What is Tier N?
Tier N is a feature within the supplier+s platform that allows you, as a supplier, to invite and manage your own suppliers (tier 1–N).
By activating your supply chain, you can gain transparency into your Scope 3 emissions, identify key emission drivers, and collaborate with your suppliers to reduce your collective carbon footprint.
This feature is part of the broader sustainability effort to reach measurable carbon reduction targets and increase data accuracy throughout all tiers of the supply chain.
Why should you participate?
Participating in Tier N helps you:
Gain valuable insights into your deeper supply chain emissions.
Improve your own carbon reduction performance, as your suppliers’ performance contributes to yours.
Enhance transparency and build credibility with your customers.
Strengthen competitiveness through sustainability leadership.
Prepare for regulatory and market expectations related to Scope 3 emission reporting.
How does it work?
Unlocking your supply chain and gathering sustainability insights from your own suppliers works in three simple steps:
Calculate your corporate carbon footprint
Analyze your footprint and identify key suppliers (hotspots)
Invite and manage your suppliers through the Supply Chain Management module
Step 1: Calculate Your Corporate Carbon Footprint
Start your Tier N journey in the Carbon Accounting Module — it’s available free of charge.
Go to the Carbon Accounting section in supplier+s.
Calculate your corporate carbon footprint on a parent-organization level (not per business segment) for best accuracy.
Use the most recent full year of data to ensure high data quality.
Your calculated footprint remains private — only the data you actively submit through the Customer Requests Module is shared with your customer.
Step 2: Analyze Your Carbon Footprint
Once the calculation is complete, take time to review your results and understand where your emissions come from.
Before viewing results, ensure you’ve assigned your suppliers to the products and services you procure from them — this step is essential for Tier N activation.
To do this:
In the Carbon Accounting Module, go to Purchased Products & Services (Scope 3 Upstream).
Assign each supplier to the relevant category and indicate their share of total spend.
Multiple suppliers can be assigned per category until 100 % of the spend is allocated.
Automatic pre-fills are available if certain data is unknown.
After completing these assignments:
Check the emission breakdown by scope to see where the bulk of your footprint lies (for most companies, Scope 3 Upstream is the largest).
Identify your top-emitting suppliers — these are your “hotspots” and will be the focus in the next step.
Step 3: Invite Your Hotspot Suppliers
Effective Tier N management means engaging the suppliers who contribute most to your footprint.
On the Carbon Accounting Results Page, your top 10 suppliers are automatically highlighted as hotspots.
You can invite these suppliers directly from that page.
Additional invitations can be sent through the Supply Chain Management Module.
Within the Supply Chain Management Module, you can:
Invite up to 10 suppliers during your trial period (up to 4 months).
Send reminders to suppliers who haven’t completed their self-assessment.
Track invitation status and monitor who has submitted data.
Compare supplier performance to identify areas of improvement.
What is the outcome?
Once your invited suppliers complete their self-assessment and submit their data:
Your own carbon reduction performance automatically improves as your suppliers’ performance contributes to your overall result.
You gain deeper insights into your supply chain, helping you identify reduction opportunities and strengthen sustainability initiatives.
Your customers will see an improved performance rating, demonstrating your progress toward decarbonization.
Interested in getting started?
Calculate your carbon footprint free of charge in the Carbon Accounting Module.
Start a free trial to invite up to 10 of your own suppliers for 4 months.
Reach out to us if you’d like more details or want to extend your trial period.
Contact us: [email protected]