Avoided emissions
The estimated difference in emissions between what happened and a baseline that didn't.
Avoided emissions compare two scenarios, for example pallets reused against the same pallets landfilled, and report the difference. They're useful for decisions and for describing a program's effect, but they aren't emissions anyone emitted, so they don't belong inside an inventory.
The GHG Protocol's Scope 3 Standard says companies should not report negative or avoided emissions associated with recycling in category 5 or 12; such claims may be reported separately, with the method, data sources, boundary and time period. The Pallet Fate Report keeps its avoided-emissions figure, based on WARM, apart from its inventory figure, based on the Hub.
Most of WARM's reuse credit for wood is forest carbon. Say so when you report it. See avoided emissions.
Keep the baseline explicit: avoided compared with what, at which sites, in which year.
Sources
- Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard GHG Protocol (WRI/WBCSD). Accessed October 27, 2026. Box 5.6 and section 9.5 on avoided emissions; section 5.5 category descriptions.
- Documentation for Greenhouse Gas Emission and Energy Factors Used in WARM, Version 16: Construction Materials Chapters, ch. 12 Wood Products (EPA-530-R-23-020) U.S. EPA. Accessed October 27, 2026. Exhibits 12-3 (p. 12-3), 12-9, 12-13, 12-15 and 12-16 (p. 12-10).