Measuring our carbon emissions starts by first categorising them. We do this by separating them out into three globally recognised Scopes. For ease, they are known as Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 or Burn, Buy and Beyond!
Scope 1 emissions - BURN
Scope 1 includes all of an organisation's direct emissions - the emissions an organisation makes or creates directly. For example, the emissions from running a company car.
Scope 2 emissions - BUY
Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions - the energy an organisation purchases from a 3rd party energy supplier to power the lights, heating or cooling for their buildings.
Scope 3 emissions - BEYOND
These are the indirect emissions associated with an organisation's up and downstream operations but not produced by the company itself. Scope 3 includes all sources not already within Scope 1 and 2, and as a result, is usually the largest scope and the most complicated to measure! We look at all the emissions associated with buying products from suppliers and beyond. If you don't burn it or buy it, then it gets categorised into Scope 3.
Some examples of Scope 3 and "Beyond" would be:
• Business travel (e.g., flights)
• Employees commuting to and from their place of work
• Waste generated and waste disposal
• Purchased goods and services
• Transportation and distribution - both suppliers and customers
• Capital goods, investments, and franchises
• Leased assets
• Emissions from the use of a product or service sold
• Product’s end of life (how it's disposed of when it’s no longer useful)
The journey to carbon neutrality starts with Measuring your carbon footprint and that's where our Carbon Audit can help. Let us do the hard work and categorise your Scopes for you! Get in touch to arrange a no-obligation call, today.
Drop us an email hello@carbonnow.co.uk