How do direct and indirect emissions differ in terms of their impact on a company's overall sustainability efforts?

In a company's downstream emissions, the transportation of goods to customers and the use of sold products play a significant role. These emissions are part of Scope 3 emissions, which are usually the largest contributor to a company's total emissions, typically accounting for about 90%. These emissions are generated when the sold products are used and when they create waste. The transportation of these goods to the customers also contributes to these emissions.

A company can effectively reduce its Scope 3 emissions by implementing several strategies. Firstly, they can work with suppliers to reduce emissions in the production process. This could involve sourcing materials from suppliers with lower carbon footprints or encouraging suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices. Secondly, companies can reduce business travel and promote remote work to cut down on emissions from employee commutes. Thirdly, they can design products to be more energy-efficient, reducing emissions from the use of sold products. Lastly, companies can invest in circular economy strategies to minimize waste from sold products, such as implementing recycling programs or designing products to be more easily recyclable.