Scope 4 emissions refer to avoided emissions — those prevented when a product, service, or technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to a conventional alternative while delivering the same or improved function. They are the hardest to track because they require estimating emissions that would have occurred without the product or service, which involves modelling hypothetical scenarios.
At Kemin, we’re proud that many of our products help reduce emissions compared to conventional alternatives. For example, using surfactants in the pelleting process improves moisture distribution, lowers energy consumption, and increases pellet press efficiency — leading to emission reductions across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. Another key example is the inclusion of our amino acids in animal diets, which reduces reliance on high-CO₂-emitting protein sources like soy while also enhancing animal productivity.
By optimising efficiency and the sustainability of our solutions, we’re helping our customers lower their environmental footprint.
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“Our sustainability goals cover all four scopes, with a strong focus on reducing CO₂ emissions and supporting farmers economically. Scope 4, or ‘avoided emissions,’ is as important as Scopes 1, 2, and 3. It refers to solutions outside a product's life cycle, such as how much CO2-eq per kilogram of milk or meat we can save due to a proper diet formulation with our solutions.”
— Diego Martínez del Olmo, Ruminant Business Manager EMENA
Although no standardised protocol exists for reporting Scope 4 emissions, we are dedicated to recognising the value of accounting for these avoided emissions and taking the lead to improve here. Doing so allows us to:
Since Scope 4 emissions are particularly challenging to track, we are developing robust models to assess the avoided emissions associated with our products. We aim to accurately quantify and validate these emissions, ensuring a reliable assessment of their impact. So far, our model development includes:
We back this process with solid scientific data from our research and literature reviews. To keep our models accurate and reliable, we continuously test, refine, and improve them.
This year, we're focused on refining our Scope 4 approach to make avoided emissions easier to track and more meaningful in practice. A big part of this is developing intuitive Scope 4 calculators so our customer-facing teams can better support customers in their sustainability efforts. Moreover, we're rolling out new models across different product categories this year, helping us measure and quantify emissions reductions more effectively.
By improving how we assess Scope 4, we’re not just reducing environmental impact — we’re giving our customers the tools to make more sustainable choices and move toward a lower-carbon future.
“Sustainability can drive efficiency and reduce environmental impact without compromising profitability. Lowering the carbon footprint often improves economic returns for producers while benefiting the planet. However, solutions must remain affordable to ensure both sustainability and profitability. I’m proud to help our customers achieve both, especially in ruminant production.” — Diego.
For the latest updates on our progress regarding Scope 4 emissions, keep posted on our blog. To learn more about our sustainability goals, visit our Sustainability Journey webpage.
