What packaging typically falls under this page for a trip operator?

Single-use food and drink packaging served during the trip, welcome packs, and branded materials handed to clients - anything the operator supplies as packaging within the trip itself.

How specific does the plastic type need to be?

As specific as your supplier can confirm - HDPE, PET, PP, PVC and film versus rigid plastic all carry different factors, so a named polymer type is more accurate than a generic 'plastic' entry.

Does branded merchandise packaging count, or only food/drink packaging?

Both count if the organisation supplies them as part of the trip - branded welcome packs and food/drink packaging are treated the same way, by material type and mass.

What if packaging spend is bundled into a general supplies invoice?

Ask the supplier for a packaging-specific breakdown by material and weight where the spend is material enough to matter; otherwise a proportional estimate from the invoice is a reasonable interim step.

Is this likely to be material compared to flights and accommodation?

Usually not - packaging is typically a smaller share of a trip's footprint than flights or accommodation, but it's still worth tracking for completeness and because packaging choices are within the operator's direct control.

Activity data·Sector & specialist

How to measure emissions from Trips: Packaging

Trips: Packaging covers packaging materials used within a travel package - single-use food and drink packaging, welcome packs or branded trip materials - reported under Scope 3 Category 1 by material type and mass. Collect weight per unit and material breakdown (board, plastic film, rigid plastic, specific polymer types) from your packaging supplier, since the factor varies considerably by material rather than a blended average.

Scope: Scope 3 Category 1
What activity data you need: tonne
Activity data: Sector & specialist

What counts as Trips: Packaging

Packaging materials used within an organised trip - for example, single-use packaging for food and drink service, welcome packs or branded trip materials - reported by material type and mass.

A smaller, often overlooked line in the trips cluster; distinct from the general 'Packaging' purchased-goods page used for an organisation's own product or shipping packaging. Because packaging choices - board, plastic film, rigid plastic, specific polymer types - vary the factor considerably, use the most specific material subtype your supplier can confirm rather than a single blended plastics average.

How to collect the data

Use supplier specifications or packaging supplier invoices giving material type and weight per unit, multiplied by volumes used across the trip's departures during the reporting period. Where suppliers only report spend, that's a weaker fallback than a material-and-mass breakdown.

What activity data you need

Collect the most specific physical unit available. Unit definitions are in Appendix I — Description of Units.

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Which emission scope it falls under

Trips: Packaging activity data typically maps to Scope 3 Category 1 under the GHG Protocol. Confirm organisational boundary and ownership before reporting.

Scope 3 Category 1

By emission scope

Scope 3 Category 1

Compliance frameworks

Compliance & reporting frameworks

Sub-types available in the platform

All 13 sub-types available in the platform.

Bioplastic: Polylactic Acid (PLA): Thailand
Board only
Mixed board and paper
Paper only
Plastic: Average plastic film
Plastic: Average plastic rigid
Plastic: Average plastics
Plastic: HDPE (incl. forming)
Plastic: LDPE and LLDPE (incl. forming)
Plastic: PET (incl. forming)
Plastic: PP (incl. forming)
Plastic: PS (incl. forming)
Plastic: PVC (incl. forming)

Common questions

What packaging typically falls under this page for a trip operator?: Single-use food and drink packaging served during the trip, welcome packs, and branded materials handed to clients - anything the operator supplies as packaging within the trip itself.
How specific does the plastic type need to be?: As specific as your supplier can confirm - HDPE, PET, PP, PVC and film versus rigid plastic all carry different factors, so a named polymer type is more accurate than a generic 'plastic' entry.
Does branded merchandise packaging count, or only food/drink packaging?: Both count if the organisation supplies them as part of the trip - branded welcome packs and food/drink packaging are treated the same way, by material type and mass.
What if packaging spend is bundled into a general supplies invoice?: Ask the supplier for a packaging-specific breakdown by material and weight where the spend is material enough to matter; otherwise a proportional estimate from the invoice is a reasonable interim step.
Is this likely to be material compared to flights and accommodation?: Usually not - packaging is typically a smaller share of a trip's footprint than flights or accommodation, but it's still worth tracking for completeness and because packaging choices are within the operator's direct control.

Next step

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Related in this cluster·Sector & specialist