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Supply Chain Emissions

This guide explains how to use Carbon GPT to effectively measure, manage, and reduce emissions across your supply chain (Scope 3).

Understanding Supply Chain Emissions

  • Definition and importance of supply chain emissions
  • Typical emission hotspots in different industry supply chains
  • Regulatory and market drivers for supply chain emissions management
  • Challenges in supply chain emissions accounting

Mapping Your Supply Chain

Supply Chain Structure Analysis

  • Identifying tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers
  • Creating a supplier hierarchy
  • Prioritizing suppliers by spend and emissions impact
  • Visualizing supply chain networks in Carbon GPT

Emission Categories

  • Purchased goods and services
  • Capital goods
  • Upstream and downstream transportation
  • Business travel and employee commuting
  • Waste generated in operations
  • Other relevant Scope 3 categories

Data Collection Strategies

Supplier Engagement

  • Building a supplier engagement program
  • Communication templates and best practices
  • Incentivizing supplier participation
  • Managing supplier relationships

Data Collection Methods

  • Supplier surveys and questionnaires
  • Using Carbon GPT's data request feature
  • Emission templates for consistent data collection

Data Quality Management

  • Setting data quality standards
  • Verification and validation processes
  • Handling data gaps and uncertainties
  • Progressive data improvement approach

Calculation Methodologies

Spend-Based Calculations

  • Using economic input-output models
  • Industry-specific emission factors
  • Limitations and appropriate use cases
  • Improving accuracy over time

Activity-Based Calculations

  • Primary data collection requirements
  • Product and material-specific calculations
  • Transportation and logistics emissions
  • Hybrid calculation approaches

Reduction Strategies

Target Setting

  • Science-based targets for supply chain
  • Supplier-specific reduction goals
  • Cascading targets through tiers
  • Tracking progress against baselines

Supplier Collaboration

  • Supplier education and capacity building
  • Joint reduction initiatives
  • Sharing best practices and case studies
  • Incentive programs for high performers

Procurement Strategies

  • Low-carbon procurement policies
  • Supplier selection criteria
  • Contract requirements and specifications
  • Sustainable product design

Reporting and Disclosure

  • Internal reporting dashboards
  • External disclosure requirements
  • Communicating progress to stakeholders
  • Integration with financial and sustainability reporting

Implementation Roadmap

  1. Supply chain mapping and hotspot analysis
  2. Supplier engagement strategy development
  3. Data collection system implementation
  4. Baseline calculation and verification
  5. Target setting and reduction planning
  6. Ongoing monitoring and improvement

Case Studies

  • How a retail company achieved 25% reduction in upstream emissions
  • Manufacturing firm's approach to supplier engagement
  • Technology company's data collection automation