08 Oct 2021

Scope emissions explained

Knowing where your company’s emissions are made is an important step in setting robust and measurable targets. We explain Scope emissions and how to define them.

What emissions are my company responsible for?

The far-reaching impacts of corporate activity mean that companies influence a wide range of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting activities across their value chain, many of which are not obviously related to a company’s primary business.

To help companies define the boundaries of the greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for, the World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas Protocol has defined three categories: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. The GHG Protocol categorises emissions based on how directly they relate to a company’s activities. The Scopes also reflect how much control a company has over certain types of emissions.

Scope 1

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company. This includes emissions from company-owned or operated facilities and vehicles.

Scope 2

Scope 2 covers emissions from the generation of electricity purchased by the company.

Scope 3

Scope 3 refers to all other indirect emissions within a company’s value chain. Despite being less directly related to a company’s main activity, these emissions can make up a significant portion of a company’s impact on the climate. Scope 3 can be broadly grouped into two categories:

Upstream emissions from activities involved in the creation of a company’s services or goods. This includes emissions from employee travel and commuting to work, and emissions in the supply chain from the production of purchased goods and services the company uses or sells.

Downstream emissions occur from the distribution or use of a company’s goods including the disposal of products. If a product indirectly consumes energy during use, for example because it needs to be heated by another appliance, including these emissions in Scope 3 is optional.

To illustrate these different Scopes, here is an example for a fictional coffee manufacturer:

Understanding and tracking Scope emissions

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