A Blockchain-IoT Framework for Scope 3 Carbon Emissions Management and Transparency in Fragmented Emerging Market Supply Chains

• Ada John

  ladoke Akintola university of technology

  Author

The imperative to decarbonize global supply chains has intensified as regulatory pressures mount and stakeholders demand verifiable environmental accountability. However, Scope 3 emissions—indirect emissions across upstream and downstream value chain activities—remain notoriously difficult to measure, verify, and manage, particularly in fragmented emerging market contexts where data opacity, inconsistent reporting standards, and limited technological infrastructure prevail. This study addresses the critical research gap at the intersection of blockchain-enabled traceability, Internet of Things (IoT) sensing, and Scope 3 carbon accounting by proposing and validating a decentralized framework for real-time emissions management in emerging economy supply chains. Employing a design-based research methodology, this study develops a prototype architecture integrating IoT edge sensors, permissioned blockchain infrastructure (Hyperledger Fabric), and smart contract automation to enable end-to-end carbon traceability across multi-tier supplier networks. The framework was validated through a simulated supply chain case study involving 85 participating entities across manufacturing, logistics, and retail sectors in Nigeria, with performance evaluated against traditional manual reporting methods. Key findings demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves 89.4% accuracy in emissions attribution, reduces reporting lead time by 73% (from an average of 28 days to 7.5 days), and successfully identifies 94.2% of upstream emissions sources previously obscured in conventional reporting systems. The study contributes both a replicable technical architecture and empirical evidence supporting blockchain-IoT integration for sustainability governance in resource-constrained environments. Practical implications extend to supply chain managers, sustainability officers, and policymakers seeking credible, cost-effective decarbonization pathways in emerging economies.

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