How does a construction contractor work out Scope 3 from cement it buys?
Multiply tonnes of cement bought by the cement's emission factor per tonne, ideally from the supplier's EPD for that product and plant. This is Scope 3, category 1. Use a generic factor only when no supplier figure exists, and label it as a generic estimate.
Steps
Add tonnes of cement from purchase invoices, by product (OPC, PPC, PSC).
Take each product's factor from the supplier's EPD, using the A1 to A3 figure per tonne.
Multiply and add up; report as Scope 3, category 1.
Ready-mix
For ready-mix concrete, use the concrete supplier's figure per cubic metre rather than adding cement yourself, so the mix design is counted correctly.
Worked example: one project (illustrative inputs)
- Cement bought: 500 t
- Supplier EPD figure: 0.70 t CO2e per t (illustrative)
- Scope 3: 500 x 0.70 = 350 t CO2e
The EPD figure here is illustrative; use the declared value for your supplier's product and plant.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads the energy invoices behind the making stage into a fingerprinted Scope 1 and 2 record, and keeps material invoices on the Scope 3 trail. Material factors come from your supplier or a named database and are labelled with their source, so the product figure can be traced line by line.
Sources: GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard, ISO (ISO 14025, ISO 14067, ISO/IEC 30134)
Last reviewed 2026-10-21.