Scope 3: Value Chain Emissions
Understanding emissions across your entire supply chain and business relationships
Your Progress
Section 4 of 5What are Scope 3 Emissions?
Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the organization, including both upstream and downstream emissions. These are emissions that the organization does not own or control directly but can influence through its business relationships.
Scope 3 emissions typically represent the largest portion of an organization's carbon footprint, often accounting for 70-90% of total emissions. They include everything from raw material extraction to product disposal, employee commuting, and business travel.
The Challenge of Scope 3
Unlike Scopes 1 and 2, Scope 3 emissions require collaboration with suppliers and partners. Organizations need to build relationships, share data, and work together to reduce emissions across the entire value chain.
Interactive Value Chain Mapper
Build your organization's value chain by adding suppliers and estimating their emissions. See how Scope 3 emissions add up across different categories.
Upstream
Suppliers, raw materials, transportation
Downstream
Distribution, use, disposal
Capital Goods
Equipment, buildings, infrastructure
Business Travel
Employee travel and commuting
Employee Commuting
Staff transportation to work
Key Insight
Scope 3 emissions often represent the largest portion of an organization's carbon footprint. The key to reducing them is building collaborative relationships with suppliers and focusing on the highest-impact areas in your value chain.