Authors : Blanche Dalimier
At EA Earth Action, we help companies move beyond carbon diagnostics, to actually transform their value chains.
The ecological transition is accelerating. Companies can no longer afford to “do just a little better.” Regulatory pressure, investor expectations, and shifting customer demands are changing the rules.
In this context, inaction on climate is no longer just an environmental risk, it’s a financial one.
The latest report from EcoVadis and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is clear: Scope 3, the emissions generated across the value chain, has become the central challenge of decarbonization. On average, these emissions are 21 times higher than a company’s direct emissions. Yet 90% of companies still have no reduction targets for their Scope 3 footprint.
This lack of action is costly. According to BCG, it could amount to USD 500 billion per year by 2030, driven by carbon pricing, supply-chain disruptions, and tightening regulation.
Scope 3 is not just about reporting, it’s a strategic lever for long-term competitiveness.
Scope 3: An Opportunity, Not a Constraint
Addressing Scope 3 is not a burden, it’s a profitable investment.
The CDP Global Supply Chain Report 2024 estimates that targeted actions within supply chains could unlock USD 165 billion in economic value. EcoVadis and BCG go further: companies can achieve a return up to six times higher than their initial investment.
The benefits are already visible:
- In Sweden, carbon pricing has cut emissions by about 30% without harming economic growth.
- In the United States, the expansion of renewable energy between 2019 and 2022 avoided 900 million tons of CO₂, generating around USD 249 billion in health and climate-related savings.
The message is simple: acting early pays off.
Why Are So Few Companies Taking Action?
Scope 3 remains challenging. It depends on many actors, often scattered across the globe, and relies on incomplete or inconsistent data. Companies lack visibility into their supply chains. Methods differ, tools are complex, and reliable data is often missing.
The CDP report notes that only a small minority of companies have accurate, comprehensive Scope 3 data.
These barriers slow down progress. Yet, companies that address the issue collectively tend to advance much faster.
From Complexity to Action
To act on Scope 3, companies need to move forward step by step:
- Measure: even an imperfect estimate helps identify key emission sources.
- Collaborate: share data, exchange methods, and co-finance solutions with partners.
- Integrate: include carbon criteria in purchasing, product design, and supplier selection.
- Support: help suppliers through training, incentives, or joint programs.
- Progress: build a realistic, measurable trajectory rather than aiming for immediate perfection.
This coherence builds trust with customers, investors, and employees alike.
Act Now, Don’t Wait
Investing in Scope 3 means investing in the resilience of your business model.
Companies that take the lead protect profitability, anticipate regulation, and strengthen their market position. In a world where environmental performance defines competitiveness, not acting is already falling behind.
At Earth Action, we help businesses turn their value chains into engines of transition and performance.
Do you want to build a Scope 3 decarbonization strategy that is ambitious, realistic, and adapted to your levers for action? Contact Earth Action at contact@e-a.earth or visit www.e-a.earth to find out how we can support you.
