Unified Metrics Library - GHG emissions - Scope 3

Helper question

How many tonnes of "Scope 3" greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (C02 equivalent), did the company emit during the period?

Summary

Scope 3 represents all the green house gase (GHG) emissions that the organisation is indirectly responsible for, upstream and downstream activities of its value chain, including suppliers, customers, and the use of its products or services.

Unit

t CO2eq

Description

[According to Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard -

Supplement to the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard,](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-value-chain-scope-3-standard)

Upstream scope 3 emissions include:

  • Purchased goods and services

  • Capital goods

  • Fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in scope 1 or scope 2)

  • Upstream transportation and distribution

  • Waste generated in operations

  • Business travel

  • Employee commuting

  • Upstream leased assets

Downstream scope 3 emissions include:

  • Downstream transportation and distribution

  • Processing of sold products

  • Use of sold products

  • End-of-life treatment of sold products

  • Downstream leased assets

  • Franchises

  • Investments'

Sources

Greenhouse gas emissions

EU regulation 2018/842 , Article 3. Definitions. (1).

Scope 3 Greenhouse gas emissions

EU regulation 2016/1011 . Annex III. (1) (e) (iii).

GHG Protocol . Page 27

Examples

The company is a global clothing retailer that produces and sells clothing. Its Scope 3 emissions include emissions associated with the entire lifecycle of its products, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, transportation, consumer use, and end-of-life disposal. These emissions may include:

Raw Material Extraction: Emissions from mining and processing raw materials like cotton, wool, or synthetic fibers - 10 000 Tonnes CO2e.

Manufacturing: Emissions from the energy-intensive processes in clothing manufacturing, as well as emissions from chemicals used in the dyeing and finishing of textiles - 10 000 Tonnes CO2e.

Transportation: Emissions from transporting clothing materials and finished products from suppliers to manufacturers, distribution centers, and retail stores - 10 000 Tonnes CO2e.

Consumer Use: Emissions from the energy used by customers to wash, dry, and care for the clothing over its lifespan - 10 000 Tonnes CO2e.

End-of-Life Disposal: Emissions from the disposal of clothing, such as when it's incinerated or sent to landfills, contributing to methane emissions - 10 000 Tonnes CO2e.

The company scope 3 represents a total of 50 000 t CO2eq for this year.

GHG emissions - Scope 2 - Generated by real estate assets
GHG emissions - Scope 3 - Generated by real estate assets