WASHINGTON — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), in partnership with Optera, has launched Version 2 of the Direct-Use Product Emissions Database (DPED), expanding a free, industry-wide resource that helps retailers measure and communicate greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of products they sell.
DPED was first developed in 2024 to address inconsistent methods retailers used to calculate downstream emissions from appliances, electronics, and outdoor power equipment. The updated version includes broader data coverage, improved source quality, and new categories informed by manufacturers, customer surveys, and public databases.
“DPED v2 includes meaningful updates to provide retailers with a robust framework to more confidently understand and communicate the use-phase greenhouse gas emissions of the energy-consuming products they sell,” said Erin Hiatt, RILA senior vice president of retail operations. “By improving data quality and product category breadth, this tool empowers retailers to share actionable insights with their customers and stakeholders.”
Coverage has nearly tripled to over 500 product types, supported by expanded regional emissions factors and more manufacturer-supplied data. Seventy-four percent of sources are now classified as “high quality,” including federal datasets like the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Federal Energy Management Program.
The upgrade was guided by a steering committee of major retailers—including Lowe’s, Target, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Best Buy, and Wayfair—along with input from EDRA, GHIN, and the Retail Council of Canada.
“DPED v2 represents the continued power of industry collaboration,” said Tim Weiss, CEO and co-founder of Optera. “By fostering partnership among retailers, manufacturers and regulatory leaders, and developing high-quality, consistent emissions figures, we’re equipping organizations to drive meaningful progress on climate goals and emissions reporting.”
DPED remains free for organizations using it for their own emissions calculations. Licensing fees apply to companies that incorporate the data into commercial offerings or support multiple clients. The database is undergoing an independent review to ensure alignment with the GHG Protocol’s Scope 3, Category 11 methodology and will be updated annually.
For more information about DPED v2 or to request access, please visit: https://opteraclimate.com/solutions/direct-use-product-emissions-database/
