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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.

Nathan Bottomley avatar
Written by Nathan Bottomley
Updated over 11 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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