Where do replacement UPS batteries go in our emissions?

New batteries are Scope 3: Category 1 if expensed, Category 2 if you treat them as capital goods, matching your accounts. Their disposal is Category 5, waste. The electricity a UPS uses is already in your Scope 2 bill.

Which category

• Expensed in the year: Category 1.
• Capitalised with the UPS: Category 2.
• Old batteries sent to a recycler: Category 5.

The footprint

Use the battery supplier's figure if offered, or a per-unit footprint for lead-acid or lithium batteries by weight.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads quantities, dates and units from your bills and invoices and shows the factor and source used on every line.

• Lead-acid battery footprint
• Capital goods timing

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

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.