Suggested opportunities to improve data quality of Scope 3 emissions
| Scope 3 category | Measures to improve data quality | Involved parties | University-specific actions | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Purchased goods and services 2. Capital goods | Implementation of more detailed environmental reporting practices with a level of transparency equivalent to financial reporting to reduce reliance on the spend-based method for calculating carbon footprint | Procurement department, financial department, sustainability manager, researchers | Enhanced LCA teaching Student projects Student theses Internships Workshop sessions Trainings Research projects Research to business projects Idea competitions Supporting start-ups Carbon management plan Commuting surveys Progress reports | Transaction costs Value chain power Responsibility allocation Uncertainty Location Contingency economic Performance |
| Review of procurement policies, e.g. the implementation of carbon footprint information requirements from suppliers, supplier engagement targets | Procurement department, sustainability manager, researchers | |||
| Sharing best practices between Hansel (a public central purchasing body) and the procurement department | Procurement department, Hansel, researchers | |||
| Participation in the university’s supply chain, e.g. joint calculation of the carbon footprint of products/services, provision of expertise in carbon footprint reduction | Procurement department, sustainability manager, researchers, students | |||
| 3. Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | T&D operators, researchers | ||
| Investigation of ways for electricity providers to offer low- and zero-carbon options for customers | Electricity providers, researchers | |||
| 4. Upstream transportation and distribution | Calculation and highlighting of the proportion of emissions related to transportation and distribution | Procurement department, transport providers, researchers | ||
| 5. Waste generated in operations | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | Waste management companies, researchers | ||
| 6. Business travel | Review of business travel guidelines, e.g. the implementation of carbon footprint information requirements from service providers | Travel department, sustainability manager, researchers | ||
| Improvements in accessibility to the internal data collection system and the integration of financial and environmental reporting within the system | Travel department, software provider, researchers | |||
| Investigation of low-carbon travel and accommodation options as key selection criteria | Travel management company, travel department, software provider, researchers | |||
| 7. Employee and student commuting | Conducting a commuting survey regularly for employees and students (at least once a year) | Administrative department, researchers | ||
| Implementation of remote employee monitoring | Administrative department | |||
| Implementation of a passive GPS tracking system (e.g. through a smartphone application) | Administrative department, researchers | |||
| Investigation of low-carbon commuting alternatives | Public transport providers, municipal government, administrative department, researchers, students | |||
| 15. Investments | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | Asset managers, financial department, researchers |
| Scope 3 category | Measures to improve data quality | Involved parties | University-specific actions | Barriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Purchased goods and services | Implementation of more detailed environmental reporting practices with a level of transparency equivalent to financial reporting to reduce reliance on the spend-based method for calculating carbon footprint | Procurement department, financial department, sustainability manager, researchers | Enhanced LCA teaching | Transaction costs |
| Review of procurement policies, e.g. the implementation of carbon footprint information requirements from suppliers, supplier engagement targets | Procurement department, sustainability manager, researchers | |||
| Sharing best practices between Hansel (a public central purchasing body) and the procurement department | Procurement department, Hansel, researchers | |||
| Participation in the university’s supply chain, e.g. joint calculation of the carbon footprint of products/services, provision of expertise in carbon footprint reduction | Procurement department, sustainability manager, researchers, students | |||
| 3. Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | T&D operators, researchers | ||
| Investigation of ways for electricity providers to offer low- and zero-carbon options for customers | Electricity providers, researchers | |||
| 4. Upstream transportation and distribution | Calculation and highlighting of the proportion of emissions related to transportation and distribution | Procurement department, transport providers, researchers | ||
| 5. Waste generated in operations | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | Waste management companies, researchers | ||
| 6. Business travel | Review of business travel guidelines, e.g. the implementation of carbon footprint information requirements from service providers | Travel department, sustainability manager, researchers | ||
| Improvements in accessibility to the internal data collection system and the integration of financial and environmental reporting within the system | Travel department, software provider, researchers | |||
| Investigation of low-carbon travel and accommodation options as key selection criteria | Travel management company, travel department, software provider, researchers | |||
| 7. Employee and student commuting | Conducting a commuting survey regularly for employees and students (at least once a year) | Administrative department, researchers | ||
| Implementation of remote employee monitoring | Administrative department | |||
| Implementation of a passive GPS tracking system (e.g. through a smartphone application) | Administrative department, researchers | |||
| Investigation of low-carbon commuting alternatives | Public transport providers, municipal government, administrative department, researchers, students | |||
| 15. Investments | Calculation of more accurate emission factors | Asset managers, financial department, researchers |
Source(s): Authors’ own work
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