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

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/printed-brochures-catalogues-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](https://senseible.earth/answers/advertising-and-marketing-spend-scope-3)
- [Newspaper per copy](https://senseible.earth/answers/newspaper-printing-plant-carbon-per-copy)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-value-chain-scope-3-standard)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.