» Resources » What’s the difference between scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions? Energy & Carbon What’s the difference between scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions? In order for organisations to reach their net zero targets, a carbon strategy should be at the forefront of their minds. As part of that carbon strategy, it’s crucial that organisations, both SMEs and global corporates, are accurately measuring and managing their carbon emissions. For organisations to be able to measure their carbon footprint, they need to be able to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions that they’re responsible for. To do this, organisations must collect their operational data and use official multipliers (known as conversion factors) to translate those into carbon emissions. Organisations should, at minimum, cover their carbon scope 1 and 2 emissions, and also include their scope 3 emissions data where possible. It can be confusing at first to keep track of which emissions belong to which scope, so allow us to help and explain: Scope 1 emissions correspond to the direct emissions you have produced from owned and controlled sources. For example, if your organisation has a vehicle fleet, any diesel or petrol consumed by those vehicles generates emissions that come out of the exhaust pipes. Those are therefore emissions that the organisation is directly generating and responsible for. Scope 2 emissions are defined as indirect emissions from the consumption of electricity, steam, heating and cooling. Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions. This can range from the carbon embodied in the materials you purchase through to emissions associated with the processing of the waste you have generated. For most organisations, scope 3 emissions will be the largest contributor to their footprint. Need a measurement tool for tracking your organisations’ carbon emissions? Register for a free Carbon Calculator account. Need help developing a carbon strategy for your organisation? Get in touch! Charles Naud Head of Product Apr 1, 2022 Share: Related Articles April 2025 Blog From Buzzword to Backbone: Making the Business Case for AI in Responsible Procurement Vaishali Baid April 2025 Blog From Buzzword to Backbone: Making the Business Case for AI in Responsible Procurement AI is no longer just a shiny tech buzzword. AI is everywhere now within organisations and is taking a priority to reshape business operations, and procurement is not left behind. It’s right in the thick of this transformation. But when it comes to responsible procurement, AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency, it has the […] Keagan Allin April 2025 Blog Extended Producer Responsibility Explained: Who’s Affected and What to Do Lucy Picken April 2025 Blog Extended Producer Responsibility Explained: Who’s Affected and What to Do Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) is one of a number of policies being introduced in the UK. The Environment Act 2021 introduced EPR, as it contains a framework for introducing the scheme, which builds on existing waste laws, and gives producers of packaging more responsibility for the cost of managing products. What is EPR and why […] Keagan Allin April 2025 Blog Earth Day 2025 Action Sustainability Staff April 2025 Blog Earth Day 2025 Earth Day, marked every year on 22 April, is a global reminder of the importance of environmental protection and collective action. It encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to reflect on their impact and take practical steps towards a more sustainable future. This year’s theme for Earth Day is “our power, our planet”, with a specific […] Keagan Allin