Crespel & Deiters has been combining tradition with innovation since 1858 and has always been committed to sustainability. With the introduction of its own energy management system, the company laid the foundation for accounting Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at an early stage. However, collecting and evaluating Scope 3 emissions was a far more complex task. Crespel & Deiters sought the support of a specialized solution provider in order to create well-founded carbon footprints and meet the requirements of the CSRD reporting obligation.

About Crespel & Deiters

Crespel & Deiters is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of wheat starches and wheat proteins and is headquartered in Ibbenbüren, Germany. Family-run for over six generations, the company processes wheat into high-quality products and solutions for the food, non-food and animal feed industries.

Initial situation and measures in the area of sustainability

Since 2013, Crespel & Deiters has been using an established energy management system that enables accurate recording of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions data and makes energy consumption efficiently controllable. The collection and accounting of Scope 3 emissions, on the other hand, proved to be much more complex, as these require extensive data collection and validation along the entire value chain. To tackle this challenge effectively, Crespel & Deiters initially worked with an external consulting firm. The collaboration was aimed at structuring Scope 3 data and error-free reporting, with a focus on dual materiality and GAP analyses to implement CSRD.

Challenges

The collaboration with the consulting firm established an important basis for data collection and structuring. Nevertheless, key challenges remained, particularly due to the lack of an integrated solution for the efficient and centralized accounting of all relevant data:

• Susceptibility to errors: The manual processing of data increased the risk of inconsistencies and inaccuracies.
• Data consistency, availability and complexity: Inconsistent data units and the high complexity of the information made efficient management and analysis difficult. Limited access to supplier data makes transparency along the value chain more difficult.
• Calculation of Scope 3.1: The precise identification and calculation of emissions within Scope 3.1 proved to be particularly complex, especially with regard to the identification of a suitable and reliable emission factor.
• Internal expertise: A missing harmonized understanding of the requirements and definitions for the various scopes, especially Scope 3.1 and Scope 3.9, made it difficult to integrate and implement appropriate measures. There was also a lack of clear, cross-departmental understanding regarding the specific requirements for the respective data.

Why Tanso

The collaboration with the previous consulting firm was aimed at avoiding errors in data collection and creating an initial basis for carbon accounting and compliance with CSRD regulations. In the long term, however, Crespel & Deiters aimed to implement these processes independently and expand its internal expertise in the long term. When selecting the tool, the main focus was on ensuring seamless integration of existing data and the materiality analysis that had already been carried out in the software. The efficient use of synergies between CCF, PCF and CSRD, intuitive usability and a clearly defined distribution of roles for users were also decisive factors in the decision in favor of Tanso. Access to technical expertise and reliable support was also crucial to optimizing the use of the software. With Tanso, Crespel & Deiters opted for a holistic sustainability reporting solution that helps industrial companies to meet requirements efficiently, save time and benefit from specialist expertise.

Results achieved by using the Tanso software

The use of Tanso significantly supports Crespel & Deiters in increasing efficiency and transparency in its processes. Thanks to the user-friendly interface, employees can enter data quickly and easily - in many cases this only takes a few minutes per department. This has not only made day-to-day work easier, but also accelerated processes overall.

A clearly organized task and activity structure significantly increases efficiency within the individual teams. In addition, the integrated tracking functionality offers improved data transparency and creates a reliable basis for meaningful annual comparisons. In addition, the import function, for example for Scope 3.5 (waste), offers seamless integration of relevant data and reduces recurring effort thanks to an easy-to-copy data structure.

Key achievements:

• Time savings of 75%: Scope 1 to 3 accounting, which previously took around eight months with external advice, could be completed independently in just two months with the help of the software.
• Precise PCF calculation thanks to optimized emission factors: Specific emission factors for German wheat were developed, which are 35% more accurate than the European database. Important process details were included to enable an accurate and scalable representation of the PCF, to create a solid basis for the CCF and to make informed decisions for sustainable processes.
• Increased efficiency through data synergies: The central integration of CCF, PCF and CSRD data enables the efficient use of synergies and optimizes the reporting process.

Example: Calculation of the PCF with Tanso

Crespel & Deiters mainly uses German wheat, whose emission factors were previously only available on a European basis. In cooperation with Tanso, a specific value was calculated in the PCF module that better reflects regional conditions.

As only milled wheat is used in the production process, Tanso took this specific composition into account. The breakdown can be calculated manually in the software, stored directly and fully documented with detailed verification. This precise documentation not only facilitates the traceability of the data, but also supports the auditors in checking and verifying the information.

Outlook

A key milestone for Crespel & Deiters was the testing and implementation of the Tanso software, whose functionalities are tailored to the specific requirements of the organization and its structures. This step created the basis for comprehensive and compliant data collection. The company is already successfully using Tanso to collect CCF and PCF data and is preparing a sustainability report in accordance with the CSRD requirements, although it is not yet required to report.

The focus for 2025 is on further optimizing and refining data collection, in particular by specifically closing existing gaps in specific departments. The aim is to present a fully legally compliant sustainability report in accordance with the CSRD requirements by the end of Q3 2025 and to set the course for a future-proof sustainability strategy.

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Recommendations on sustainability reporting from Crespel & Deiters

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