What are examples of actions I can take to reduce scope 3 emissions?

Companies may implement a variety of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions. Table 9.7 provides an illustrative list of actions that companies can take to reduce emissions in the value chain.

Illustrative examples of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions

Upstream scope 3 emissions

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   Implement low-GHG-procurement/purchasing policies   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 in order 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 Change energy source (e.g., shift toward lower-emitting fuel/energy sources) Generate energy on site using renewable sources
4. Upstream transportation and distribution	Reduce distance between supplier and customer Source materials locally if it leads to net GHG reductions Optimize efficiency of transportation and distribution Replace higher-emitting transportation modes (e.g. air transport) with lower-emitting transportation modes (e.g. marine transport) Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources
5. Waste generated in operations	Reduce quantity of waste generated in operations Implement recycling measures that lead to net GHG reductions 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) Encourage more efficient travel 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) Create disincentives for commuting by car (e.g., parking policies) Provide incentives for use of public transit, bicycling, carpooling, etc. Implement teleworking/telecommuting programs Reduce number of days worked per week (e.g., 4 days x 10 hour schedule instead of 5 days x 8 hour schedule)
8. Upstream leased assets	Increase energy efficiency of operations   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 Optimize efficiency of transportation and distribution Replace higher emitting transportation modes (e.g. air transport) with lower emitting transportation modes (e.g. marine transport) Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources
10. Processing of sold products	Improve efficiency of processing Redesign products to reduce processing required Use lower-GHG energy sources
11. Use of sold products	Develop new low- or zero-emitting products Increase the energy efficiency of energy-consuming goods or eliminate the need for energy use Shift away from products that contain or emit GHGs Reduce the quantity of GHGs contained/released by products Decrease the use-phase GHG intensity of the reporting company’s entire product portfolio 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 Implement product packaging measures that lead to net GHG reductions (e.g., decrease amount of packaging in sold products, develop new GHG-saving packaging materials, etc.) Implement recycling measures that lead to net GHG reductions
13. Downstream leased assets	Increase energy efficiency of operations Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources
14. Franchises	Increase energy efficiency of operations (e.g., set efficiency standards) Shift toward lower-emitting fuel sources
15. Investments	Invest in lower-emitting investments, technologies, and projects

Source: Scope 3 Standard, Table 9.7 (Illustrative examples of actions to reduce scope 3 emissions), p. 110 - 111