Food exporters report Scope 3 emissions from temperature monitoring devices by identifying relevant GHG Protocol categories, collecting data on device volumes and materials, applying appropriate emission factors, and disclosing the results in sustainability reports or CDP submissions. Because monitoring devices are purchased and discarded at scale, they represent a measurable and often overlooked source of indirect emissions that is worth addressing systematically.
What are Scope 3 emissions and why do they matter for food exporters?
Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur across a company’s value chain, outside its own operations. Under the GHG Protocol framework, they are divided into 15 categories covering everything from purchased goods to waste disposal. For food exporters, Scope 3 is typically the largest emissions category by far, encompassing upstream inputs, logistics, and end-of-life disposal of materials used throughout the supply chain.
Temperature monitoring devices fall squarely within this scope. Single-use electronic data loggers, made from plastic and containing lithium batteries, generate emissions during manufacturing and again at disposal. These devices fall under Category 1 (Purchased Goods and Services) and Category 5 (Waste Generated in Operations), making them a legitimate line item in any thorough Scope 3 inventory.
How do temperature monitoring devices contribute to a food exporter’s Scope 3 footprint?
Single-use electronic data loggers contribute to Scope 3 emissions at two distinct points in their lifecycle: production and disposal. Manufacturing plastic housings and lithium batteries is energy-intensive, embedding carbon into each device before it even enters the supply chain. When discarded, these devices require specialist e-waste processing, and many end up incinerated or in landfill, releasing further emissions.
With tens of millions of single-use electronic loggers discarded globally each year, the cumulative footprint is significant. For food exporters shipping large volumes of perishable goods, the number of devices used each year can run into the thousands, making this a non-trivial contribution to their Category 5 waste emissions. Unlike packaging or transport, this source is rarely scrutinised, which means it is also rarely reduced.
How can food exporters accurately calculate and report these emissions?
Calculating Scope 3 emissions from temperature monitoring devices follows a straightforward methodology aligned with the GHG Protocol. The process involves four practical steps that quality and sustainability teams can work through together.
- Collect volume data: Record how many devices are purchased and used annually, broken down by device type (single-use electronic, reusable electronic, or paper-based).
- Identify material composition: Note the weight and materials of each device type, including plastics, circuit boards, and battery chemistry, as these determine the applicable emission factors.
- Apply emission factors: Use recognised emission factors for plastics manufacturing and electronic waste incineration, sourced from databases such as the IPCC guidelines or national environmental agencies.
- Document and disclose: Record calculations transparently and include the figures in annual sustainability reports, CDP questionnaires, or ESG disclosures shared with customers and investors.
Keeping purchasing records and working closely with procurement teams makes data collection significantly easier. The more granular the data, the more credible the reported figure.
How Tapp helps food exporters reduce and report Scope 3 emissions from cold chain monitoring
Switching the type of data logger used is one of the most direct ways to reduce device-related Scope 3 emissions. As the only provider of paper-based data loggers, Tapp has developed an NFC-enabled alternative that addresses the emissions generated by traditional plastic loggers at every stage of the lifecycle.
- Up to 90% less e-waste: Paper-based data loggers are recyclable through standard paper waste streams globally, eliminating the need for specialist e-waste disposal.
- Lithium-free design: No lithium batteries means no hazardous battery waste and a meaningfully lower embedded carbon footprint per device, which compares favourably with both single-use and reusable electronic loggers.
- Agricultural-waste paper: The paper substrate is sourced from agricultural waste, reducing the environmental impact of raw material extraction.
- EN12830-certified accuracy: Certified temperature monitoring ensures the data is accepted for compliance reporting without compromise.
- TappOS cloud dashboard: Data is automatically uploaded the moment a label is tapped with an NFC-enabled smartphone, giving sustainability teams clean, structured records that support Scope 3 calculations and ESG disclosures.
If your team is working to quantify and reduce Scope 3 emissions from cold chain monitoring, explore how Tapp’s paper-based data loggers can make that goal measurable and achievable. Get in touch to find out more.
