Scope 3 emissions refer to emissions that are a result of activities associated with the use of a company’s products or services, as well as emissions from the upstream and downstream value chain of a company.
How to measure your scope 3 emissions
To measure these emissions, companies can use a variety of methodologies, including:
- Supply Chain Analysis: This method involves assessing the emissions associated with the production and transportation of raw materials, as well as the emissions associated with the production, use, and disposal of a company’s products.
- Life Cycle Analysis: This method involves assessing the emissions associated with all stages of a product’s life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.
- Input-Output Analysis: This method involves assessing the emissions associated with the production of all goods and services that a company uses or sells.
- Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard: This method is developed by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), it is a comprehensive framework for companies to account and report their Scope 3 emissions.
It’s important to note that measuring scope 3 emissions can be complex and time-consuming, and may require the assistance of experts in the field.
What IT solutions can your company use?
There are a variety of IT solutions that companies can use to reduce their Scope 3 emissions:
- Supply chain management software: This software can help companies track and manage the environmental impacts of their suppliers, such as their energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Product lifecycle management software: This software can help companies track and manage the environmental impacts of their products, such as their energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, throughout their entire life cycle.
- Carbon accounting software: This software can help companies track and manage their greenhouse gas emissions, including their Scope 3 emissions, and can also help them to set and achieve emissions reduction targets.
- Smart Energy Management Systems: These systems can help companies to optimize energy use in their facilities and reduce their energy consumption, which can in turn help to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
- Telecommuting solutions: By enabling employees to work from home, companies can reduce their Scope 3 emissions associated with transportation.
- E-commerce solutions: By promoting the use of e-commerce solutions, companies can reduce their Scope 3 emissions associated with transportation by reducing the number of physical goods that need to be shipped.
It’s important to note that implementing IT solutions to reduce Scope 3 emissions will require collaboration between IT and sustainability teams, and may require significant investment in new systems and technologies.