n an era marked by increasing environmental awareness , many businesses are undergoing a remarkable mindset transformation when it comes to sustainability .
But to achieve vital sustainability targets , businesses must extend their focus beyond just their operations . Although Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions provide a solid foundation for emission management , Scope 3 emissions occur outside the direct control of the company . These are instead created by suppliers when developing or delivering products , or when customers use company products , for example . Scope 3 emissions are thus indirect and originate from the value chain , contributing to the lion ’ s share of a company ’ s carbon footprint – and they often account for more than 70 % of a business ’ s overall emissions .
By delving into Scope 3 emissions , businesses gain a comprehensive view of their environmental impact to uncover opportunities for a significant reduction . As with most aspects of modern life , technology is becoming a vital tool for tracking , monitoring and reducing these emissions .
Tracking Scope 3 emissions with technology The current approach to carbon accounting , which involves monitoring and controlling Scope 3 emissions is heavily dependent on spreadsheets and partially automated tools that rely on approximations and averages for carbon footprints . However , these methods are insufficient . To accurately track carbon emissions , businesses must shift towards utilising precise and controlled data values throughout the entire supply chain .
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