Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard
For easy reading on your computer, notebook, tablet, or handheld device, click to download the electronic version of the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard. This version provides hyperlinks between the standards text, tables and images. Please note that the page numbers vary slightly between the original and electronic versions. When citing specific page numbers, please note when you are referring to the electronic version text.
Scope 3 Standard Background
The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard has been created through a broad, inclusive, multi-stakeholder process. Over a three year period:
- 2,300 participants were involved from 55 countries;
- 96 members participated in technical working groups to draft the standard, and;
- 34 companies from various industries road tested the standard in 2010.
The Scope 3 Standard provides a methodology that can be used to account for and report emissions from companies of all sectors, globally. It is accompanied by a suite of user-friendly guidance and tools developed by the GHG Protocol to make Scope 3 accounting more easy and accessible.
What is the Scope 3 Standard?
Until recently, most companies have focused on measuring emissions from their own operations and electricity consumption. But what about all of the emissions a company is responsible for outside of its own walls—from the goods it purchases to the disposal of the products it sells? In fact, the majority of total corporate emissions come from Scope 3 sources, which means many companies have been missing out on significant opportunities for improvement.
Released in 2011, the Scope 3 Standard is the only internationally accepted method for companies to account for these types of value chain emissions. Users of the standard can now account for emissions from 15 categories of Scope 3 activities, both upstream and downstream of their operations. The Scope 3 framework also supports strategies to partner with suppliers and customers to address climate impacts throughout the value chain. Minor corrections to the Scope 3 Standard are recorded below.
What business leaders have said about the Scope 3 Standard
We believe that by adopting the same standards, we can move ahead faster with confidence to tackle product emissions. CGF represents more than 400 members in the Consumer Goods Sector with annual sales of more than 3ドル trillion.
Jeff Rice, Director Sustainability Walmart, Co-leading the Consumer Goods Forum work
Our work with the GHG Protocol was instrumental in guiding our first efforts towards environmental footprinting. In 2010 Kraft Foods participated in the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard ‘road test’. Our Scope 3 inventory results are the backbone that informed our future footprint work. For GHG Protocol, the feedback from Kraft Foods informed the final Scope 3 standard WRI will be launching around the world this October.
Dan Pettit, Associate Director of Sustainability for Research Development & Quality at Kraft Foods
The new Corporate Value Chain Standard provides a much needed harmonized global methodology for businesses to measure value chain greenhouse gas emissions. Our road test of the new Scope 3 standard provides us with key data to drive our strategic business decisions regarding greenhouse gas reductions. We encourage other businesses to similarly employ this effective method to measure, and subsequently address, greenhouse gas emissions from the entire value chain.
Kelly Semrau, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, S.C. Johnson
Frequently Asked Questions
The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard is designed to enable comparisons of an individual company’s GHG emissions over time. It is not designed to support comparisons between companies. Differences in reported emissions may be a result of differences in inventory methodology, company size or structure. Additional measures are necessary to enable valid comparisons across companies, such as consistency in methodology, consistency in data used to calculate the inventory, and reporting of intensity ratios or performance metrics.
The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard accounts for emissions at the corporate level, while the Product Standard accounts for emissions at the individual product level. The Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard helps companies identify GHG reduction opportunities, track performance, and engage suppliers at a corporate level, while the Product Standard helps a company meet the same objectives at a product level. Together with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, the three standards provide a comprehensive approach to value chain GHG measurement and management.
Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard Online Course
Scope 3 Calculation Guidance
Scope 3 Calculation Guidance
Building on the Scope 3 Standard, this companion guide makes it easier than ever for businesses to complete their scope 3 inventories.
Calculation Tools
Calculation Tools
Our tools enable companies to develop comprehensive and reliable inventories of their GHG emissions.
Scope 3 Evaluator
Scope 3 Evaluator
This free, web-based tool helps overcome barriers to Scope 3 reporting by providing a quick, rough estimate of a company’s GHG emissions, making it easier for both experts and novices to measure, report, and reduce emissions throughout their value chain.
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