Scope 3 · Category 11
Scope 3 Category 11: Use of sold products
Scope 3 Category 11 covers emissions from the use of sold products over their expected lifetime — energy or fuel consumed by products in customers’ hands. It is often material for vehicles, appliances and fuels, and usually needs lifetime assumptions plus typical use-phase activity per product sold.
Category 11 is the use-phase of sold products — energy or fuel customers consume over the product lifetime.
Combine units sold with lifetime use assumptions (energy per use, lifetime years, load factors). Critical for vehicles, appliances, fuels and energy-consuming equipment.
Indirect use-phase (e.g. washing clothes) needs clear assumptions. Direct use-phase (fuel burned in a sold vehicle) is usually clearer to bound.
Related activity data
Related scopes
By activity data
By compliance framework
Frequently asked questions
- How long a lifetime should I assume?
- Use product design life, warranty policy or sector norms — and disclose the assumption. Sensitivity analysis helps when lifetime drives the total.
- Do services have Category 11?
- Often immaterial. Category 11 focuses on sold products that consume energy or emit GHGs in use.
- Are fuel sales Category 11?
- Yes — combustion of sold fuels by customers is a classic Category 11 case, using volumes sold and appropriate combustion factors.
- How does this differ from Category 10?
- Category 10 is processing before the end user. Category 11 is use by the end user over the product lifetime.
- Should I include electricity for electric products?
- Yes when material — estimate lifetime electricity use and apply appropriate grid or location assumptions, disclosed in the method.