How we determine which questions you see
Your business segment is based on the goods and services your customer has purchased from you. Using purchasing data from their PVO (Purchasing Volume), supplier+s assigns each supplier to one of 13 business segments. This ensures you receive questions tailored to what you actually provide.
If the self-assessment questions do not fit your activities, this is usually linked to your business segment classification.
Is reclassification necessary?
Before requesting a review, take a quick look at whether most measures are still relevant for your operations. Many business models overlap categories, especially where manufacturing and services are both involved.
If the majority of measures works for you, you can usually complete the assigned business segment as-is and select Not applicable for the questions that are not relevant.
You can also review the list of business segments at the bottom of this page to understand the granularity of our segments.
What to do if you were misclassified
If you believe your assigned business segment does not reflect your actual business model, please contact our support team to request a review:
To speed up the process:
Include your lead firm representative in CC, such as your main contact at the customer.
Briefly describe your company's main products or services and why the current segment does not fit.
Review the 13 business segments listed below and suggest which one fits best.
Wait for confirmation from both our team and your lead firm before the classification is adjusted.
Important to know before requesting changes
If your classification is changed, you will need to refill the questionnaire for your new business segment in the Carbon Reduction Efforts section. Your Organization Overview will remain unchanged.
Reclassification also affects your performance calculation in supplier+s.
Even with approval, the lead firm’s purchasing classification in their PVO remains the same, which can cause minor differences between:The emissions calculated via item+s and PVO data, and
Your new supplier+s performance results.
Because of this, reclassification should only be requested when there’s a clear and valid reason to do so.
Business segments in supplier+s
Business services
Business services
Delivery of all kinds of services to businesses. This encompasses telecommunications and broadcasting services, data hosting, print and software publishing, financial and insurance services, legal, accounting and employment services and all types of consulting. It further includes architectural and engineering services, facility support services and industrial and commercial, rental, leasing and maintenance.
Basic metals
Basic metals
Primary and secondary production of all metals and production of first products thereof. This includes the treatment of ores, the production of primary metal, the smelting of secondary metal, and the rolling, drawing, extruding, alloying and casting of basic metal into first products. It does not include the manufacturing of fabricated metal products.
Fabricated metal products
Fabricated metal products
Manufacturing of processed metal products. This includes forging, stamping, sintering, coating, engraving and forming of diverse processed metal products from basic metals and first metal products. These processed products reach from large parts like architectural metal parts, boilers, tanks, containers, pipes, ammunition and hardware to smaller pieces like crowns, closures, cutlery, metal handtools, cans, boxes, wires, screws, nuts, fixtures, trims and valves.
Computer, electronic, and optical equipment
Computer, electronic, and optical equipment
Manufacturing of electronic devices and electronic components. This includes computers, computer equipment, phones as well as broadcast, wireless, audio, video and photographic equipment. It further encompasses semiconductors, electronic circuit assemblies, electromedical devices, signal testing, measurement, and automated control devices as well as optical instruments.
Machinery and other electrical equipment
Machinery and other electrical equipment
Manufacturing of machines for all purposes. This includes agricultural, construction, mining, industrial, and commercial machinery as well as machinery for households like electrical appliances and power-driven handtools. It further contains heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, as well as power transmission equipment and communication wires.
Motor vehicles and other transport equipment
Motor vehicles and other transport equipment
Manufacturing of all means of transporation and parts therof. This encompasses automobiles, trailers, trucks, aircrafts, space vehicles, trains, ships, boats, motorcylces, bicylces, and military vehicles as well as their individual parts.
Basic chemicals
Basic chemicals
Manufacturing of basic chemicals using mainly raw materials. This encompasses the manufacturing of petrochemicals, fertilizers, synthetic dies, pigments as well as basic plastic materials, resins and basic synthetic rubber. It further includes other basic organic and inorganic chemicals, except industrial gases.
Industrial gases
Industrial gases
Manufacturing of organic and inorganic industrial gases.
Speciality chemicals
Speciality chemicals
Manufacturing of processed chemicals for diverse speciality purposes, relying on basic chemicals as feedstock. This encompasses the manufacturing of speciality chemicals for pharmaceutical, medical and diagnostic applications; of soaps, cleaning compounds and toilet preparations for consumer applications; and of pesticides, processed paints, coatings, inks and adhesives. It further includes all other chemical product and preparation manufacturing.
Rubber and plastics products
Rubber and plastics products
Manufacturing of any products derived from basic plastics and rubbber. This includes plastic packaging, plastic sheets, plastic pipes, plastic shapes, plastic foams, plastic bottles, plastic hoses, as well as rubber tires or ruber hoses and all similar goods. It does not include the manufacturing of basic plastic material and resin and manufacturing of basic synthetic rubber.
Construction
Construction
Construction and maintenance of all kinds of buildings and infrastructures. This includes residential, administrative, commercial, and industrial buildings. Further, it includes private and public infrastructure such as power, communication, health care and educational structures as well as highways and streets.
Transportation, rail
Transportation, rail
Transportation of goods and passengers by rail.
Transportation, except rail
Transportation, except rail
Transportation of goods and passengers by all means, except by rail. This also includes postal and courier services.