Open Group launches footprint standard for emissions

The Open Group has launched the Open Footprint Standard, Edition 1.0, which it describes as the first open emissions data model to cover Scope 1, 2 and 3 reporting.

The standard is intended to help organisations collect, standardise and report emissions data across their operations and supply chains. It is designed for use across multiple jurisdictions as companies face tighter scrutiny over climate disclosures and the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

The release addresses a longstanding problem in corporate carbon accounting. Many businesses can measure direct emissions and purchased energy with some confidence, but still struggle to capture Scope 3 emissions from suppliers, partners and wider value chains, where data often sits in disconnected systems and spreadsheets.

The model provides standardised emissions data definitions and relationships aimed at making data sharing and interoperability easier across supply chains. It also supports reporting against a range of greenhouse gas regulations and frameworks, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, California Senate Bill 253 and International Sustainability Standards Board requirements.

The framework also aligns with WBCSD PACT V3 Product Carbon Footprints, as well as Greenhouse Gas Protocol and ISO standards. That alignment is likely to matter for multinational groups that need to report under more than one rulebook while maintaining consistency in the underlying data.

Data structure

The standard is split into two parts. Part 1 sets out general requirements for the data model, while Part 2 provides a data element dictionary.

Alongside the standard, the Open Footprint Forum is making available a set of JSON schema files to help organisations create database instances using the Open Footprint data model structure.

The launch comes as questions grow over the hidden emissions associated with digital transformation, particularly as artificial intelligence drives demand for data centres and computing resources. Policymakers and companies are under pressure to show not only that they are reducing emissions, but also that the numbers behind those claims are complete and auditable.

For many large organisations, the practical issue is less about setting net zero targets than gathering reliable information from suppliers and converting it into a form that can be checked, compared and reported. A common data model could reduce manual work and give companies a clearer way to trace emissions through the reporting process.

Explaining the rationale for the release, Steve Nunn, President and CEO of The Open Group, said: "There is an urgent need to streamline emissions data management and reduce the manual effort required to capture data within supply chains, perform data conversion, and report out to various regulators."

He added: "The Open Footprint Standard removes friction and lowers cost, helping organizations identify emissions reduction opportunities."

AI and reporting

The Open Group also linked the model to efforts to integrate carbon data into wider digital systems. Better-structured information is increasingly seen as necessary if businesses want to use analytics or artificial intelligence tools in sustainability reporting without introducing gaps or inconsistencies.

"Large enterprises today are focused on deriving value from their carbon data and applying AI using modern and integrated data architectures," said Sammy Lakshmanan, Co-chair of the Open Footprint Forum.

He added: "The Open Footprint Standard is a foundational element in building an AI-ready carbon management data structure that enables organizations to spend more time on driving business outcomes and less on handling data."

Data quality remains central as regulators and investors push for more reliable disclosures. If emissions figures cannot be traced back to source data or reconciled across suppliers, companies risk challenges over the accuracy of their reporting.

"Accountability in emissions reporting starts with data integrity," said AJ Van de Voort, Co-chair of the Open Footprint Forum.

He added: "By standardizing how we capture and manage emissions data throughout its entire lifecycle, we are enabling the level of traceability and verification that modern regulatory landscapes-and stakeholders-now demand."