How businesses can leverage sustainability data to drive impactful, long-term change
At the 2024 Climate & Sustainability Leadership Summit, Kevin Vranes, Chief Product Officer at Worldly, shares valuable insights in his session titled "Turning Sustainability Data into Action." Vranes focuses on how sustainability data has moved beyond compliance and reporting to become a driving force for change across industries. Drawing on Worldly’s work with global brands in fashion, apparel, footwear, and consumer goods, he explains how businesses can use data to reduce carbon emissions and tackle supply chain challenges.
The Scope 3 Challenge: A Critical Focus for Sustainability
A key theme in Vranes' talk is the issue of Scope 3 emissions—those indirect emissions that occur throughout a company’s supply chain. While many organizations have reduced their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions (those related to operations and energy consumption), Scope 3 emissions remain an ongoing challenge. These emissions, which can account for 90% of a company’s carbon footprint in industries like apparel, represent a major opportunity for businesses to make a real difference in addressing climate change.
“Scope 3 is where the real challenge lies,” Vranes notes. “In sectors like apparel, it’s responsible for most emissions, but it’s also the hardest to measure and manage. That’s where platforms like Worldly step in—helping companies gather data from their supply chains and turn it into actions that make an impact.”
Understanding the environmental impact of supply chains is no easy task. Companies must navigate complex networks of suppliers and manufacturers, often spread across multiple regions. The difficulty in collecting consistent and accurate data has made it hard for businesses to develop targeted strategies to cut emissions and improve sustainability performance.
The Journey of Worldly: From Data Collection to Driving Change
Worldly was created to tackle these challenges. Its origins trace back to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, an industry initiative founded by brands like Patagonia and Walmart to improve sustainability practices and data collection. Over time, Worldly has evolved into a platform that helps companies not just collect data, but also use it to make tangible improvements.
Vranes explains how Worldly now supports over 350 brands and more than 40,000 manufacturers, making it one of the most comprehensive ESG (environmental, social, and governance) data sources globally. The platform collects information on carbon emissions, water usage, and social and labor conditions, giving businesses a full view of their sustainability efforts.
“We’ve reached a point where companies aren’t just collecting data for reporting anymore,” Vranes says. “They’re using it to drive real change, whether that means cutting carbon emissions, improving working conditions, or boosting operational efficiency. The goal is to move beyond compliance and use the data to create long-term value for both the business and the environment.”
Using Data to Inform Strategy and Action
Vranes emphasizes the importance of turning data into action. The process begins with gathering high-quality data, which he notes is often a challenge. Many companies still rely on manual methods, tracking key metrics in spreadsheets. This approach can lead to errors and makes it difficult for businesses to trust the information they’re using to guide their sustainability strategies.
“We’re moving beyond the days of manually collecting data,” Vranes explains. “Worldly’s platform allows companies to gather real-time data across their supply chains, ensuring accuracy and enabling better decision-making. This level of transparency was previously out of reach for many organizations.”
Once reliable data is collected, businesses need to analyze it to inform their actions. Worldly’s platform helps companies identify "hotspots" in their supply chains, where emissions are high or where social issues like poor labor conditions are present. Armed with this knowledge, companies can take targeted steps to address these issues.
Building a Data-Driven Culture for Sustainability
Vranes stresses that data collection is only part of the solution. Companies must also foster a culture where data-driven decisions become the norm. This requires leadership commitment and a willingness to invest in long-term sustainability goals, even when the immediate return on investment isn’t always obvious.
“We see companies that are leading the way by embedding sustainability into their core business strategies,” Vranes says. “These organizations aren’t just responding to regulatory pressures or customer demands. They’re actively looking for ways to improve their operations, reduce their environmental impact, and make their supply chains more resilient.”
Vranes offers examples of companies that have used Worldly’s platform to identify carbon hotspots in their supply chains and invest in improvements. In one case, a retailer worked with its suppliers to replace outdated equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives, leading to significant reductions in both emissions and operating costs.
The Role of Collaboration in Driving Sustainability
Vranes also underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals. No company can solve these challenges alone, and working together across industries and supply chains is critical. He points to the apparel industry as a model for how businesses can collaborate to set standards and share best practices.
“The apparel industry has made significant progress by coming together through initiatives like the Sustainable Apparel Coalition,” Vranes explains. “By agreeing on data collection standards and working together to tackle common challenges, these companies are moving the needle on sustainability in ways that individual businesses couldn’t achieve on their own.”
Looking Ahead: Turning Data Into a Competitive Advantage
As sustainability becomes increasingly central to business strategy, companies that can effectively harness their data will have a competitive edge. Vranes believes that sustainability data, when properly used, can not only help companies meet regulatory requirements but also drive innovation, build stronger relationships with customers and suppliers, and improve overall performance.
“The companies that succeed in the future will be those that can turn their sustainability data into meaningful action,” Vranes concludes. “It’s not just about reporting—it’s about using that data to make smarter decisions, improve operations, and ultimately create a more sustainable and resilient business.”
At the heart of Vranes’ message is a call to action for businesses to embrace data as a tool for transformation. As the world faces increasing environmental and social challenges, the ability to measure, manage, and act on sustainability data will be key to building a more sustainable future.
