Scope 3 Category 12 Overview: Use and Disposal of Sold Products
SCOPE 3 CATEGORY 12
Scope 3 emissions, a component of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol corporate value chain standard, include indirect emissions that occur both upstream and downstream in a company's value chain. Category 12 specifically addresses emissions resulting from the use and disposal of sold products. This category is crucial for enterprises with large product footprints because it includes emissions from the disposal, recycling, or reuse of products after they have been sold and are no longer under the company's direct control.
Category 12 emissions are an important consideration for enterprises looking to assess and reduce their overall carbon impact. These emissions occur after the products have been sold and moved outside the reporting company's operational control, including during usage and at the end-of-life stage.
Category 12: Use and Disposal of Sold Products
Key Points About Category 12 Emissions:
- Product Use: This includes emissions resulting from the operation or consumption of a company’s sold products, such as fuel emissions from vehicles or energy consumption of electronic devices.
- End-of-Life Treatment: Emissions associated with the disposal or recycling of products. For example, emissions resulting from waste processing or the degradation of organic materials in landfills.
Calculation
Companies must estimate these emissions based on their products' estimated lifetime emissions, which take into account aspects including average product lifespan, typical usage conditions, and disposal procedures. Effective management of Category 12 emissions frequently necessitates substantial data gathering and collaboration with consumers, waste management services, and perhaps third-party life cycle analysis.
Example
- Consider a manufacturer of home equipment such as refrigerators and washing machines. This company's Category 12 emissions include:
Understanding and managing Scope 3 Category 12 emissions is critical for businesses seeking to meet comprehensive climate targets. It entails not just designing items with low environmental impact, but also influencing and monitoring how these things are used and disposed of by users.
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