Scope 1-2-3 Emissions explained

What are Scope 1-2-3 Emissions and Why Does It Matter for My Business?
In today’s climate-conscious world, understanding your carbon footprint is essential for any business. As defined in GHG Protocol corporate standard, a methodology was created to classify carbon emissions. This methodology is a way to break down your company’s emissions and gain insight into where you can make improvements. Let’s take a closer look at this methodology and how you can use it to better understand your carbon footprint. 

Scope 1 Emissions 
Scope 1 emissions are those that come directly from sources owned or controlled by the company, such as on-site burning of fuels, transportation (company vehicles), or fugitive emissions from leaks in equipment. These are the most visible of your company’s emissions since they are the easiest to measure and track. By keeping an eye on these numbers, you can make sure that any efforts you make to reduce them have an immediate impact on your total emissions. 

Scope 2 Emissions 
Scope 2 emissions are those that come from electricity purchased by the company for its own use, as well as power used in manufacturing processes. Even though these emissions don’t originate from sources owned or controlled by the company, they still contribute significantly to its overall carbon footprint. To reduce scope 2 emissions, companies should focus on reducing their energy consumption through improved efficiency and switching to renewable energy sources. 

Scope 3 Emissions 
Scope 3 emissions come from all other activities related to the production of goods or services that are not included in scope 1 or 2 (such as employee commuting or waste disposal). Though these types of activities may seem small compared with direct fuel burning or energy usage in manufacturing processes, collectively they can have a major impact on your business’s total carbon footprint. Reducing scope 3 emissions requires taking a holistic view of all aspects of your business operations and looking for ways to reduce energy consumption wherever possible.  

For example, if you manufacture products using electricity-dependent machines like makerspaces or robots then tracking electricity usage will provide insights into when machines need maintenance and when their performance is inefficient - resulting in higher electricity usage than necessary - so you can optimize them accordingly. Furthermore, if employees drive long distances for work then consider if alternatives such as remote working could be beneficial for both sides!   

The  GHG Protocol corporate standard methodology provides a useful framework for businesses looking to understand their carbon footprint more clearly. By breaking down each type of emission into its component parts – direct fuel burning (scope 1), purchased electricity (scope 2), and other activities (scope 3) – businesses can gain valuable insights into where they need to focus their efforts in order to reduce their total emissions over time. Armed with this knowledge, businesses will be well-positioned to take meaningful steps towards reducing their environmental impact while also improving their bottom line!