Mars and HowGood-backed food carbon standard targets Scope 3 data gaps in sourcing

A new food carbon accounting effort backed by Mars and HowGood is aimed at the sourcing and Scope 3 data gap in food supply chains. Scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions from ingredients and raw materials, are often the largest share of a food company's footprint, but they are also the hardest to measure because suppliers rarely have primary data. The proposed standard appears designed to give buyers and suppliers a common way to calculate and report those emissions, which could make procurement decisions more comparable. If adopted widely, it would help food companies move beyond generic emissions factors and toward supplier-specific numbers. That is the part that matters. A standard only cuts emissions if companies actually use it in purchasing and supplier contracts. The article is worth reading for anyone tracking how food companies plan to handle Scope 3 reporting.