Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard categorizes greenhouse gas emissions associated with a company’s carbon footprint as Scope 1, 2 and 3.
What is the GHG Protocol?
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) is an international program that provides guidelines for measuring, reporting and comparing greenhouse gas emissions. The WRI has been organizing this since 1998 in order to create consistency across companies' activities with regards on how they are reducing or mitigating these effects by different means such as recycling materials more efficiently; developing new products without using certain types of energy sources like coal etc.; implementing changes at home/office infrastructure so you don't burned out your lights every night when switching them off!
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard categorizes greenhouse gas emissions associated with a company’s carbon footprint as Scope 1, 2 and 3.
What are Scope 1 Emissions?
The first category includes direct releases from the organization's own sources such as energy use in machinery or manufacturing processes that occur on site at their facilities - this would include things like natural gas consumption for heating purposes along with refrigerants used throughout buildings which emit chemicals into our air when they break down over time etcetera, but also combustion fumes coming out of boilers/furnaces during operations where we burn neat oil.
Scope 1 emissions are emissions that come from the company's own sources, such as energy use, vehicles, and industrial processes.
What are Scope 2 Emissions?
Scope 2 emissions are those that a company causes when the energy it purchases and uses is produced. For example, for our electric fleet vehicles we include in this category electricity generated by power plants as well as natural gas combustion during engine operation because they both result from purchased or acquired fuels being used at some point after production (in case there was no other use). You can usually calculate these stats based on your consumption outlined within an account statement.
What are Scope 3 Emissions?
Scope 3 emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly impacts in its value chain.
Depending on the source, scope 3 emissions can be quantified using either primary data specific to the activity within a company’s value chain, or by using secondary data such as industry averages.
Examples of scope 3 emissions include:
- Business travel
- Employee commuting
- Waste generated by employees
- Use of company products and services
Scope 3 emissions are often the most difficult to quantify as they require data collection from a variety of sources. However, understanding and quantifying these emissions is essential for developing an accurate picture of a company’s overall impact on the environment.
Reporting and reducing your carbon output is essential to mitigating climate change. CECO offers products and services to help you measure and offset your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Request access today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your sustainability goals.
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