How ORCA Transforms Sustainability Data into Operational Intelligence
From fragmented sustainability initiatives to a structured system for reporting and impact.
About ORCA Software
At ORCA Software GmbH, the team believes that responsible corporate management and sustainable use of resources are essential for shaping a positive future for everyone. Working in the construction sector, ORCA is aware of the major sustainability challenges the industry faces, especially given its significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions largely come from building material production, construction, operation, and renovation.
ORCA’s digital solutions for the construction industry aim to conserve resources and reduce the environmental footprint of buildings. The company sees enormous potential in using digitalization within the BIM methodology to meet current and future climate protection standards—from choosing suitable materials and building methods to managing materials more efficiently and supporting sustainable dismantling and recycling processes.
The Challenge
From Vision to Execution
While sustainability ambitions were clearly defined, execution remained fragmented.
Key challenges included:
• lack of structured data across initiatives
• limited comparability and consistency
• manual processes and carbon footprint reporting overhead
• difficulty translating sustainability into measurable outcomes
• limited auditability and traceability
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From Sustainability Initiatives to a Scalable Data System: ORCA’s Approach
ORCA partnered with Footprint Intelligence to transform fragmented sustainability activities into a structured, data-driven system. Faced with diverse inputs and inconsistent methodologies, the organization required a platform to centralize data, standardize processes, and enable reliable analysis.
Today, ORCA operates on a foundation that connects sustainability data with decision-making.
The Approach
Building the Data Backbone for Intelligent Operations
Together, ORCA and Footprint Intelligence established a centralized data foundation to structure emissions data across Scope 1–3.
This foundation enables consistent calculations, transparent methodologies, and audit-ready reporting — transforming fragmented inputs into a reliable system for sustainability management.
Impact
Enabling Reliable Emissions Modeling and Reporting
The Footprint Intelligence platform enables ORCA to standardize emissions data across Scope 1–3, ensuring consistency, traceability, and audit-ready reporting.
By structuring operational inputs and applying transparent methodologies, ORCA can reliably model emissions and build a scalable foundation for sustainability management.
Key outputs:
• Standardized and harmonized emissions data across sources
• Automated preparation for Scope 1–3 carbon footprint calculations
• Transparent and traceable modeling logic
• Audit-ready data foundation for reporting (Corporate Carbon Footprint and beyond)
“As a software company, we needed a structured and reliable way to manage emissions data. Footprint Intelligence enabled us to standardize inputs, ensure transparency, and make our reporting audit-ready.”
— Sustainability Lead, ORCA Software GmbH
Taking action
Taking action
The Steps Towards the Change
✔ Done
Product Digitalization
At ORCA, they only offer digital products, which allows to reduce packaging waste and eliminate unnecessary transportation.
✔ Done
Conscious Purchasing
ORCA increasingly prioritizes purchasing regional products and actively advocates against unnecessary print advertising.
✔ Done
Working Method
ORCA promotes sustainable work practices through a paperless office and offers employees the option to work from home.
• In Progress
CO2 Footprint Calculation
ORCA aims to reduce energy use at its company headquarters. Beyond emissions linked to mobility, electricity and heat demand remain the primary contributors to ORCA’s CO₂ emissions.
✔ Done
Waste Reduction
ORCA is dedicated to waste reduction and proper waste segregation, ensuring responsible waste management practices.
✔ Done
Sustainable Mobility
Employees' commute significantly impacts ORCA’s CO2 emissions. Currently they're focused on promoting sustainable transportation options within the mobility sector.
• In Progress
Raising Awareness
ORCA is actively raising awareness among their employees at every opportunity, promoting initiatives like going paperless, choosing packaging-free lunches, and encouraging mindful use of air conditioning.
• In Progress
Sustainable Information in AUSSCHREIBEN.DE
In AUSSCHREIBEN.DE, the planner should be able to directly search for products with sustainable information, such as an EPD, through filtering functions. Catalogs with sustainable information will be accordingly labeled.
• In Progress
Collaborations
Data on sustainability from external databases should be intelligently linked and visible on AUSSCHREIBEN.DE. As a result, the product manufacturer no longer needs to maintain sustainability data for their products in multiple databases simultaneously. The planner can quickly and easily find required information in one central location and be supported in making sustainable product choices.
• In Progress
Text modules for sustainable tendering
To use sustainable products in construction, the corresponding sustainability requirements must be explicitly specified in the tender. Supporting text modules already exist but should be made easier to use in the tendering process. For this purpose, ORCA is developing an assistant for AVA programs.'
Sustainability Report
2022
Download ORCA’s 2022 sustainability report to see where they are now in the journey to Net Zero.
