Understanding Scope 3 Emissions (and Why They Matter Most)
Scope 3 often makes up the majority of a company's carbon footprint. Here's how to measure and tackle it.
For most organisations, the emissions they can see (fuel burned on-site, electricity purchased) are only a small slice of the picture. The majority sits in Scope 3: the emissions across your value chain, from suppliers to product use to end-of-life.
Why Scope 3 dominates
Scope 1 and 2 cover direct emissions and purchased energy. Scope 3 covers everything else: purchased goods and services, business travel, logistics, and the use of the products you sell. For many companies, this accounts for 70% or more of their total footprint.
Ignoring Scope 3 means setting net-zero targets against a fraction of your real impact, and missing the biggest opportunities to reduce it.
How to start measuring
- Map your value chain. Identify the categories most relevant to your business.
- Prioritise hotspots. You don't need perfect data everywhere on day one. Focus where the emissions are.
- Use standards-aligned methods. Consistency matters more than precision early on.
- Improve over time. Replace estimates with supplier-specific data as you go.
Turning measurement into action
A credible baseline is only the beginning. Once you understand where your emissions live, you can engage suppliers, redesign products, and set targets that actually move the needle.
The companies leading on climate aren't the ones with the lowest footprints. They're the ones who measured honestly and acted on what they found.
Want help building your Scope 3 baseline? Get in touch with our team.
