Understanding Scope 3 Emissions & How Polycarbin Simplifies Reporting Them

by Thomas O'Brien February 28, 2025

With 2024 now in the rearview mirror, those in EHS, Compliance, and Sustainability positions are likely busy compiling data for their annual corporate sustainability reports (CSR). At Polycarbin, we simplify Scope 3 reporting for our labs through our impact dashboard, The Carbin Counter™. The process can become unnecessarily complex for those without consolidated Scope 3 reports for their labs.

Today, we’ll briefly review Scope 3 emissions and then share how easy it is to track and report on them with Polycarbin’s Carbin Counter™ dashboard.

What are Scope 3 Emissions?

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol sets global standards for measuring and managing emissions. The GHG Protocol divides emissions into three scopes:

Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (on-site boilers, furnaces, and water heaters).
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions in a company’s value chain, including purchased goods, transportation, waste disposal, and product use.

Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in a company’s upstream and downstream value chain. They are not directly produced by the company or the energy it purchases. Instead, they come from sources like:

Examples of Scope 3 Emissions:

Upstream (before the company uses them)

Raw material extraction and production
Supplier emissions
Transportation of goods
Employee commuting
Business travel

Downstream (after the company produces them)

Product use and disposal
Waste treatment
Transportation and distribution to customers

For biotech and pharma, single-use plastics contribute to Scope 3 emissions because their production, transportation, and disposal all generate carbon emissions outside a lab's direct operations. A recent My Green Lab report disclosed that as much as 40% of total emissions are attributed to these procured goods and services, most of which come from plastics.

How Labs Track & Report on Scope 3 Data

Here's a look inside the process:

Data Collection: A Puzzle with Missing Pieces

The process begins with gathering emissions, waste, water usage, and energy consumption data, sometimes across multiple sites. Scope 1 and 2 emissions—direct emissions and purchased energy—are relatively straightforward.

But then comes the Scope 3 challenge: tracking the indirect impact of items like procured goods & services, supply chain emissions, and waste disposal. Data often lives in fragmented systems, requiring close collaboration across teams. Polycarbin’s consolidated scope 3 emissions reporting is designed to fix this exact pain point.

Supplier Engagement & Scope 3 Emissions

Single-use consumables like pipette tips, nitrile gloves, PPE and cell culture dishes generate substantial upstream emissions from manufacturing. Understanding the carbon footprint of purchased goods means reaching out to vendors, many of whom may not have detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) data.

Some suppliers are sustainability leaders, offering third-party verified impact metrics (like My Green Lab's ACT Label). In contrast, others provide vague estimates—forcing the EHS team to make assumptions or use industry benchmarks. Polycarbin helps remove the guesswork by providing granular, third-party verified and ISO-compliant impact data across six environmental metrics.

Waste & Recycling

Tracking waste-related emissions is particularly difficult due to a lack of standardization in reporting, diverse waste streams with various destinations, and limited supply chain transparency. Partnering with suppliers like Polycarbin who practice evidence-based sustainability can help you obtain third-party verified scope 3 emissions data (ask us about our newest LCA!).

Turning Data into a Story

Once the numbers are in, the real challenge is turning complex sustainability data into a compelling narrative for the corporate report. Leadership wants clear trends and insights, investors look for climate risk mitigation, and employees want to see tangible progress.

Polycarbin’s impact data is widely referenced in corporate CSR reports, serving as a key metric in sustainability initiatives. Our data helps companies quantify their environmental impact and plays a crucial role in highlighting sustainability achievements and notable wins.

The Takeaway: A Call for Standardization & Innovation

To truly move the needle, life sciences companies need standardized data collection, supplier transparency, and industry-wide collaboration. Companies that invest in better reporting tools, circular economy initiatives, and science-based sustainability goals will not only reduce their environmental impact but also stay ahead of regulatory and market shifts.

Join these labs in making sustainability measurable and actionable. With third-party verified data at your fingertips, Polycarbin helps simplify Scope 3 emissions reporting and confidently meet your sustainability goals.