Most emissions sit within Scope 3
For most organisations, 80–95% of total emissions fall within Scope 3, the indirect emissions generated across the value chain rather than in direct operations.
Engage suppliers. Improve emissions visibility. Strengthen value chain reporting.
Learn moreGlobal emissions are at a record high, with greenhouse gas emissions reaching 53 billion tonnes of CO₂e in 2023 and global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold in 2024. As a result, organisations are under increasing pressure to reduce emissions and progress towards net zero to help maintain a habitable climate. While many companies have established emissions baselines and set net zero targets, determining where to take action remains a key challenge, particularly across the value chain. Knowing where to invest and how to tackle Scope 3 whilst simultaneously facilitating growth is a challenge many organisations face on their net zero transition. Measurement is the first step; supplier engagement, improved data quality and collaborative action are the next.
A company's biggest climate impact comes not from its own operations, but from Scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions across its entire value chain (suppliers, transport, product use and disposal). Focusing only on direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) misses the majority of the problem.
For most organisations, 80–95% of total emissions fall within Scope 3, the indirect emissions generated across the value chain rather than in direct operations.
These emissions occur across suppliers, transport, product use and disposal, beyond a company's direct operational control, so they cannot be solved alone.
Meaningful reductions require engaging suppliers and partners: sharing data, co-developing reduction strategies and aligning incentives, not just measuring.
The challenge is knowing where to begin: identifying the high-impact areas across the value chain where action delivers the greatest emissions reduction.
When supplier-specific data is not available, emissions are estimated using generic average emission factors, which do not reflect active decisions made by individual suppliers.
Engaging suppliers is a critical enabler for delivering your organisation’s Scope 3 ambitions under its SBTi-approved targets.
Supplier data improves accuracy and helps prioritise the highest-impact actions across the value chain.
Reducing supplier emissions and encouraging climate action across the value chain can lower your organisation’s overall emissions and future balancing requirements.
Four ways our team powers your value chain programme.
Improving Scope 3 visibility through supplier-specific GHG emissions data and collaboration.
Showcasing sustainability progress through communications campaigns and newsletters.
Delivering supplier workshops and engagement sessions to improve emissions awareness and reporting readiness.
Working collaboratively with priority suppliers through technical guidance and engagement activities.
Suppliers can either:
OCW will offer support with calculating their reductions pathway.
OCW will offer support with calculating their GHG emission inventory.
Four ways your team unlocks momentum across the supply chain.
Dedicated communications support, including a communications pack designed to support programme participation and showcase sustainability engagement across the value chain.
12 months
Whether your suppliers already measure emissions or are just getting started, our team can help you build a practical and scalable value chain engagement programme.
Registered Head Office:
B3 Kingfisher House, Kingsway, Team
Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead,
England, NE11 0JQ
