Avoided emissions
Also known as Scope 4 and Comparative Impact
The difference in greenhouse gas emissions between a solution scenario, such as buying an item secondhand, and a reference scenario, such as buying the same item new. Emissions are avoided only when the solution scenario has lower emissions than the reference scenario. The term is often used for the calculation itself whatever the result.
Avoided emissions are the emissions not emitted by buying secondhand rather than new.
The avoided emissions are calculated with the following formula:
Avoided emissions = Displaced emissions − Generated emissions
Where:
- Displaced emissions are the product emissions displaced by buying secondhand.
- Generated emissions are the emissions generated by giving a product a second life.
Avoided emissions must not be confused with carbon offsets.
Cite this entry
Aito. (2026). Avoided emissions. In Aito Knowledge Hub. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://aito.science/knowledge-hub/avoided-emissions