Scope 3 Emissions

What are Scope 3 Emissions?

Scope 3 Emissions result from organisation’s activities, but occur from sources that are not owned or controlled by the organisation itself. The GHG Protocol divides these Scope 3 Emissions into fifteen categories that span the value chain, ranging from purchased goods and services to business travel and employee commuting to waste disposal and use of sold products; all the way to transportation and distribution, investments and leased assets and franchises.

Why measure Scope 3 Emissions?

Measuring Scope 3 Emissions has many benefits, including:

• Improved reputation
• Innovation for sustainable working
• Promoting sustainable procurement through decision-making processes
• Increasing employee engagement to reduce emissions
• Improving net zero strategies and reporting
• Increased positive supply chain engagement to identify and mitigate hotspots
• Reducing overhead costs through improved efficiencies
• Increased sales from environmentally-conscious consumers

As Scope 3 Emissions represent a significant aspect of an organisation’s emissions profile, they’re a priority area to assess and understand when it comes to taking sustainability efforts to the next level. For example, organisations interested in the gold standard of decarbonisation, Science-Based Targets, are now required to set Scope 3 targets should their emissions account for more than 40% of the organisation’s overall carbon footprint.

How do I calculate my Scope 3 Emissions?

Scope 3 Emissions occur at different levels and from different sources. Each organisation should be treated individually to understand the work required to help drive maximum impact. We recommend organisations undertake a Scope 3 Emissions Inventory Assessment in the first instance to identify the areas of greatest carbon production and plan for wider emissions reduction.

Scope 3 Emissions Inventory Assessment

GEP Environmental’s Scope 3 Emissions Inventory Assessment allows our team to assess your Scope 3 Emissions profile.

The Scope 3 Emissions Inventory Assessment includes three unique, important phases:

• Scoping Workshop: the Scoping Workshop allows our team of carbon reporting and accounting experts to work with your team to identify the scope of the assessment, and key next steps.
• Screening Assessment: our team will conduct a Screening Assessment to determine the relevance of the emissions sources, identify sources of carbon emissions, and review data available for reporting. During the Screening Assessment, our team will provide a detailed overview your organisation’s readiness to report against relevant Scope 3 Emissions categories.
• Inventory Assessment Summary Report: our team will produce a report containing all findings, and formally present outcomes along with commentary and rationale.

The result? A report that clearly outlines the scope of your organisation’s Scope 3 Emissions Inventory, as well as key next steps in being able to develop your Scope 3 Emissions footprint.

Scope 3 Emissions: Going Further

Following the Scope 3 Emissions Inventory Assessment, your organisation will be perfectly placed to take the next steps to report and reduce your carbon emissions – whether that’s expanding an existing Carbon Footprint, developing a Net Zero Strategy, creating Science-Based Targets, or other sustainability activity.

For more information about how the GEP Environmental team can help your organisation mitigate the impacts of Scope 3 Emissions, get in touch today.