» Resources » What are scope 3 emissions and why do they matter? Glossary What are scope 3 emissions and why do they matter? What are scope 3 emissions? In order for organisations to reach their net zero targets, a carbon strategy should be at the forefront of their minds. As part of that carbon strategy, it’s crucial that organisations, both SMEs and global conglomerates, are accurately measuring and managing their carbon emissions. For organisations to be able to measure their carbon footprint, they need to be able to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions that they’re responsible for. To do this, organisations must collect their operational data and use official multipliers (known as conversion factors) to translate those into carbon emissions. There are three different types of carbon emissions: scope 1, 2 and 3. Scope 1 are defined ‘direct emissions’ that you have produced from your own controlled sources, i.e. vehicle emissions from your organisation’s vehicle fleet. Scope 2 are defined as ‘indirect emissions’ from the consumption of electricity, steam, heating and cooling. Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions. This can range from the carbon embodied in the materials you purchase through to emissions associated with the processing of the waste you have generated. For most organisations, these will be the largest contributor to their footprint. Why do they matter? They are incredibly important as for most organisations, in particular larger organisations of over 250 employees, they will count for the majority of the greenhouse gas emissions they emit. For organisations to effectively reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their net zero targets by either 2030 or 2050, reducing scope 3 emissions is crucial. Depending on where you sit in the supply chain, they can account for between 80-99% of your overall emissions. This means it’s crucial to be able to accurately measure your scope 3 emissions as they’ll be responsible for the majority of your organisation’s entire carbon footprint. This also means that as long as they’re measured accurately, you’ll be able to identify carbon hotspots within your supply chain and create action plans to reduce these emissions. Discover our carbon & climate change consultancy services. Billy Wilkinson Growth Marketing Manager Aug 30, 2024 Share: Related Articles May 2025 Blog How to Shift Mindsets on Climate (Without the Usual Doom and Gloom) Ross Primmer May 2025 Blog How to Shift Mindsets on Climate (Without the Usual Doom and Gloom) Today you’re never far away from a headline which talks about the climate and biodiversity emergency. We’re well versed, and arguably fatigued, with articles about rising levels of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere or declines in species diversity across the globe. Yet, despite these alarming headlines, emissions are rising and rates of extinction increase. The […] Keagan Allin May 2025 Blog Reflections on Sustainable Procurement: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Ahead Sarah Chatfield May 2025 Blog Reflections on Sustainable Procurement: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Ahead As sustainable procurement continues to evolve, it’s crucial to assess where we stand, how we can build on our momentum, and the role ISO 20400 has played in advancing the field—and how it can continue to accelerate progress. World Sustainable Procurement Day provided an excellent opportunity for Shaun McCarthy from ISO 20400.org and me to […] Keagan Allin April 2025 Blog From Buzzword to Backbone: Making the Business Case for AI in Responsible Procurement Vaishali Baid April 2025 Blog From Buzzword to Backbone: Making the Business Case for AI in Responsible Procurement AI is no longer just a shiny tech buzzword. AI is everywhere now within organisations and is taking a priority to reshape business operations, and procurement is not left behind. It’s right in the thick of this transformation. But when it comes to responsible procurement, AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency, it has the […] Keagan Allin