Empowering businesses with essential carbon accounting insights
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions that occur from sources owned or controlled by your organization. These are emissions released directly into the atmosphere as a direct result of your business activities and represent the emissions over which you have the most control.
These emissions are under your direct control and typically represent the most straightforward category to measure and manage. They include all fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and fugitive emissions from equipment you own or operate. Companies have immediate influence over these emissions through operational changes and equipment upgrades.
Emissions from production facilities, furnaces, boilers, and chemical reactions
Cars, trucks, delivery vehicles, and machinery owned by company
Natural gas, diesel, coal, and other fuels burned on premises
Refrigerant leaks, methane emissions from equipment and facilities
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of purchased energy consumed by your organization. While you don't directly control these emissions, your energy consumption choices directly influence them.
These emissions occur at the power plant or energy generation facility, but are attributed to your organization because you purchased and consumed that energy. You can influence these emissions by choosing renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, or purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Electricity from the grid used for lighting, computers, and equipment
Steam purchased from external sources for heating or industrial processes
Chilled water or cooling services purchased from external providers
District heating or hot water purchased from external sources
Scope 3 emissions include all other indirect emissions that occur in your value chain, both upstream and downstream. These often represent the largest portion of a company's carbon footprint but are also the most challenging to measure and influence.
These emissions occur outside your direct operational control but are consequences of your business activities. While harder to influence directly, they offer the greatest potential for emission reductions and often represent 70-90% of a company's total carbon footprint.
Upstream and downstream logistics, third-party transportation
Emissions from manufacturing of purchased materials and services
Commuting, business travel, and remote work emissions
Disposal, recycling, and waste treatment of sold products
Emissions from customer use of your products throughout their lifetime
Emissions from investments, franchises, and joint ventures
Many jurisdictions now require scope-based emissions reporting. Understanding these categories ensures compliance with regulations like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and various national climate laws.
Different scopes require different reduction strategies. Scope 1 might involve equipment upgrades, Scope 2 renewable energy procurement, and Scope 3 supply chain engagement.
Investors, customers, and partners increasingly expect transparent, comprehensive emissions reporting across all scopes to demonstrate genuine commitment to climate action.
Understanding the scale and impact of different emission scopes
Let GAMASUSCO help you understand and reduce emissions across all three scopes with our AI-powered carbon accounting platform.
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