Scope 3 emissions are a set of often overlooked indirect greenhouse gas emissions within a
company’s value chain and represent the majority of emissions for many sectors. These emissions
arise from activities conducted by entities beyond the reporting organisation’s ownership or direct
control and are often challenging to calculate. Scope 3 emissions typically encompass purchasing
goods and services, transportation and distribution, managing operational waste, downstream
processing and utilising sold products. Within the mining sector, scope 3 emissions often constitute
a significant portion of the overall carbon footprint. Therefore, these emissions are a significant
aspect of the future of sustainable mining. As the journey towards a world committed to achieving
Net Zero Emissions has started, the time to spark a transformative conversation in the mining
industry has arrived. Consequently, a better knowledge of scope 3 footprints allows organisations
to assess their emission mitigation projects against the total carbon impact of their operations and
products.