-based targets for SMEs covers eligibility in full; in short, you need fewer than 10,000 tonnes of Scope 1 and location-based Scope 2 emissions and to meet size tests such as having fewer than 250 employees. The target:

obuhvata Opseg 1 i 2, kao apsolutno smanjenje;
iznosi najmanje 4,2% za svaku godinu između bazne godine (2015 ili kasnije) i ciljne godine;
uses 2030 as the recommended target year;
ne treba vam kratkoročni cilj za Opseg 3, iako bi trebalo da merite Opseg 3 i radite na njemu.

Primer

Bazna godina 2024 ilustrativne firme: kancelarija koja troši 30.000 kWh električne energije i 60.000 kWh gasa i dizel kombiji koji pređu 25.000 milja. Uz vladine faktore za 2024, njen Opseg 1 i 2 iznosi 27,25 tona CO2e.

Minimalno smanjenje po putu za MSP: 4,2% × 6 godina = 25,2%.
Cilj za 2030: najviše 20,39 tona iz Opsega 1 i 2.

Za ovakvu firmu tarifa za zelenu električnu energiju pomaže vrednosti Opsega 2 po tržišnom metodu, ali gas i kombiji čine većinu otiska, pa verodostojan cilj obično podrazumeva i plan za grejanje i vozila. Cilj je apsolutno smanjenje: ako firma raste, tone i dalje moraju da padaju.

Timing: the SME route and V2.0

The SBTi's Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 takes effect on 31 January 2027. It ends the separate SME route and puts companies into categories, with lighter requirements for Category B, where most small firms are expected to sit. You can still submit under the current criteria, including the SME route, until 31 January 2028.

V2.0 also changes what your customer counts. Supplier engagement targets become broader supplier alignment targets, measuring the share of suppliers that are "in transition" or "net-zero aligned". The details are in the standard, but the direction is the same: customers will keep asking suppliers for targets and progress.

Ako to još ne možete

Dobar privremeni odgovor ima četiri dela:

Your current Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with the period and method.
Cilj smanjenja u koji ste sigurni, sa baznom i ciljnom godinom.
The date you plan to submit a target, or to align it with the SBTi criteria.
Link ka vašem objavljenom Carbon Reduction Plan-u, ako ga imate.

Neke firme preuzimaju i besplatnu obavezu SME Climate Commitment preko UK Business Climate Hub: prepoloviti emisije do 2030., dostići neto nulu do 2050. i svake godine izveštavati o napretku. Nju ne validira SBTi, pa proverite da li će je vaš kupac priznati. Za druge zahteve koji stižu uz ovaj, pogledajte naše tekstove o tome šta kupci razumno mogu da traže od dobavljača, odgovaranju na zahtev CDP za lanac snabdevanja i planovima tranzicije za male firme.

How Carbon Recycling helps

Carbon Recycling izračunava inventar bazne godine na kojem se zasniva cilj: Opseg 1, Opseg 2 zasnovan na lokaciji i po tržišnom metodu i Opseg 3 po kategorijama, sa državnim faktorima za svaku godinu. Njegov Carbon Reduction Plan omogućava da postavite procenat i godinu cilja, crta putanju od bazne godine i prati svaku narednu godinu u odnosu na nju. Besplatna banka odgovora za upitnike za dobavljače pretvara vaše brojke i status cilja u model-odgovore za obrazac kupca.

Frequently asked questions

Zašto moj kupac traži da postavim naučno zasnovan cilj?

Zato što od toga verovatno zavisi njen sopstveni cilj. Prema kriterijumima SBTi, kompanija može ispuniti deo svog cilja za Opseg 3 ciljem angažovanja dobavljača: obavezom da će određeni udeo njenih dobavljača, prema emisijama ili prema potrošnji, imati naučno zasnovane ciljeve u roku od pet godina.

Da li moj cilj mora da validira SBTi?

Ne uvek. Kratkoročni kriterijumi SBTi-ja navode da dobavljači kupca treba da imaju ciljeve u skladu s kriterijumima SBTi i preporučuju, ali ne zahtevaju, validaciju SBTi. Pitajte kupca šta prihvata: neki traže validaciju, neki prihvataju cilj koji prati kriterijume.

Koji cilj bi bio potreban malom dobavljaču?

Po SBTi putu za MSP, apsolutno smanjenje emisija iz Opsega 1 i 2 od najmanje 4,2% za svaku godinu između bazne i ciljne godine, uz 2030 kao preporučenu ciljnu godinu. Kratkoročni cilj za Opseg 3 nije obavezan na tom putu.

Da li se put za MSP zatvara?

The SBTi's Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 takes effect on 31 January 2027 and replaces the SME route with company categories. SMEs can still submit under the current criteria, including the SME route, until 31 January 2028.

Šta ako ove godine ne možemo da postavimo cilj?

Recite to i navedite kada ćete. Podelite svoje trenutne emisije, cilj smanjenja iza kog možete da stanete i rok za podnošenje SBTi-ju. Jasan plan je obično bolji odgovor od ćutanja ili cilja koji ne možete ispuniti.

Your customer has a net zero target: why it turns into questions for you
Kako cilj neto nule ili naučno zasnovani cilj vašeg kupca smešta vaše emisije u njegov Opseg 3, šta će tražiti od svojih dobavljača i kako da budete korak ispred.
Pitanja o klimatskom riziku u tenderima i upitnicima kupaca: kako odgovoriti
The five climate risk questions buyers ask, model answers built from a site-by-site flood and heat check, and what not to say.
Odgovor na zahtev kupca u okviru CDP lanca snabdevanja
The SME questionnaire, fees, deadlines and the questions that matter when a customer asks you to disclose through CDP.

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