How do we count printed brochures and catalogues in Scope 3?

They are purchased goods, Scope 3 Category 1. Use the paper weight and a paper factor per kg, plus the printer's energy if it shares a figure. Without weights, use the printing bill with a spend-based factor and label it as an estimate. Distribution by courier is transport.

By weight

1. Pages × paper GSM × sheet area gives kg per copy.
2. Copies printed × kg per copy.
3. Multiply by the paper factor; add inks and binding if known.

Unused stock

Copies printed and later pulped were still produced, so count everything printed.

What Senseible does here

Senseible keeps purchase invoices on the Scope 3 trail with the category, method and factor source on every line, so spend-based estimates are labelled as estimates and can be replaced with supplier data later.

• Advertising spend in Scope 3
• Newspaper per copy

Sources: GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.