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Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions Across the Value Chain

Emissions from activities across the value chain, like ingredients, packaging, and waste.

Lydia Straszim avatar
Written by Lydia Straszim
Updated over 7 months ago

What It Includes

Scope 3 is the broadest category, covering 15 categories: all other indirect emissions across your value chain, both upstream and downstream.

Upstream Activities

Downstream Activities

Purchased goods & services

Downstream transportation & distribution

Capital goods

Processing of sold products

Fuel & energy activities

Use of sold products

Upstream transportation & distribution

End of life treatment of sold products

Waste generated in operations

Downstream leased assets

Business travel

Franchises

Employee-related commuting

Investments

Upstream leased assets

For food companies, Scope 3 Category 1 (Purchased Goods & Services) often represents >70% of total emissions, driven by ingredients and packaging.

Examples of Scope 3 for Food Companies

  • Purchased Goods and Services: emissions from ingredients and packaging materials.

  • Transportation and Distribution: upstream emissions from third-party logistics providers.

  • Waste Disposal: impact of waste generated by your business and sent to landfill, recycling, or composting.

Initial Focus in the Platform

Our platform currently focuses on Purchased Goods & Services, as this category typically accounts for over 70% of a company’s Scope 3 emissions. Focusing on this critical area enables businesses to target their largest emissions source and take impactful steps toward reduction.

Why It’s Important

Scope 3 emissions often reveal the greatest opportunities for reductions, as they highlight the environmental impact of your entire supply chain. Focusing on Scope 3 can lead to meaningful changes, such as sustainable sourcing, reducing packaging, and engaging with suppliers to minimise their emissions.

How to Measure It

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