A practical guide for budget-conscious teams on Scope 3
You've been asked to report on Scope 3. You've sat through five different software demos. And you're wondering where to even start without overcommitting budget, people, or credibility.
This post is for teams trying to move from directionally correct to incrementally better, without getting bogged down in complexity.
At the Scope 3 Digital Tools Clinic, participants raised questions that all pointed to the same challenge.
It wasn't about company size—it was about capacity. Teams wanted practical guidance on tool selection when time and money are tight.
Start broad, then focus where it matters most
All-in-one emissions platforms make sense as an entry point, especially if you want to manage Scopes 1, 2, and 3 in one system.
Your team gets a single interface for uploading, reviewing, and sharing data. You're not ready to map every upstream supplier yet, but you can show progress.
The key is prioritising tools that make Scope 3 additive, not overwhelming. You don't need to solve everything on day one.
Skip the perfect data trap
Product Carbon Footprints are powerful, but they're not required to get started. Instead, look for tools that accept hybrid data —spend-based calculations plus actual data where you have it.
The best interfaces let you update emissions factors over time. They include confidence scoring or flags that help you focus on areas needing improvement.
It helps you progress from default assumptions to better data. Not from nothing to perfect, which isn't realistic.
Simple systems that scale
Even if your Scope 3 inventory relies on assumptions, you'll want clear documentation of sources.
Which emissions factor databases did you use? What's estimated versus actual? Can you re-run calculations as better data becomes available?
If your platform doesn't let you revisit and refine, it's not built to scale with you. Simple doesn't mean disposable.
Industry collaboration is picking up steam
For sectors with common suppliers or methodologies, shared platforms are emerging. They reduce duplicate data requests and make life easier for suppliers. Data comparability across companies improves too.
They also offer a way to reduce total cost of ownership without giving up control. When everyone's asking the same suppliers for similar data, having shared infrastructure starts making sense.
How it's done with Ditchcarbon
We help teams start with a full view of all three scopes, then improve accuracy over time.
Our platform highlights areas with highest data risk and suggests better emissions factors as your data improves. When you're ready to connect with suppliers, we're there—but not before.
Whether you're running solo or scaling a full climate team, we're building tools that flex with your needs.
→ Talk to us about where to begin
👉 Next in this series: Getting your IT team on board with Scope 3 tech integration