Scope 3 Emissions: The Complete Guide (Calculate, Reduce, Disclose)
Scope 3 — the indirect emissions across your entire value chain — can be 80–90% of a company’s total. This hub organizes greenote’s English articles on Scope 3, from the basics through calculation, supplier engagement, reduction, disclosure, and sector-specific issues.
Scope 3 covers indirect greenhouse-gas emissions across the supply chain — from raw-material procurement to product use and end-of-life. Because most of it sits outside the company, it is both the hardest and the most important theme in corporate decarbonization. Use this guide to see the whole picture.
Materials, transport, business travel, commuting…
Direct & purchased power (not Scope 3)
Product use & disposal, investments…
🇯🇵 日本語版の特集はこちら
1. Start with the basics
What Scope 3 is, and how it fits with Scope 1 and 2.
- Scope 3 Emissions: an overview & the 15 categories ― the big picture and why Scope 3 matters
2. Calculate
How to calculate, and which data to use.
- How to calculate Scope 3 (by category) ― three approaches and a step-by-step path
- Emission factors & data collection ― spend-based vs. activity-based vs. primary data
3. Engage suppliers
Most of Scope 3 is in the supply chain — collaboration is essential.
- Supplier engagement ― working with suppliers on data and reduction
4. Reduce
Calculation is the start; the real work is cutting emissions.
- How to reduce Scope 3 ― hotspots and category-specific levers
- Science-Based Targets (SBT) ― the global standard for reduction targets
5. Disclose & evaluate
Turning calculation and reduction into recognized disclosure.
- ESG disclosure explained ― ISSB, TCFD, CSRD basics
- CDP disclosure ― how the A–D scoring works
6. Sector lens
Hotspots differ by sector — finance hinges on financed emissions; Big Tech on supply-chain demands.
- Financed emissions (finance) ― Category 15 & the PCAF standard
- GAFAM Sustainability Feature ― Big Tech’s supply-chain demands & Scope 3
- Carbon Credits Explained ― complementing residual emissions
- Renewable Procurement & PPAs ― cutting Scope 2, and CFE basics
greenote explains environment, ESG, and IR in plain language. Browse the latest English articles on the English home, or read in 日本語.