Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Application Lab

You have reached the end of your Value Chain Interventions Course! In this section, you will get to practice everything you have learned so far in a real-life example activity. This is your opportunity to apply your new skills and knowledge to practical scenarios, solidifying your understanding and preparing you for real-world Scope 3 challenges. Dive in and see how far you’ve come!

You will design a Value Chain Intervention plan based on a real-world scenario, focusing on reducing Scope 3 emissions within a company’s supply chain. You will apply the following concepts from the course:

  • Identification of key upstream emissions sources
  • Selection of appropriate intervention strategies
  • Use of data collection methods (supplier-specific, hybrid, average-based, spend-based)
  • Creation of measurable emission reduction targets

Key Questions for Reflection:

  • Can you clearly articulate your proposed intervention or program of interventions?
  • How will your intervention activities lead to GHG reductions or removals?
  • Have you established a comprehensive monitoring plan to track the impact of your intervention?

Scenario

Company Background: You work for GreenBrew, a company that produces ready-to-drink coffee products and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. The company has identified Scope 3 emissions as the largest contributor to its carbon footprint, primarily coming from its value chain, including coffee beans, milk production, and packaging materials.

Your Task: You are tasked with creating a value chain intervention plan to reduce Scope 3 emissions for GreenBrew’s coffee products.

Steps

1. Identify Key Emission Sources:

  • Based on what you’ve learned, identify three key upstream emission sources for GreenBrew’s coffee product (e.g., coffee beans, milk production, packaging). For each emission source, estimate its contribution to the total Scope 3 emissions based on average industry data.

2. Choose the Appropriate Data Collection Method:

  • For each emission source, determine the best data collection method (supplier-specific, hybrid, average-based). Justify your choice by considering the availability of data and the accuracy needed for your intervention strategy.
  • Example: For coffee beans, you might decide to use the hybrid method, utilizing both supplier-specific data from farms that supply GreenBrew and average data from global coffee production standards.

3. Design an Intervention:

  • For each emission source, propose an intervention strategy that could help reduce emissions. Some interventions might include sourcing from regenerative agriculture, improving the energy efficiency of dairy farms, or switching to recycled packaging materials.
  • Detail how these interventions would be implemented and tracked over time.

4. Set Measurable Targets:

  • Set reduction targets for each intervention. For example, you might aim to reduce emissions from coffee bean sourcing by 20% over the next five years through regenerative agriculture practices.
  • Use the formula for calculating carbon reductions you’ve learned to project the overall impact of your intervention.

5. Prepare a Reporting Plan:

  • Based on the methods you’ve learned for Scope 3 reporting, design a simple reporting structure that GreenBrew can use to track the progress of each intervention. Specify how often data will be collected and what metrics will be used to measure success.

Submission:

Write a brief report (1-2 pages) detailing the following:

  • The key emission sources you identified and why.
  • The data collection method chosen for each source.
  • The intervention strategy for each source, including the expected impact on emissions.
  • Measurable targets and a plan for tracking progress.

This exercise will give you hands-on experience in applying theoretical knowledge to a practical case, simulating real-world decisions that professionals face in designing interventions to tackle Scope 3 emissions.

Next Steps:
After submitting your report, review feedback to fine-tune your approach. This practical exercise will help you build confidence as you continue to develop expertise in designing and managing value chain interventions.