Scope 3 Emissions Tracking for Indian Supply Chains
Track and reduce value chain emissions across 15 GHG Protocol categories. Supplier engagement tools, logistics tracking, and BRSR-ready Scope 3 disclosures for Indian companies.
What Are Scope 3 Emissions?
Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions in a company's value chain, both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (customers). They typically account for 70-90% of total corporate emissions.
Unlike Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (purchased energy), Scope 3 emissions occur outside your organization's boundaries but result from your business activities. The GHG Protocol divides Scope 3 into 15 categories.
Why Track Scope 3?
- BRSR Requirement: Essential Indicator for top 1000 listed companies
- Customer Pressure: Global buyers require supply chain emissions data
- Net Zero Targets: Science-based targets (SBTi) require Scope 3 reduction
Scope 3 Categories (GHG Protocol)
Upstream (Categories 1-8)
Purchased goods, capital goods, fuel & energy, transportation, waste, business travel, employee commuting, leased assets
Downstream (Categories 9-15)
Transportation & distribution, processing, use of products, end-of-life treatment, leased assets, franchises, investments
For Most Indian Companies: Categories 1 (purchased goods), 3 (fuel & energy), 4 (upstream transportation), and 7 (employee commuting) are the most material.
How ZeroCarbon Tracks Scope 3 Emissions
From supplier data collection to final BRSR disclosures, we automate the entire Scope 3 workflow.
Supplier Engagement
Send data collection forms to suppliers. Track response rates. Calculate Category 1 (purchased goods) emissions from supplier data or spend-based proxies.
Logistics Tracking
Track upstream and downstream transportation (Categories 4 & 9). Integrate with logistics partners for automated freight emissions calculation.
Employee Commuting
Survey employees on commute modes and distances. Calculate Category 7 emissions. Track work-from-home reductions.
Business Travel
Integrate with corporate travel booking systems. Automatic emissions calculation for flights, trains, and hotel stays (Category 6).
Scope 3 Categories: India-Specific Implementation
How we help Indian companies tackle the most material Scope 3 categories with local context.
Category 1: Purchased Goods & Services
Typically the largest Scope 3 category. Emissions from production of purchased materials, components, and services.
Supplier-Specific Method
Collect actual emissions data from suppliers via questionnaires. Most accurate but time-intensive.
Hybrid Method
Use supplier data for top 80% of spend, emission factors for remaining suppliers. Recommended for Indian SMEs.
Spend-Based Method
Use procurement spend × industry emission factors. Fast but less accurate. Good for baseline assessment.
Category 4: Upstream Transportation & Distribution
Emissions from transporting purchased goods from suppliers to your facilities. Critical for manufacturing companies.
Road Transport (India)
Use distance × weight × emission factor. India-specific factors for diesel trucks, LCVs, and 3-wheelers.
tCO2e = ton-km × 0.062 kg CO2/ton-kmRail & Air Freight
Emission factors for Indian Railways (electric & diesel) and domestic air cargo.
Rail: 0.022 kg CO2/ton-kmCategory 7: Employee Commuting
Emissions from employees traveling to work. Significant for office-based companies with large workforce.
Survey Method
Employee survey on commute mode (2-wheeler, car, metro, bus), distance, and frequency. Most accurate.
Average Method
Use city-specific average commute distance × mode split × working days. Good for large offices.
WFH Adjustment
Reduce emissions based on hybrid work policy. Track work-from-home days for accurate calculation.
Common Scope 3 Challenges in India
We understand the unique challenges Indian companies face in Scope 3 tracking—and how to solve them.
Supplier Non-Responsiveness
Small Indian suppliers often don't track or report emissions data.
ZeroCarbon Solution
Use spend-based method with India-specific emission factors. Gradually transition to supplier-specific data for top 20% of suppliers.
Data Quality Issues
Logistics partners provide inconsistent or incomplete freight data.
ZeroCarbon Solution
Estimate based on shipment weight, origin-destination distance, and India transport emission factors. Improve over time with partner integration.
Lack of India-Specific Factors
Global emission factor databases don't reflect Indian supply chains.
ZeroCarbon Solution
We maintain India-specific emission factor library (BEE, CEA, TERI data) for electricity, transport, and common materials.
Resource Constraints
Small sustainability teams overwhelmed by Scope 3 data collection.
ZeroCarbon Solution
Automated data ingestion from ERP, procurement, and HRMS systems. Start with top 3-4 material categories, expand over time.
BRSR Scope 3 Disclosure Requirements
SEBI's BRSR Principle 6 Essential Indicator requires disclosure of Scope 3 emissions, but does not mandate all 15 categories.
Essential Indicator
"Details of total Scope 3 emissions & its intensity (optional)"—Note: Listed as optional but best practice is to report.
Recommended Approach
Report Categories 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 at minimum. Add other categories as data becomes available.
Year-on-Year Trend
BRSR format requires current year and 2 previous years. Establish baseline in Year 1, improve accuracy over time.
Start with Material Categories
You don't need to track all 15 Scope 3 categories on day one. ZeroCarbon helps you prioritize based on industry and business model.
Conduct Screening
We help identify which categories are material (>5% of total footprint) for your business.
Phased Implementation
Year 1: Categories 1, 4, 7. Year 2: Add Categories 3, 6. Year 3: Full coverage.
Improve Data Quality
Start with spend-based estimates, gradually transition to activity-based or supplier-specific data.
Start Tracking Your Scope 3 Emissions
Supplier engagement, logistics tracking, and BRSR-ready Scope 3 reports. Get started with material categories and expand over time.
Trusted by Indian companies for supply chain carbon accounting.