How Primary Data Can Revolutionize Scope 3 Emissions Measurement

On October 28, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) issued a stark synthesis report showing that current global pledges reduce emissions by just 2.6% — a fraction of the 43% needed by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. For businesses, this is a wake-up call. The time for tangible action is now.

Imagine a maze representing the typical supply chain, filled with twists, turns and hidden social and environmental impacts. For apparel and consumer goods companies, for which more than 90% of emissions come from Scope 3 sources, traditional methods of calculating these emissions are like navigating this maze blindfolded.

As business leaders, we can no longer ignore our Scope 3 impact. Regulatory bodies worldwide are drafting frameworks that will likely require companies to disclose Scope 3 emissions along with the methodologies behind them. Investors are raising the bar, too, with a 2023 PwC survey showing that more than one-third of investors, together managing $14 trillion in assets, now consider Scope 3 reductions a top priority.

As global climate targets demand urgent action, and sustainability teams struggle with outdated, resource-intensive processes, the moment has arrived to pivot from legacy, spend-based GHG emissions models to precise, product-specific emissions measurement based on primary data. This shift can be transformative, empowering companies to not only track emissions more accurately but also drive real reductions across their s…