Confidently launch your Scope 3 strategy
If you're responsible for Scope 3 and haven't started yet, you're not behind. You're just in the same place as most teams.
At the Scope 3 Digital Tools Clinic, several participants shared some version of this dilemma.
How do you get started? How can you effectively elevate strategic recognition of Scope 3 emissions to drive real action? What are the tangible tactics that actually work for software companies? How do you segment suppliers to prioritise where to focus first?
If those questions feel familiar, you're definitely in the right place—we'll crack on them for you!
Finding your emission hotspots
You don't need perfect data to start making smart decisions. Even without detailed supplier information, you can use proxies to build a directionally correct baseline.
Look at procurement spend by category. Check industry emissions benchmarks. Pull whatever Scope 1 and 2 supplier info you already have. This gives you enough to start making decisions, not just endless measurements.
The goal isn't precision at this stage. It's direction.
Strategic fit beats perfect data
Your first Scope 3 actions don't have to be the most precise. They just need to be visible, relevant, and feasible.
- Visible means easy to communicate to leadership
- Relevant means aligned to your business goals
- Feasible means doable with your current resources and headcount
Flag high-spend, low-data suppliers for future engagement. Estimate emissions for one major category using better emission factors. Prepare a plan that builds toward product carbon footprints, but doesn't start there. Perfect is the enemy of good enough to get going.
Getting internal buy-in
Sometimes the biggest blocker isn't technical. It's getting strategic airtime.
Use your baseline and prioritisation work to put numbers on the board early. Show leadership why better Scope 3 data equals smarter supplier decisions. Make the case for both tool investment and cross-functional support. The math matters, but the storytelling matters more.
What we're seeing at Ditchcarbon
We work with teams launching Scope 3 programs in less-than-ideal conditions. Partial data, lean headcount, internal skepticism. Sound familiar?
That's why we offer:
- Prebuilt templates to help you present findings
- Supplier segmentation logic based on risk and materiality
- Guidance on what "good" looks like now vs later
We don't expect you to have the answers. We just help you build your path forward.
Scope 3 is never "finished," but early momentum is often the hardest part to generate.
→ Book a short scope review with our team
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