Memorandum of Understanding signed to enable collaboration on sustainability data models
SAN FRANCISCO, CA/ AMSTERDAM, NL � February 26, 2025: The Open Group Open Footprint® Forum and the , hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration in aligning sustainability data models. This agreement underscores a shared commitment to providing subject matter experts with deeper insights into areas of potential alignment, and exploring digital use cases that benefit from the distinctive strengths of each organization.
The cooperation and alignment between The Open Group and WBCSD PACT aims to facilitate emissions transparency and interoperability through standardization. Both organizations will work together to exchange expertise, feedback, and roadmaps. The Open Group has already adopted the PACT Data Model for PCF exchange within the Open Footprint Data Model Snapshot, and both organizations will continue exchanging feedback as the standards evolve. The partnership aims to leverage the unique experience and expertise of both organizations and, ultimately, enhance the effectiveness of emissions data management for organizations worldwide.
The Open Group is committed to enabling business success through the development of technology standards that promote global interoperability and Boundaryless Information Flow� in a secure, reliable, and timely manner. As part of its mission, The Open Group regularly collaborates with organizations to co-develop related or complementary standards and technical specifications. The Open Footprint Forum, a key initiative of The Open Group, focuses on creating open, vendor-neutral standards for consistent and accurate measurement and reporting of environmental footprint data, including greenhouse gases, water, waste, and land data.
Steve Nunn, President and CEO of The Open Group, said: "The Open Group is proud to partner with WBCSD PACT. Aligning our data models will bring significant value to the sustainability ecosystem through the creation and promotion of technology standards. This milestone example of cross-organization collaboration will lay the foundations for innovation, and help us play a vital role in helping organizations achieve their sustainability goals�.
Beth Hadley, Head of Product at PACT said: “We are delighted to formalize our partnership with The Open Group. With their decades of expertise in technical standardization and information exchange, this MoU marks a significant milestone in aligning our efforts. Our complementary strengths and shared commitment to global emissions standardization will drive meaningful progress, and we look forward to working even more closely together.�
Sammy Lakshmanan, Co-chair of the Open Footprint Forum said: “Alignment of the Open Footprint Data Model to the WBCSD PACT Methodology data model for product carbon footprint will benefit end user organizations that are dealing with both product and corporate carbon footprints, and regulatory reporting. Our collaboration with WBCSD PACT will help facilitate the sharing and management of carbon data, such as Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and reporting against the CSRD and other sustainability regulations.�
To learn more about the Open Footprint Forum, click here.
About The Open Group
The Open Group is a global consortium that enables the achievement of business objectives through technology standards and open source initiatives by fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and mutual respect among our diverse group of 900+ memberships. Our Membership includes customers, systems and solutions suppliers, tool vendors, integrators, academics, and consultants across multiple industries. More information on The Open Group can be found at .
About WBCSD PACT:
The Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), drives decarbonization across value chains by standardizing the calculation and exchange of supplier-specific product carbon footprints (PCFs).
With participation from over 150 stakeholders, PACT enables more than 2,500 companies to accelerate supply chain transparency and advance decarbonization in the private sector.
More information can be found at and on .
The Open Group Media obÌåÓý:
Monika Boudova
Hotwire for The Open Group
[email protected]
WBCSD Media obÌåÓý:
Paola Abis
Marketing and Communications Lead, PACT
[email protected]