It is quick, because it only needs invoices, but the footprint rises with the price even if the product is the same, and it does not recognise a supplier that decarbonises its process. It works as a first approximation; to decide about products, a physical factor is better.
Glossary
Spend-based factor
A spend-based, or economic, factor estimates emissions by multiplying the amount of a purchase by a sector-average kgCO2e per euro.
Keep reading
Physical vs spend factors
Differences between spend-based and physical emission factors: how they are calculated, what errors they cause and when each fits for products and Scope 3.
Physical factor
A physical, or activity-based, factor expresses emissions per physical unit: kgCO2e per kilo of material, per kWh of energy or per tonne-kilometre of transport.
Scope 3 for purchases
Measure purchased-goods Scope 3 (Categories 1 and 2) with physical factors. Xain Insight needs only the ERP spreadsheet: less than 10 minutes.
Tell us what you want to measure
One product, a catalogue or your purchases. We reply with the next steps.
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