What are corporate value chain (scope 3) emissions?

As governments continue to pursue net-zero targets, businesses are anticipating increased scrutiny of their impact on the environment, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  One of the more significant challenges in measuring emissions is determining what is or isn’t included in the measurement. To help in this matter, the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard has classified emissions into three categories to distinguish between those created directly by a company and those created by its wider value chain.

What are the different types of emissions? 

The differentiation into three different types of emissions was first developed by the GHG Protocol in 2001 and can be summarized as follows: 

Scope 1: Direct emissions that result from activities within your organization’s control. This might include onsite fuel combustion, manufacturing and process emissions, refrigerant losses, or company vehicles. 

Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity, heat, or steam that you purchase and use. Although not directly in control of the emissions, by using the energy you are indirectly responsible for the release of CO2. 

Scope 3: Any other indirect emissions from sources outside of your direct control. This category covers all the emissions associated, not with the company itself, but those for which the organization is indirectly responsible up and down the value chain. This includes purchased goods and services, use of sold goods, business travel, commuting, waste disposal, and water consumption.

An environmental road map to transformation 

Our environmental roadmap supports you at each stage of your transformation journey, whether you are starting from scratch or in the process of executing your strategy. This roadmap will help break down your emissions into one of the three categories, and what you need to report.

Get engaged 

Start 

Organization's acceptance to change and prioritize environmental as fundamental to the way it operates its business.

Set the compass 

Strategy and roadmap 

Develop an environmental strategy aligned with business needs to deliver a positive impact to environment and society. 

Measure 

Business assessment 

Assess current business operations and develop a base case to understand the opportunities and threats posed by the business to the environment, and eligibility for any energy and carbon reduction funding.

Drive change 

Transform and implement 

Develop a roadmap which allows the business to implement transformation and reduce its impact to the environment. 

Prioritize 

Evaluate 

Monitor business’ post-transformation performance and align to regulatory and financial reporting against environmental net-zero targets. 

Keep going 

Sustain 

Continually align strategy with the business needs that deliver a positive impact to environment and society. 

Benefits of a well-defined environmental strategy 

• Reduces emissions and safeguards the business from rising carbon tax costs
• Reduces energy consumption and protects the business against energy price rises
• Supports compliance with regulations and international reporting standards, including Scope 3 Standard disclosures
• Reduces the negative impact of an organization to the environment 

How we can help 

We see the importance of being a sustainably profitable business where we can pay forward a valuable legacy to future generations. Sustainability lies at the heart of our business, and we continually review the choices we make to ensure our firm is truly sustainable on many levels. 

We work collaboratively to support our clients in achieving their sustainability goals. If you would like to discuss ways that your business can enhance its sustainability efforts, please contact us.