Introduction to Value Change Initiative (VCI) and the VCI Guidance
Welcome to this introductory lesson on the Value Change Initiative (VCI) and VCI guidance, which will provide an insight into the foundations of the VCI topic, setting you up for success as you continue to broaden your knowledge of the subject in future. We’ll begin with the meaning of VCI and why it is significant, before going into the very basics of VCI guidance.
What is VCI and why is it important?
VCI stands for Value Change Initiative, and it was born from the difficulty that arises from tracking Scope 3 emissions. As these emissions relate to the entire process from production (including of your suppliers) to usage by your customers, it can be a challenging task when looking to reduce them. Indeed, it is believed that the main reason why companies miss their targets is due to Scope 3 emissions, which also currently has fewer science-based solutions.
Therefore, VCI has significant importance when looking for a solution to this issue. The Value Change Initiative is a peer-to-peer learning forum bringing together 500+ climate experts, developing solutions to implement and achieve value chain emission reductions & removals.
By accelerating Scope 3 interventions and facilitating collective action, it enables corporates to credibly account and report value chain impact, and to show progress towards science-based targets.
The Value Change Initiative aims to enable Net Zero value chains by 2050
- Bring together ambitious and committed organisations – An engagement forum with 100+ leading corporates, civil society actors and recognized standards working alongside 400+ Scope 3 and climate experts solving practical Scope 3 challenges.
- Co-creating implementation guidance – Members move beyond theory; collectively learning, defining, co-creating and testing guidance, tools and implementation trajectories to solve practical Scope 3 challenges and achieve ambitious targets.
- Removing barriers to drive Scope 3 action at scale – Delivering clear and consistent approach to Scope 3 emission reductions to enable corporates to credibly account according to the GHG Protocol, report impact up and down their value chains, and show progress towards Science-based Targets.
The Value Change Story
2017
- Launch of Value Change Programme by Gold Standard Foundation; founded to publish the Value Change Interventions Guidance,
- With support from EIT Climate-KIC, Gold Standard, Danone, Livelihoods Funds, Mars, Science Based Targets, and other partners
2018
- Kick-off first Food & Agriculture Working Group I
- Launch of the draft Value Change Guidance
- Launch of the Soil Carbon Guidance
- Launch of SustainCERT
2019
- Kick-off second Food & Agriculture Working Group II
- Launching First Pilots
2020
- Kick-off Apparel Working Group I
- EF Tracking system, Use of Products Sold, and Double Counting Labs
- Kick-off ISEAL Innovations Fund Programme
2021
- Launch of Value Change Initiative at COP 26; SustainCERT hosts the Secretariat & leads its implementation with regular coordination with key technical partners
- Accounting & Claims Labs
- Publication of Value Chain Guidance V1.1
- VCI is recognized as ‘go to guidance’ for calculating FLAG emissions and removals in the SBTi FLAG guidance,
2022
- Kick-off Systems Lab & Food & Agriculture Working Group III
- Co-creation and publication of Accounting & Reporting the Emissions of Certified Commodities
- VCI as official supporting partner of GHG Protocol Land Sector and Removals Guidance
The VCI members & partners as of May 2024
