GHG Inventory Boundary for Cement
A practical guide to help your company determine minimum inventory scope per GHG Protocol
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions)
- Calcination (process CO2)
- Kiln fuel combustion
- Mobile equipment fuel
Scope 2 (Indirect Energy Emissions)
- Grinding electricity consumption
- Auxiliary equipment (fan, compressor)
- Lighting/site
Dual Reporting: Location-based uses regional grid emission factors; market-based uses contractual factors (I-RECs, PPAs). Both approaches must be reported.
Scope 3 (Value Chain Emissions)
- 1Not properly managing clinker/cement ratio (clinker factor)
- 2Confusing process emissions with fuel (calcination should be separate)
- 3Incorrectly classifying biogenic content/waste fuel
- 4Making market-based claims for electricity without documentation
- 5Forgetting packaging and additives in Cat1
- 6Writing Cat4/9 transport with wrong boundary (Incoterms)
- 7Confusing product processing (Cat10) with use (Cat11)
- 8Assuming single rate for EoL (Cat12) instead of country-specific rates
- 9Missing inter-facility transfers
- 10Matching production data with emission data from different periods
Priority Categories
8 categoriesIntegrated facility with clinker production line
Relevant: Scope 1 + Scope 2 + Cat1/3/4/5/9
Data: fuel (L), production (tonnes), electricity (kWh), supply (tonnes)
Approach: scope1 process+combustion + Cat1 hybrid
clinker factor and biogenic share
Grinding-only facility (clinker from outside)
Relevant: Scope 2 heavy + Cat1 critical
Data: kWh, clinker tonnes, additives
Approach: Cat1 supplier-specific target
clinker supplier's boundary
Ready-mix concrete production
Relevant: Cat1 (cement, aggregate) + Cat4/9 (logistics)
Data: m3 concrete, cement kg, shipment km
Approach: average-data + top suppliers hybrid
aggregate transportation hotspot
Kiln operation with alternative fuels
Relevant: Scope 1 + Cat3
Data: AFR composition + LHV
Approach: fuel-based
biogenic/fossil separation
Export-heavy sales
Relevant: Cat9 logistics
Data: tonne-km sea
Approach: average-data
incoterms delivery point
This content is for informational purposes. Your company's reporting scope may expand based on operational reality, reporting standards, assurance requirements, stakeholder expectations, and regulations.