At forward earth we use EXIOBASE for spend-based emissions calculations of Scope 3. This article explains the different emission factors available in EXIOBASE. Understanding these factors will help you select the correct emission factor for your scope 3 activities.
Selecting the right emission factor
To select the appropriate emission factor for your expense, browse through the list of Exiobase emission factors provided below. Each factor is named to reflect the type of activity or service it corresponds to. Select the emission factor that best matches the nature of the expenditure you are accounting for. To assist in selecting the correct factor, consider the main source of emissions the expenditure represents, e.g., is it aluminium or plastic.
Emission factor name EN | Emission Source(s) | Emission factor description | Example |
Additives/blending components | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Chemical additives to enhance performance or stability of products. | Ethanol as a fuel additive |
Air transport services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions linked to commercial air flight services, for example flights for business travel. | Commercial airline operations |
Aluminium and aluminium products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing aluminium and its various products. | Aluminium cans for beverages |
Aluminium ores and concentrates | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from extracting and processing aluminium ore. | Bauxite extraction |
Animal products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing unspecified or other animal-based products. | Leather from cattle |
Basic iron and steel and of ferroalloys and first products thereof | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from primary production of iron, steel, and ferro-alloys. | Steel beams for construction |
Beverages | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. | Bottled carbonated drinks |
Bitumen | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the production and application of bituminous materials. | Asphalt for road surfacing |
Bkb/peat briquettes | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing and burning compressed peat for fuel. | Peat briquettes for heating |
Bricks/tiles and construction products in baked clay | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing construction materials from clay. | Ceramic tiles for buildings |
Cattle | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the rearing and maintenance of cattle. | Cattle farming for beef |
Cement/lime and plaster | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing construction binders and finishes. | Cement for construction |
Ceramic goods | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing goods made of ceramic materials. | Porcelain dinnerware |
Cereal grains | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating unspecified or other types of cereal grains. | Wheat cultivation |
Chemical and fertilizer minerals/salt and other mining and quarrying products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining and processing unspecified mineral products. | Salt mining |
Chemicals | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing unspecified chemical products. | Industrial cleaning chemicals |
Collected and purified water/distribution of water (services) | 3.5 Waste generated in operations,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the treatment and distribution of water. | Municipal water supply |
Computer and related services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions associated with providing computer and IT-related services. | IT support services |
Construction work | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from various construction and building activities. | Residential building construction |
Copper ores and concentrates | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining and refining copper ore. | Copper mining |
Copper products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the fabrication of products made from copper. | Copper wiring for electrical installations |
Crops | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from growing unspecified or other crops. | Corn farming |
Dairy products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the production of milk-based food products. | Milk production |
Education services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to the provision of educational services. | Online education platforms |
Electrical machinery and apparatus | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing unspecified electrical machinery and equipment. | Production of electrical transformers |
Fabricated metal products/except machinery and equipment | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing metal products excluding machinery and equipment. | Metal tools and hardware |
Financial intermediation services (except insurance and pension funding services) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions associated with providing financial services excluding insurance and pensions. | Banking services |
Fish and other fishing products/services incidental of fishing | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from fishing and processing fish and related products. | Seafood processing |
Fish products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from the production of processed fish products. | Frozen fish fillets |
Food products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing unspecified food products. | Packaged snacks |
Food waste for treatment: biogasification and land application | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from treating food waste for biogas production and soil application. | Food waste processing into biogas |
Food waste for treatment: composting and land application | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from composting food waste for soil application. | Composting services for organic waste |
Food waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating food waste. | Incineration of food waste for energy recovery |
Food waste for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from disposing of food waste in landfills. | Landfill operations for food waste disposal |
Food waste for treatment: waste water treatment | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from treating food waste in wastewater treatment facilities. | Wastewater treatment plants processing food waste |
Foundry work services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from metal casting and foundry operations. | Metal casting services |
Furniture/other manufactured goods | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing furniture and other unspecified manufactured goods. | Wooden furniture production |
Glass and glass products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing products made of glass. | Glass bottles for beverages |
Health and social work | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing health and social care services. | Healthcare services |
Hotel and restaurant (services) | 3.6 Business travel,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from operating hotels and restaurants. | Hotel accommodations and restaurant dining services |
Inert/metal waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating inert and metal waste materials. | Incineration facilities for metal waste |
Inert/metal/hazardous waste for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from landfilling inert, metal, and hazardous wastes. | Landfilling of inert and hazardous waste |
Inland water transportation services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions from transporting goods and passengers via inland waterways. | Barge freight services on rivers |
Insurance and pension funding services (except compulsory social security services) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing insurance and pension funding services. | Insurance policy offerings |
Iron ores | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining iron ore. | Iron ore mining |
Lead/zinc and tin and products thereof | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing products made from lead, zinc, or tin. | Batteries and solder from lead and tin |
Lead/zinc and tin ores and concentrates | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining and processing ores of lead, zinc, and tin. | Mining of lead and zinc ores |
Leather and leather products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing goods made from leather. | Leather bags and accessories |
Lubricants | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing and using lubricating oils and greases. | Engine oils |
Machinery and equipment | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing unspecified machinery and equipment. | Heavy machinery for construction |
Meat animals | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from rearing unspecified or other types of meat animals. | Pork production |
Meat products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from processing unspecified or other types of meat products. | Packaged meat products like sausages |
Meat products (beef) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from processing cattle into meat products. | Beef jerky |
Meat products (pork) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from processing pigs into meat products. | Pork chops |
Meat products (poultry) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from processing poultry into meat products. | Chicken nuggets |
Medical/precision and optical instruments/watches and clocks | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing medical, precision, and optical instruments. | Medical devices like MRI machines |
Membership organisation services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to services provided by membership organizations. | Professional associations and club memberships |
Motor vehicles/trailers and semitrailers | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing motor vehicles and trailers. | Automobile manufacturing |
N-fertiliser | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing nitrogen-based fertilizers. | Nitrogen-based fertilizers |
Office machinery and computers | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services,
3.2 Capital Goods | Emissions from manufacturing office machinery and computer equipment. | Desktop computers and printers |
Oil seeds | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating oil-producing seeds. | Soybean cultivation |
Oil/hazardous waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating oil-containing or hazardous wastes. | Hazardous waste incineration plants |
Other business services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing unspecified business services. | Consulting services |
Other land transportation services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions from providing land transportation services not specified elsewhere, this includes cars. | Bus and taxi services |
Other nonferrous metal ores and concentrates | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining non-ferrous metals excluding aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, and tin. | Nickel ore mining |
Other nonferrous metal products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing products from non-ferrous metals not specified elsewhere. | Aluminium foil |
Other nonmetallic mineral products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing non-metallic mineral products not specified elsewhere. | Cement-based products like concrete |
Other services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing unspecified services. | Cleaning services |
Other transport equipment | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing transport equipment not classified elsewhere. | Shipbuilding for cargo vessels |
Other waste for treatment: waste water treatment | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from treating unspecified wastes in wastewater facilities. | Industrial wastewater treatment services |
P- and other fertiliser | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing phosphorus-based and other unspecified fertilizers. | Phosphate fertilizers |
Paddy Rice | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating paddy rice. | Rice farming |
Paper and paper products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing paper and paper-based products. | Office paper and notebooks |
Paper and wood waste for treatment: composting and land application | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from composting paper and wood waste for soil application. | Wood waste composting for mulch |
Paper for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from disposing of paper waste in landfills. | Landfilling of non-recyclable paper waste |
Paper waste for treatment: biogasification and land application | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from treating paper waste for biogas production. | Paper waste processing for biogas production |
Paper waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating paper waste. | Paper waste incineration for energy recovery |
Patent fuel | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing a manufactured solid fuel from coal. | Manufactured solid fuel from coal |
Peat | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from harvesting and burning peat as fuel. | Peat harvesting for horticultural use |
Pigs | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from rearing and maintaining pigs. | Pig farming for pork production |
Plant-based fibres | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating and processing plant-based fibers. | Cotton cultivation |
Plastic waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating plastic waste. | Incineration of plastic waste with energy recovery |
Plastic waste for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from disposing of plastic waste in landfills. | Landfill operations for plastic waste disposal |
Plastics/basic | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing basic plastic materials. | Polyethylene production for packaging |
Post and telecommunication | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing postal and telecommunication services. | Postal services and broadband internet |
Poultry | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from rearing and maintaining poultry for meat and eggs. | Chicken farming for meat production |
Precious metal ores and concentrates | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from mining and processing ores of precious metals. | Gold mining |
Precious metals | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from refining and processing precious metals. | Gold bullion |
Printed matter and recorded media | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing printed materials and recorded media. | Newspapers and magazines |
Processed rice | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from milling and processing rice. | White rice packaging |
Products of forestry/logging and related services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from forestry and logging activities. | Timber logging |
Public administration and defense services/compulsory social security services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing public administration and defense services. | Public sector administration |
Pulp | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing pulp for papermaking. | Paper pulp production |
Radio/television and communication equipment and apparatus | 3.2 Capital Goods,
3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing radio, television, and communication devices. | Smartphone manufacturing |
Railway transportation services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions from providing rail transportation for goods and passengers. | Passenger train operations |
Raw milk | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing and processing raw milk. | Dairy farming |
Real estate services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing real estate services. | Property management services |
Recreational/cultural and sporting services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing recreational, cultural, and sporting services. | Gym and fitness center services |
Rental of machinery and equipment (without operator) and of personal and household goods (services) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to renting machinery and equipment without operators. | Equipment rental services |
Research and development services | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to conducting research and development activities. | Pharmaceutical research |
Retail trade (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) and repair of personal and household goods (services) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to retail trade and repair services for goods. | Retail stores |
Rubber and plastic products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing rubber and plastic products. | Car tires |
Sale/maintenance/repair/parts/accessories of motor vehicles/motorcycles | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services,
3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution | Emissions related to the sale, maintenance, and repair of motor vehicles. | Car dealership services |
Sand and clay | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from extracting and processing sand and clay. | Sand quarrying for construction |
Sea and coastal water transportation services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions from providing sea and coastal water transportation. | Container shipping services |
Secondary raw materials | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from processing and using secondary (recycled) raw materials. | Recycling services for metals |
Services auxiliary to financial intermediation | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to providing services that support financial intermediation. | Financial consulting |
Sewage sludge for treatment: biogasification and land application | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from treating sewage sludge for biogas production. | Sewage sludge digestion for biogas production |
Stone | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from quarrying and processing stone. | Marble quarrying for decorative uses |
Sugar | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing sugar from cane or beet. | Sugar refining from cane |
Sugar cane/sugar beet | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating sugar cane and sugar beet. | Sugar cane farming |
Supporting and auxiliary transport services/travel agency services | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution,
3.6 Business travel | Emissions related to supporting services for transportation activities. | Logistics and cargo handling services |
Textiles | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing textile goods. | Cotton textile manufacturing |
Textiles waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating textile waste. | Incineration of textile waste |
Textiles waste for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from disposing of textile waste in landfills. | Landfilling of non-recyclable textile waste |
Tobacco products | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from manufacturing tobacco products. | Cigarette production |
Transportation services via pipelines | 3.4 Upstream transportation and distribution | Emissions from transporting goods and materials through pipelines. | Oil and gas pipeline operations |
Vegetable oils and fats | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing vegetable oils and fats. | Olive oil production |
Vegetables/fruit/nuts | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating vegetables, fruits, and nuts. | Orchard farming for apples |
Wearing apparel/furs | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing clothing and fur products. | Clothing manufacturing |
Wheat | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from cultivating wheat. | Wheat farming for flour |
White spirit/SBP | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing and using white spirit and SBP (Special Boiling Point) solvents. | Solvent production for industrial use |
Wholesale trade and commission trade services (except of motor vehicles and motorcycles) | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions related to wholesale and commission trading activities. | Wholesale distribution services |
Wood and products of wood/cork/straw/plaiting materials | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing wood, cork products, excluding furniture. | Lumber for construction |
Wood waste for treatment: incineration | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from incinerating wood waste. | Biomass energy production from wood waste |
Wood waste for treatment: landfill | 3.5 Waste generated in operations | Emissions from disposing of wood waste in landfills. | Disposal of wood waste in landfills |
Wool/silkworm cocoons | 3.1 Purchased Goods and Services | Emissions from producing and processing wool and silk-worm cocoons. | Wool production from sheep |