Scope 3.12 - Emissions generated when the products sold by your company are disposed of or recycled at the end of their lifecycle

Scope 3.12 emissions include the indirect greenhouse gas emissions generated when the products sold by your company are disposed of or recycled at the end of their lifecycle. These emissions arise from the various processes required to landfill, incinerate, recycle, or otherwise treat products.

Examples of Scope 3.12 Emissions:

• Emissions from the incineration or landfilling of products that are disposed of at the end of their lifecycle.
• Emissions generated during the recycling of materials or components from products sold by your company.
• Emissions from the treatment of hazardous waste produced during the disposal of certain products.
• Emissions caused by the transportation of discarded products to disposal or recycling facilities.

Relevant Activities for Scope 3.12 Emissions:

To identify your company’s Scope 3.12 emissions, you should examine the following activities and areas:

• Disposal and landfilling: The disposal of products that cannot be recycled and are sent to landfills or incinerated.
• Recycling processes: The processing of materials from sold products that are recycled at the end of their lifecycle, including energy consumption and associated emissions.
• Transport to disposal: The transportation of products or materials to disposal or recycling facilities, along with the associated emissions.
• Treatment of hazardous waste: Special handling of products that contain hazardous materials and require specific disposal methods.

Where Can I Find Data on My Scope 3.12 Emissions?

Collecting Scope 3.12 emissions data can come from various sources:

• Life cycle analyses (LCA): Analyses covering the entire lifecycle of a product, including the end-of-life phase, which provide data on emissions during disposal or recycling.
• Waste management reports: Data from waste management companies or recycling facilities that provide information on the quantities of disposed products and related emissions.
• Industry reports: Industry-wide emissions factors and average values for the disposal or recycling of specific materials, which can be used to estimate emissions.
• Product design and specifications: Internal data providing insights into the materials and components of your products that must be disposed of or recycled at the end of their lifecycle.