Summary: Chapter 9 of the Scope 3 Standard provides further detail on setting scope 3 targets. Table 9.7 sets out reduction initiatives, extracted below.
Table [9.7] Illustrative examples of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions in a table format:
| Category | Examples of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions |
|---|---|
| 1. Purchased goods and services | - Replace high-GHG-emitting raw materials with low-GHG-emitting raw materials<br>- Implement low-GHG-procurement/purchasing policies<br>- Encourage tier 1 suppliers to engage their tier 1 suppliers (i.e., the reporting company’s tier 2 suppliers) and disclose these scope 3 emissions to the customer to propagate GHG reporting throughout the supply chain |
| 2. Capital goods | - Replace high-GHG-emitting capital goods with low-GHG-emitting capital goods |
| 3. Fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in scope 1 or scope 2) | - Reduce energy consumption<br>- Change energy source (e.g., shift toward lower-emitting fuel/energy sources)<br>- Generate energy on site using renewable sources |
| 4. Upstream transportation and distribution | - Reduce distance between supplier and customer<br>- Source materials locally if it leads to net GHG reductions<br>- Optimize efficiency of transportation and distribution<br>- Replace higher-emitting transportation modes (e.g., air transport) with lower-emitting transportation modes (e.g., marine transport)<br>- Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources |
| 5. Waste generated in operations | - Reduce quantity of waste generated in operations<br>- Implement recycling measures that lead to net GHG reductions<br>- Implement lower-emitting waste treatment methods |
| 6. Business travel | - Reduce the amount of business travel (e.g., encourage video conferencing and web-based meetings as an alternative to in-person meetings)<br>- Encourage more efficient travel<br>- Encourage lower-emitting modes of travel (e.g., rail instead of plane) |
| 7. Employee commuting | - Reduce commuting distance (e.g., locate offices/facilities near urban centers and public transit facilities)<br>- Create disincentives for commuting by car (e.g., parking policies)<br>- Provide incentives for use of public transit, bicycling, carpooling, etc.<br>- Implement teleworking/telecommuting programs<br>- Reduce number of days worked per week (e.g., 4 days × 10-hour schedule instead of 5 days × 8-hour schedule) |
| 8. Upstream leased assets | - Increase energy efficiency of operations<br>- Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources |
Downstream scope 3 emissions:
| Category | Examples of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions |
|---|---|
| 9. Transportation and distribution of sold products | - Reduce distance between supplier and customer<br>- Optimize efficiency of transportation and distribution<br>- Replace higher-emitting transportation modes (e.g., air transport) with lower-emitting transportation modes (e.g., marine transport)<br>- Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources |
| 10. Processing of sold products | - Improve efficiency of processing<br>- Redesign products to reduce processing required<br>- Use lower-GHG energy sources |
| 11. Use of sold products | - Develop new low- or zero-emitting products<br>- Increase the energy efficiency of energy-consuming goods or eliminate the need for energy use<br>- Shift away from products that contain or emit GHGs<br>- Reduce the quantity of GHGs contained/released by products<br>- Decrease the use-phase GHG intensity of the reporting company’s entire product portfolio<br>- Change the user instructions to promote efficient use of products |
| 12. End-of-life treatment of sold products | - Make products recyclable if it leads to net GHG reductions<br>- Implement product packaging measures that lead to net GHG reductions (e.g., decrease the amount of packaging in sold products, develop new GHG-saving packaging materials)<br>- Implement recycling measures that lead to net GHG reductions |
| 13. Downstream leased assets | - Increase energy efficiency of operations<br>- Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources |
| 14. Franchises | - Increase energy efficiency of operations (e.g., set efficiency standards)<br>- Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources |
| 15. Investments | - Invest in lower-emitting investments, technologies, and projects |