Generate the ZDHC Performance InCheck Report
The Performance InCheck is there to check whether the input formulations purchased or used by suppliers conform to the ZDHC MRSL (Chemicals to Zero - Foundational) and/or Chemicals to Zero - Progressive Levels by mapping them against the database of commercial formulations listed in the ZDHC Gateway - Chemical Module.
Performance InCheck Report
Suppliers should use the Performance InCheck Report as a tool for monitoring their chemical inventory for Chemicals to Zero - Foundational Level (ZDHC MRSL conformance) and Chemicals to Zero - Progressive Level conformance to ensure responsible input chemical management.
It is a self-evaluation exercise that supports suppliers:
- Demonstrate improvement in their input chemical management to their stakeholders.
- Make informed decisions for the purchasing practices of input chemicals.
- Drive their chemical suppliers for better chemistry.
- Implement the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme by aligning with ZDHC Supplier to Zero.
Generating the Performance InCheck Report
In order to generate a Performance InCheck Report suppliers should use a ZDHC Approved Performance InCheck Provider.
Suppliers must have an annual Performance InCheck subscription with a ZDHC Approved InCheck Provider and upload their monthly chemical inventories to the provider’s platform.
The Performance InCheck Report generated through the providers' platform is also automatically stored in the supplier’s profile on the ZDHC Gateway, along with the monthly inventory details uploaded by the supplier.
Information and data in the Performance InCheck Report
How to generate a Performance InCheck Report
Type of inventory
To generate a Performance InCheck Report, a supplier should upload ALL chemicals purchased or used in their facility in a month, as per the scope of the Performance InCheck.
The uploaded inventory must not be limited only to a brand-specific inventory (chemicals associated with manufacturing products for a specific brand), as the Performance InCheck aims to reflect the supplier’s full inventory conformance, not just the conformance of products used for particular brand customers.
The input chemicals can be inventoried into two types delivery or usage.
Delivery type chemical inventory
The “delivery type” chemical inventory represents all chemicals purchased by or delivered to the facility over a month, added to the existing stock at the beginning of the month.
See delivery type examples here
These purchased or delivered chemicals are assumed to be used gradually within the facility over a period of time. Using the delivery type chemical inventory provides transparency regarding the chemical inventory held by the supplier.
Usage type chemical inventory
The “usage type” chemical inventory refers to the amount (quantity) of chemicals used or consumed in the facility during a month.
In cases where a chemical was not used during the reporting month, it is still essential to report the chemical with zero usage in the chemical inventory upload to generate the Performance InCheck Report. This ensures that all input chemicals at the facility are captured in the report.
The advantage of using usage type inventory is that it supports root cause analysis (RCA) for non-conformities in outputs such as wastewater, sludge, air emissions and products.
A simple method to calculate the usage quantity can be done using the formula below.
+ amount of chemical product delivered in that month)
- amount of chemical product in stock at the end of that month
(This formula captures not only the inventory that is used but also delivered and in stock)
InCheck update frequency
Suppliers should generate a Performance InCheck Report once every month to monitor and improve their chemical inventory continuously.
Brands can review reports from their connected suppliers in the ZDHC Gateway to track their chemical inventory performance for ZDHC Chemicals to Zero conformance.
Suppliers are not required to generate multiple Performance InCheck Reports in a single month. This exercise should be done only once a month, preferably at the beginning of the month, using the previous month for reporting the inventory.
A supplier can upload the chemical inventory for a specific month and must generate the Performance InCheck Report for that month within 42 days after the end of the reporting month.
Corrective Actions to Improve Performance InCheck Reports
A supplier should take the following actions to continuously improve the Chemicals to Zero performance in their InCheck Report:
- Chemical purchasing policy: Incorporate a chemical purchasing policy that ensures the supplier purchases and uses only those chemical products listed in the ZDHC Gateway - Chemical Module at least at ZDHC MRSL Level 1 conformance.
- Inventory check: Identify the chemical products in their chemical inventory not listed in the ZDHC Gateway - Chemical Module and drive these chemical formulators to register and publish their products on the ZDHC Gateway. This can be done by sending “invites” to these formulators through the supplier's ZDHC Gateway account.
- ChemCheck Report: Request all chemical formulators to provide a ChemCheck Summary Report.
- Search the Gateway: Use the ZDHC Gateway – Chemical Module to search for alternative formulations when the chemical products used by the facility are not listed in the ZDHC Gateway database. The search can be done using the ‘Browse’ functionality on the ZDHC Gateway for product usage, substrate, or certification.