Regional Playbook: The 10 Most-Used Scope 3 Databases for UK, EU, US & APAC

This playbook shows which emission factor sources work best by region and how to combine them. It also explains where DitchCarbon fits to deliver supplier specific accuracy across global supply bases.---## The short list (covered here)- UK DESNZ/Defra, US EPA (WARM/USEEIO), DitchCarbon, ecoinvent, GLEC (Smart Freight Centre), EU EF/PEF, ADEME Base Carbone, ICAO, Sphera/GaBi, ANZ national factors (NZ MfE + AU NGA)---## UK & IrelandBaseline factors: UK DESNZ/Defra for travel, freight, waste, upstream fuelsLogistics: GLEC for road/air/sea/rail (activity based)Product LCI: ecoinvent or Sphera/GaBi; consider EF/PEF for EU customersSupplier specific overlay: DitchCarbon to map spend/activity to vendor/SKU factorsBusiness travel/air cargo: ICAO methodologyWhy this works: Auditor familiar corporate coverage, standardized logistics, product depth where needed, and supplier level action via DitchCarbon.---## European UnionBaseline factors: ADEME Base Carbone (France), EF/PEF datasets where availableLogistics: GLEC; increasingly aligned with ISO 14083Product LCI: ecoinvent / Sphera/GaBi alongside EF/PEFSupplier specific overlay: DitchCarbon to bridge PEF asks to real suppliers/SKUsBusiness travel/air cargo: ICAOWhy this works: EU aligned footprints and PEF readiness, with LCI depth and supplier specific engagement.---## United StatesBaseline factors: US EPA USEEIO (spend) and WARM (waste scenarios)Logistics: GLEC for common methods across carriersProduct LCI: ecoinvent / Sphera/GaBiSupplier specific overlay: DitchCarbon to move from US averages to supplier realityBusiness travel/air cargo: ICAOWhy this works: Broad US coverage plus a route to actionable supplier programs and material negotiations.---## Australia & New Zealand (ANZ)Baseline factors: NZ MfE and Australia NGA (DCCEEW)Logistics: GLEC; align partners on activity dataProduct LCI: ecoinvent / Sphera/GaBiSupplier specific overlay: DitchCarbon to map local spend to supplier level EFsBusiness travel/air cargo: ICAOWhy this works: Official regional factors with logistics standardization and supplier level specificity.---## Global overlay (works everywhere)- Supplier specific: DitchCarbon for vendor/SKU level Scope 3- Logistics methodology: GLEC- Aviation: ICAO- Product LCI: ecoinvent or Sphera/GaBi- Corporate coverage: National sets where you operate (Defra, EPA/USEEIO, ADEME/EF, ANZ)---## Side by side: regional stacks| Region | Baseline factors | Logistics | Product LCI | Supplier specific | Travel/Air || ------------ | ------------------— | ------------- | ------------------ | --------------------- | ------------— || UK & Ireland | DESNZ/Defra | GLEC | ecoinvent / Sphera | DitchCarbon | ICAO || EU | EF/PEF, ADEME | GLEC | ecoinvent / Sphera | DitchCarbon | ICAO || US | EPA USEEIO + WARM | GLEC | ecoinvent / Sphera | DitchCarbon | ICAO || ANZ | NZ MfE + AU NGA | GLEC | ecoinvent / Sphera | DitchCarbon | ICAO |---## Pros & cons (the same 10, regional lens)### DESNZ/Defra (UK)Pros: Wide Scope 3 coverage; auditor friendly; annual updates.Cons: UK averages; not product LCI.### EPA (US: USEEIO + WARM)Pros: Screening breadth + waste decisions; free.Cons: US centric; averages.### DitchCarbon (Global, supplier specific)Pros: Vendor/SKU level factors; procurement workflows; prioritization and measurable reduction.Cons: Commercial; needs supplier/integration depth.### ecoinvent (Global LCI)Pros: Product/process depth; recognized by LCA practitioners.Cons: Paid; complexity.### GLEC (Global logistics)Pros: Methodology for all modes; aligns carriers.Cons: Needs activity data.### EF/PEF (EU)Pros: EU aligned product footprints; supports PEF asks.Cons: Coverage varies by category.### ADEME Base Carbone (France/EU)Pros: Public; frequently updated.Cons: Localized assumptions.### ICAO (Global aviation)Pros: Recognized method for flight emissions.Cons: Non CO₂ often added separately.### Sphera/GaBi (Global LCI, commercial)Pros: Industrial depth; strong tooling.Cons: Cost; transparency varies.### ANZ (NZ MfE + AU NGA)Pros: Official regional factors; Scope 3 for key categories.Cons: Regional specificity.---## Implementation checklist1. Pick your regional baseline(s): DESNZ/Defra, EPA/USEEIO, EF/ADEME, ANZ.2. Standardize logistics: Apply GLEC and gather activity data from carriers.3. Deepen product categories: Use ecoinvent/Sphera/GaBi (and EF/PEF in EU).4. Make it supplier specific: Connect your spend/activity to DitchCarbon and prioritize high impact suppliers.5. Refresh annually: Update national sets and LCI versions; grow supplier coverage.---## FAQsDo I need different databases for different regions?Yes, use national sets where you operate, then add global methods (GLEC/ICAO), LCI for product depth, and DitchCarbon for supplier specificity.What if my carriers or suppliers won’t share data?Start with recognized averages (national/LCI/method defaults) and progressively replace with supplier specific factors via DitchCarbon as data becomes available.How do I avoid double counting between methods?Define category boundaries (e.g., freight under GLEC, materials under LCI) and document the source and version for each category in your inventory policy.