---
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.scope3.com/llms.txt
---

# October 2025 Emissions Model

## Alignment to version 1.2 of the Global Media Sustainability Framework

Effective October 1st, the Scope3 emissions model is aligned to <Anchor label="the latest version (v1.2) of the Global Media Sustainability Framework (GMSF)" target="_blank" href="https://adnetzero.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GlobalMediaSustainabilityFrameworkV1.2.pdf">the latest version (v1.2) of the Global Media Sustainability Framework (GMSF)</Anchor>. In addition, customers can report on emissions strictly under GMSF categories by selecting the new GMSF framework:

* API customers will see a new `gmsf` value under the `framework` field in the <Anchor label="/measure" target="_blank" href="https://docs.scope3.com/reference/measure-1#/">/measure</Anchor> endpoint.
* Scope3 platform customers will see an updated framework filter in Explore, Property pages and Media Reporting.

<br />

### What framework to use when

All overlapping emissions categories are calculated the same way across the `gmsf`, `scope3-consumer-device`, and `scope3` frameworks. What distinguishes them is the set of categories each framework includes.

| Emissions Category key             | scope3   | gmsf     | scope3-consumer-device |
| :--------------------------------- | :------- | :------- | :--------------------- |
| `techManipulation.creativeStorage` | included | included | included               |
| `mediaDistribution.corporate`      | included | excluded | included               |
| `mediaDistribution.dataTransfer`   | included | excluded | included               |
| `mediaDistribution.consumerDevice` | excluded | excluded | included               |
| `adSelection.adPlatform`           | included | included | included               |
| `adSelection.dataTransfer`         | included | included | included               |
| `creativeDelivery.adPlatform`      | included | included | included               |
| `creativeDelivery.dataTransfer`    | included | included | included               |
| `creativeDelivery.consumerDevice`  | excluded | included | included               |
| `disposal.adMaterial`              | included | included | included               |
| `disposal.other`                   | included | included | included               |

As such, we recommend to:

* Choose `gmsf` for strict alignment with GMSF categories.
  *Note: Emissions data for impressions served prior to October 1, 2025 is not available under this framework.*
* Choose `scope3-consumer-device` for broader coverage (including categories not yet in GMSF, such as media/content-related emissions).
* Choose `scope3` to exclude consumer device emissions. This remains the default if no framework is specified.

<br />

### Key Methodological changes

As part of this alignment, we have made the following changes:

<Table align={["left","left","left"]}>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>
        Change
      </th>

      <th>
        Impacted category keys
      </th>

      <th>
        Expected Materiality
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>

  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>
        A new technicalManipulation category has been added to capture emissions associated with creative storage.
      </td>

      <td>
        `techManipulation.creativeStorage`
      </td>

      <td>
        Very Low
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        Embodied emissions associated with servers have been incorporated.
      </td>

      <td>
        `adSelection.adPlatform`
      </td>

      <td>
        Low
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        Updated the default bytes per ad/bid request.
      </td>

      <td>
        `adSelection.dataTransfer`
      </td>

      <td>
        Low
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        The conventional network model is been applied to all channels to account for emissions from Internet data transfer.
      </td>

      <td>
        `adSelection.dataTransfer`

        `mediaDistribution.dataTransfer`

        `creativeDelivery.dataTransfer`
      </td>

      <td>
        High
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        Default energy consumption and embodied emissions have been updated for all device types.
      </td>

      <td>
        `mediaDistribution.consumerDevice`

        `creativeDelivery.consumerDevice`
      </td>

      <td>
        High

        (but only affects customers using the `scope3-consumer-device` framework)
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        Default Web and App Ad Formats and in-view time have been updated to the GMSF display defaults.
      </td>

      <td>
        `creativeDelivery.dataTransfer`

        `creativeDelivery.consumerDevice`
      </td>

      <td>
        Low
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        Estimations of “% of screen occupied by the ad” have been improved.
      </td>

      <td>
        `creativeDelivery.consumerDevice`
      </td>

      <td>
        Low
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        The amount of content associated per ad impression has been updated based on more recent research.
      </td>

      <td>
        `mediaDistribution.dataTransfer`

        `mediaDistribution.consumerDevice`
      </td>

      <td>
        High
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        (DOOH-specific) Emissions associated with DOOH screen energy consumption have been reclassified from mediaDistribution.dataTransfer to a newly added category, creativeDelivery.outdoorDisplay.
      </td>

      <td>
        `mediaDistribution.dataTransfer`

        `creativeDelivery.outdoorDisplay`
      </td>

      <td>
        _n/a_
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        (DOOH-specific) A new disposal category has been added to account for emissions from the end-of-life treatment of digital screen assets. This category will also apply to channels that generate physical waste (as we introduce support for such channel).
      </td>

      <td>
        `disposal.other`
      </td>

      <td>
        Very Low
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</Table>

Our <Anchor label="methodology documentation" target="_blank" href="https://methodology.scope3.com/lifecycle">methodology documentation</Anchor> has been updated to reflect these changes.

<br />

### Expected impact

Emissions totals may shift as a result of the updates above. To see the impact on a specific property, compare ‘September’ vs ‘Latest’ in the "Emissions over time" chart in platform. For customers using the scope3 framework (excluding consumer devices), we expect the following approximate per-channel variations, though results will vary based on campaign inputs.

| Channels        | Expected Variance | Example Property                                                                                                                           |
| :-------------- | :---------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `web`           | +2%               | <Anchor label="insider.com" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=1212427">insider.com</Anchor>              |
| `app`           | +2%               | <Anchor label="Wordscapes" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=1789338&country=US">Wordscapes</Anchor>     |
| `search`        | -1%               | <Anchor label="Google" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=5269885&country=US">Google</Anchor>             |
| `social`        | -4%               | <Anchor label="Facebook" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=1843277&country=US">Facebook</Anchor>         |
| `ctv-bvod`      | +22%              | <Anchor label="Netflix" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=2679144&country=US">Netflix</Anchor>           |
| `olv`           | -20%              | <Anchor label="7news.com.au" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=1933848&country=AU">7news.com.au</Anchor> |
| `digital-audio` | -13%              | <Anchor label="Spotify" target="_blank" href="https://scope3.com/property-report?propertyId=2032961&country=US">Spotify</Anchor>           |
| `linear-tv`     | -43%              | n/a                                                                                                                                        |

For any question or concern, please contact your Customer Success representative or <Anchor label="Scope3 Support." target="_blank" href="https://support.scope3.com/support/tickets/new">Scope3 Support.</Anchor>

<br />

### Recommendation to API customers

This change is **not a breaking change**, as no emissions categories have been removed. However, we recommend considering the following:

| Recommending to                                            | Recommendation                                                                                |
| :--------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Customers preferring to adhere strictly to GMSF categories | Add query string `framework=gmsf`to your calls to the /measure endpoint.                      |
| Customers pulling emissions categories breakdown           | Start pulling `technicalManipulation.creativeStorage`  from the /measure output.              |
| DOOH customers pulling emissions categories breakdown      | Start pulling `creativeDelivery.outdoorDisplay` & `disposal.other`  from the /measure output. |

<br />

### A note on Alignment vs Compliance

At this stage, GMSF provides guidance and categories but does not yet include a formal audit or certification process. The appropriate term to use is therefore alignment rather than compliance. This release reflects Scope3’s alignment with GMSF v1.2: we have adopted its recommendations where applicable, while continuing to apply Scope3 approaches and calculations in areas where higher accuracy is supported by contributed data.