Purchased Goods and Services includes all upstream (cradle-to-gate) emissions occurring due to the production and provisioning of goods and services which are not otherwise included in the other categories of upstream scope 3 emissions (i.e., category 2 through to category 8).
There are six Purchased Goods and Services calculation methods to choose from:
Spend-based method uses the gross amount spent per good or service in the selected currency and spend category.
Water consumption method uses the amount of water consumed. This is recommended for water-consumption related emissions.
Fashion: Average data method is recommended for calculating emissions related to the purchase and assembly of fashion products and materials. It requires data on the product mass, quantity purchased, the proportion of materials used, and location of manufacturing.
Packaging method is recommended for calculating emissions related to the production of packaging based on the weight and material used.
Bring Your Own Emissions (BYOE) allows you to upload your own pre-calculated emissions to the Plan A platform. (Manufacturers and service providers are slowly moving towards providing emissions for their goods and services. If you have this data, it is likely the most accurate emissions estimation since it is likely based on their own primary data of that good or service).
Bring Your Own Emission Factors (BYOEF) allows you to upload your own emission factors with your activity to calculate emissions. It is your responsibility to ensure the emission factors align with your reporting needs.
Check out our step-by-step guides to formatting your data for all calculation methods.
Step-by-step: Format Spend-based data
Step-by-step: Format Spend-based data
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The country where the supplier is located in ISO-3166 alpha-2 code (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set in ‘Organisational Data’.
Column E: value
The gross spend in the selected currency on the selected good or services category.
Enter numeric values only and use a dot as the decimal separator (e.g. 25634.20)
This field is mandatory.
In your spend data, you may notice some negative figures, reflecting refunds. These should still be included in your data upload so that previously reported emissions relating to refunded goods can be deducted from your carbon balance accordingly. Negative spend data will be reflected as negative emissions values in the month the refund was given.
Column F: value.currency
Enter the currency your spend data is in a three letter currency code (EUR, USD, GBP, etc)
This field is mandatory
Column G: plana_category
The Plan A category that your purchased good or service falls under. For an overview of all categories, visit the Help Centre article: Purchased Goods and Services Category.
This field is mandatory.
Column H: supplier_name
Including your supplier name will help aggregate your purchased goods and service emissions by supplier on your dashboards.
This is an optional but recommended field.
Column I: product_category
You can optionally add custom categories (and subcategories if applicable) to your data if you wish to use it for reporting and analysis purposes.
This is an optional but recommended field.
Optional tags
As always, you can add optional columns for company specific tags.
Learn more about how tags work: Tag Your Data.
Step-by-step: Format Water consumption data
Step-by-step: Format Water consumption data
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period. It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The ISO-3166 alpha-2 code of the country where the water was consumed (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set here to all the other templates asking for a "facility_name" input.
Column E: value
Water consumption: The amount of the water consumed during the given time period.
Format: Enter numeric values only and use a period as the decimal separator (e.g. 25634.20).
This field is mandatory.
Column F: value.unit
Select the according unit for water volume, currently there is one unit supported:
m3 (cubic metres)
This field is mandatory.
Column G: product
Select the type of product consumed. Choose from:
water
This field is mandatory.
Optional tags
As always, you can add optional columns for company specific tags.
Learn more about how tags work: Tag Your Data.
Step-by-step: Format Fashion: Average data
Step-by-step: Format Fashion: Average data
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period. It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The ISO-3166 alpha-2 code of the country where the finished product or finished material was manufactured. (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set here to all the other templates asking for a "facility_name" input.
Column E: value
The weight of:
the finished product (if calculating assembly and material emissions)
the finished material (if calculating material emissions only)
If there are multiple materials used in one finished product, you will need to input the same value on both the product_type and all related material rows. This ensures accurate calculation of assembly and material emissions.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column F: value.unit
Select the measurement unit used.
kg (kilogram)
lb (pound)
t (metric tonne = 1000 kgs)
ton (short ton = 2000 lbs)
This field is mandatory.
Column G: manufacturing_phase
Select whether you're entering data for the assembly of the finished product or the purchase of a material.
To calculate emissions for both the assembly and purchase of materials for the same SKU, data must be entered across multiple rows.
This field is mandatory.
Column H: product_type
If ‘assembly’ was selected in 'manufacturing_phase', you must enter data here.
To calculate the emissions related to assembling your finished product accurately, you must match it to a product_type on this list.
Please leave this column empty if ‘material’ was selected in 'manufacturing_phase'.
Column I: material_name
If ‘material’ was selected in 'manufacturing_phase', you must enter data here.
List each material on a new row along with all the required data points.
To ensure accurate emissions calculation, select a material from this list.
Please leave this column empty if ‘assembly’ was selected in 'manufacturing_phase'.
Column J: proportion
Enter the percentage of this material used in the final SKU.
The final sum must add up to 1.00 per SKU; otherwise, your emission results may be incomplete.
This column is mandatory when a material type is listed in the same row. Leave it empty if a product type is inputted in the same row.
Column K: quantity
The amount of finished products or finished materials purchased.
The quantity must be the same for all rows that correspond to the same SKU.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column L: sku
The SKU of the finished product or material.
You will need to input the same SKU on multiple rows if you are calculating both material and assembly emissions.
This field is mandatory.
Column M: product_category_1
If you use tiered categorisation for your SKUs, you can optionally enter their categories in this field to gain more detailed insights.
Tiered categorisation allows for a more detailed analysis of your emissions.
Column N: product_category_2
If you use tiered categorisation for your SKUs, you can optionally enter their categories in this field to gain more detailed insights.
Tiered categorisation allows for a more detailed analysis of your emissions.
Column O: product_category_3
If you use tiered categorisation for your SKUs, you can optionally enter their categories in this field to gain more detailed insights.
Tiered categorisation allows for a more detailed analysis of your emissions.
Column P: supplier_name
The name of the supplier where you purchased the product or finished material.
This field is optional but recommended as it will offer you more detailed insights into your emissions.
Column Q: supplier_tier
The 'tier' of a supplier refers to its position in the supply chain relative to the finished product or material.
This field is optional but recommended as it will offer you more detailed insights into your emissions.
Optional tags
As always, you can add optional columns for company-specific tags.
Learn more about how tags work: Tag Your Data.
Step-by-step: Format Packaging data
Step-by-step: Format Packaging data
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period. It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The ISO-3166 alpha-2 code of the country where the packaging was manufactured. (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set here to all the other templates asking for a "facility_name" input.
Column E: value
Enter the weight of one unit of the selected packaging.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column F: value.unit
Select the measurement unit used.
Choose from:
kg (kilogram)
t (metric tonne)
ton (short ton)
lb (pound)
This field is mandatory.
Column G: packaging_name
Select the type of packaging used.
To ensure your emissions are calculated accurately, you must select packaging from this list.
This field is mandatory.
Column H: quantity
As the 'value' column represents the weight of a single packaging unit, specify the corresponding quantity here.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column I: supplier_name
The name of the supplier where you purchased the packaging.
This field is optional but recommended as it will offer you more detailed insights into your emissions.
Step-by-step: Format BYOE
Step-by-step: Format BYOE
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period. It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The ISO-3166 alpha-2 code of the country where the supplier is located (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set here to all the other templates asking for a "facility_name" input.
Column E: value
Your own emissions in kg CO₂e.
Enter numeric values only and use a dot as the decimal separator (e.g. 25634.20).
This field is mandatory.
Column F: plana_category
The Plan A category that your purchased goods and services fall under. For an overview of all categories, visit the Help Centre article: Purchased Goods and Services Category.
This is an optional but recommended column. We recommended filling this out as you will be able to have a cohesive view of your BYOE and spend-based emissions all in one.
Reminder: It is not Plan A’s responsibility to ensure the calculation of those 3rd parties are in accordance with the GHG Protocol. There is no verification or validation of BOYE emissions through Plan A.
Optional tags
As always, you can add optional columns for company specific tags.
Learn more about how tags work: Tag Your Data.
Step-by-step: Format BYOEF
Step-by-step: Format BYOEF
There are several ways to enter your data. Regardless of which method you choose, you must include all required information to ensure accurate emissions calculations. Below, we’ve listed the key data points you need to include. The column order doesn't matter as long as all required data is included.
Column A: start_date
The first day of your data period.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column B: end_date
The last day of your data period. It can be the same as the start date if you are entering data for just one day.
The suggested date format is YYYY-MM-DD, but check the Accepted Formats article to see a full list of formats you can use.
This field is mandatory.
Column C: location
The ISO-3166 alpha-2 code of the country associated with these emissions (e.g., DE).
This field is mandatory.
Column D: facility_name
The facility that the respective emissions should be allocated to.
Make sure to apply exactly the same names you set here to all the other templates asking for a "facility_name" input.
Column E: value
This field is for the data associated with a purchased good or service, such as weight, volume, or any other metric relevant to your emission factor.
Enter data for a single unit of a purchased product or service.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column F: value.unit
The measurement unit for your activity data. Choose from:
Mass: kg, t, ton, lb
Volume: l, m³, gal, bbl
Distance: km, mi
Surface: m², ft²
Generic: quantity
The unit must belong to the same unit family as the data in the 'emission_factor.unit' column.
This field is mandatory.
Column G: emission_factor.unit
The measurement unit of the emission factor. Choose from:
Mass: kgCO2e/kg, kgCO2e/t, kgCO2e/ton, kgCO2e/lb
Volume: kgCO2e/l, kgCO2e/m³, kgCO2e/gal, kgCO2e/bbl
Distance: kgCO2e/km, kgCO2e/mi
Surface: kgCO2e/m², kgCO2e/ft²
Generic: kgCO2e/quantity
This field is mandatory.
Column H: emission_factor
The emission factor you want to apply to your activity data in kgCO2e.
Ensure the emission factor is per unit of the good or service to guarantee accurate calculations.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure the emission factors align with your reporting needs.
This field is mandatory.
Column I: quantity
As the 'value' column represents a single unit of a good or service, specify the corresponding quantity here.
Format: Numbers using periods as decimal separators.
This field is mandatory.
Column J: product_category
If you use product categorisation, you can optionally enter the product category in this field.
This is recommended to give you deeper insights into your emissions.
Column K: product_subcategory
If you use product categorisation, you can optionally enter product subcategories in this field.
This is recommended to give you deeper insights into your emissions.
Column L: product_name
The name of the good or service.
This field is optional but recommended to give you deeper insights into your emissions.
Column M: product_reference
The product reference of the good or service.
This field is optional but recommended to give you deeper insights into your emissions.
Column N: supplier_name
The name of the supplier where you purchased the product or service.
This field is optional but recommended as it will offer you more detailed insights into your emissions.
Column O: source_file_name
The source file from which your activity data or emission factor was derived from.
This is recommended as emission factor sources may be requested from auditors.
