CSRD-Ready: Automating Carbon Footprint Reporting

CSRD-Ready: Automating Carbon Footprint Reporting

How a European manufacturer transformed scattered utility bills into a 100% audit-ready ESG pipeline using Azure & Data Engineering.

100%
Audit Readiness
3
Scopes Covered
200+
Data Sources
ESG Command Center
Total Emissions (YTD)
42.5k
tCO2e (Gross)
Vs. Baseline (2023)
-8.4%
On Track to Net Zero
Data Coverage
94%
Sites Reporting
Emission Scopes Breakdown tCO2e
Scope 1 (Direct) 5.2k
Scope 2 (Energy Indirect) 8.1k
Scope 3 (Supply Chain – Critical) 29.2k
Data Source Audit Trail
Utility Bills (OCR Ingestion) Verified
Logistics Fleet (API Connector) Verified
Azure Usage Emissions Verified
Supplier Materials (Excel Upload) Review Needed

📋 Strategic Blueprint Based on Real-World Scenarios

This case story demonstrates a proven architecture for meeting CSRD requirements using the Microsoft Cloud. Is your Sustainability Report built on spreadsheets? Let’s automate your ESG pipeline →

Drowning in PDFs, Facing a Compliance Tsunami

A mid-sized European industrial manufacturer faced a looming deadline: CSRD compliance by the next fiscal year. Their existing process for calculating carbon footprint was manual, fragile, and prone to error.

Crucial data—like utility consumption for Scope 2 and logistics details for Scope 3—was trapped in thousands of PDF invoices, scattered Excel spreadsheets, and email chains. There was no “Single Source of Truth,” and the Sustainability Officer spent 90% of their time chasing data instead of driving reduction strategies.

The Audit Panic

The reality check came during a voluntary pre-audit. When asked to trace a specific emission factor for a raw material shipment back to its source document, the team failed.

It took three days to find the original file. The auditor’s feedback was brutal: “This methodology is not auditable.” The risk of non-compliance fines and reputational damage became an immediate board-level issue.

An Automated, Auditable Data Pipeline

1

Automated Ingestion

We deployed Azure Data Factory combined with AI-driven OCR to automatically scrape data from utility bills and fuel invoices, digitizing thousands of documents instantly.

2

GHG Calculation Engine

Using Azure Databricks, we built a calculation engine that automatically maps consumption data to the correct emission factors (based on GHG Protocol), calculating Scopes 1, 2, and 3 dynamically.

3

Real-Time Reporting

We visualized the data in Power BI, giving the board a live view of their carbon footprint with full drill-down capabilities to the original source invoice for every single ton of CO2.

Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability Stack

A secure, scalable architecture designed for ESG data transparency.

Microsoft Azure Azure Cloud
Power BI Power BI
Azure Data Factory Data Factory
Databricks Databricks

A Sustainability Manager’s Year: Before & After

Transform
Before
4 Months
To compile the Annual Report
High Risk
Manual errors & unverifiable data

“I felt like a data janitor, glued to spreadsheets, terrified that one wrong formula would ruin our reputation.”

After
Real-Time
Always-on dashboard availability
Audit Ready
Full traceability to source

“Now, I trust the data. I spend my time working with our supply chain to actually reduce emissions, not just count them.”

Quantifiable Business Impact

100%
Audit Readiness achieved, with a complete digital trail for every emission factor.
70%
Reduction in time spent on manual data collection and report generation.
Sc. 3
Full visibility into Supply Chain emissions (Scope 3), unlocking strategic vendor partnerships.

“ESG reporting has moved from a marketing exercise to a rigorous financial discipline. Companies need to treat carbon data with the same precision as financial data. We build the systems that make sustainability transparent, auditable, and actionable.

Justyna, PMO Manager

Justyna

PMO Manager, Multishoring

Meet the Team Behind the Solutions

Our strength lies in our people. This project was orchestrated by our PMO team, who ensure that every solution is not only technically sound but also perfectly aligned with your business goals.

Justyna

Justyna PMO Manager

Artur

Artur PMO Specialist