# Supply Chain of Custody Carbon Report for Materials and Parts > Chain of Custody Carbon Report allows brands to understand where the materials and parts for their products come from — automatically and securely. *Published 2025-04-18 · by Tim Almond · tags: chain-of-custody, materials* --- ## What is Chain of Custody Carbon Report, And Why Is It Important For Brands? [Chain of Custody](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551677/) (CoC) refers to the process of documenting and tracking the movement of materials and parts through the supply chain, from their origin to the final product. This involves recording each step — sourcing, processing, manufacturing, and distribution — to ensure transparency, accountability, and traceability. For brands, CoC is critical because it verifies the authenticity, quality, and ethical sourcing of materials, which directly impacts consumer trust and regulatory compliance. In today's market, consumers and regulators demand transparency regarding environmental and social impacts. Chain of Custody is built into [Carbon Report](/) via our share and request features. By tracking materials and parts, brands can quantify the carbon emissions associated with each stage of production. This data is vital for creating accurate Carbon Reports, which help brands meet regulatory requirements, set reduction targets, and communicate their environmental commitment to stakeholders. ## Chain of Custody Carbon Report for Materials Chain of Custody plays a pivotal role in carbon reporting by providing a framework to track the journey of materials across the supply chain, enabling accurate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with primary data. A key aspect of this process is capturing the distance a material travels, as transportation significantly contributes to a material's carbon footprint. In a CoC system, every movement of a material — from raw material extraction to processing, manufacturing, and final distribution — is documented with details such as origin, destination, mode of transport (e.g., ship, truck, or air), and distance traveled. Primary data, collected directly from suppliers, logistics providers, and manufacturers, ensures precision in calculating emissions. For example, if a material like aluminum is mined in Australia, refined in China, and assembled into a product in Europe, CoC records each leg of the journey, including distances (e.g., 12,000 km by sea, 1,500 km by rail). This data is automatically connected via your Carbon Report, which quantifies emissions based on transport modes and distances. Focusing on the distance traveled enhances the accuracy of Carbon Report. Unlike tools using secondary data — which relies on industry averages and can obscure variations — Carbon Report's primary data from CoC provides granular insights. ## Chain of Custody in Carbon Report for Parts and Sub-Assemblies Chain of Custody for parts and sub-assemblies through Carbon Report extends beyond raw materials to encompass the complex processes of conversion, assembly, and distribution, providing critical data for accurate carbon reporting. Parts and sub-assemblies, such as electronic components, automotive modules, or machinery units, often involve multiple stages of transformation and integration. The journey of parts and sub-assemblies is meticulously tracked, with a focus on where these components are converted and assembled. Conversion refers to the transformation of raw or semi-finished materials into functional parts, such as turning sheet metal into a car door panel or silicon wafers into microchips. Assembly involves combining these parts into sub-assemblies or final products, often at specialized facilities. Carbon Report records the locations of these activities, the energy sources used (e.g., renewable vs. fossil fuel-based), and the transportation between conversion and assembly sites. For example, a smartphone's battery might be manufactured in South Korea, shipped 2,000 km to a Chinese assembly plant, and then distributed globally, with each step documented for distance, transport mode, and energy consumption. ## How Carbon Report Maintains Privacy For Brands And Their Suppliers [Maintaining privacy with Carbon Report](/news/why-privacy-first-carbon-reporting-is-so-important-for-suppliers-and-brands) is paramount for brands and their suppliers, as supply chain data often includes sensitive information. Carbon Report's robust Chain of Custody system ensures confidentiality while enabling accurate carbon reporting through careful data handling, restricted access, and advanced security measures. To protect trade secrets, Carbon Report avoids requesting proprietary formulations or sensitive manufacturing details, such as exact chemical compositions or production techniques. Instead, Carbon Report focuses on non-sensitive data critical for carbon reporting: material origins, transport distances, energy usage, and assembly locations. User access is tightly controlled to prevent unauthorized exposure. Carbon Report implements role-based access controls (RBAC), where only authorized personnel — such as sustainability managers or auditors — can view specific data sets. Suppliers retain control over their data, with granular permissions dictating what is shared with the customers or their suppliers. Data sharing with other suppliers or external entities is strictly prohibited without explicit consent. To secure data, Carbon Report employs state-of-the-art encryption practices. Data is encrypted both in transit and at rest using protocols like AES-256 and TLS, protecting it from interception or breaches. --- Source: https://carbon-report.com/news/supply-chain-of-custody-carbon-report-for-materials-and-parts HTML version: https://carbon-report.com/news/supply-chain-of-custody-carbon-report-for-materials-and-parts