Carbon Footprint
Step one - Beginner
Measuring your Carbon Footprint can seem like a daunting task. There’s a lot of new language to learn, and there are worries about the accuracy of the data that you can produce. Below, you’ll find a guide on how to start measuring your carbon footprint by getting to grips with Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
Useful Terminology
Carbon Footprint -this is a measurement of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and is represented as a CO2e figure. The gases included in this measurement are; Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and fluorinated gases.
Emission Scopes - categorise the sources of emissions into 3 different scopes to help identify where emissions are coming from with your business operations.
Baseline year – refers to the specific period that you choose as a reference point to measure and compare your emissions from. This is the benchmark for assessing future emissions reductions, setting your targets and tracking your progress over time.
Understanding Emission Scopes
Scopes help sort out where different sources of emissions exist within your business. They are divided into 3 groups; Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3. Scopes 1 & 2 are typically easier to define. Scope 3 is a much larger topic, we’ll cover that in more detail further on.
- SCOPE 1 – These are termed ‘direct emissions’ and are usually the ones you have the most control of in your business. It includes anything that you own, control and have influence over; e.g. company vehicles, heating oil and gas, fuel for powering equipment.
- SCOPE 2 – These are termed ‘indirect emissions’ as it covers emissions through purchased energy sources. You might own the equipment that the energy will power, but it will not usually generate its own emissions. E.g. electricity, heating and cooling.
- SCOPE 3 – These are also termed ‘indirect emissions’ but they are associated with non-owned/controlled sources. These emissions fall within your upstream and downstream supply chains, and other activities associated with your business operations. Scope 3 emissions typically account for 90% of your emissions and cover areas such as: employee commuting, waste disposal and distribution.
Choosing a baseline year
Your baseline year is used as the benchmark for your future emissions targets, reductions and progress to be measured against. Ideally, your baseline year should:
- Be within the last 5 years.
- Be representative of a typical year in your business, where possible.
- Provide robust data with accurate figures.
In some instances, you may choose to amend your baseline year if significant changes happen to your business. When measuring and reporting your carbon footprint, it is important to reference your chosen baseline year; e.g. By 2030, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint by 30% from our baseline year calculations.
Choose what to include or exclude
You may not have access to all of the data you need. Make a note of what you can account for, as well as what you have chosen to exclude. This is particularly important when it comes to sharing or reporting your final carbon footprint figure for transparency.
Gathering data
Typically, the easiest data you can collect falls under your Scope 1 & 2 emission sources. This includes emissions you burn directly (Scope 1) and from items you use through indirect emissions (Scope 2). Use the template below to help you gather your energy usage data.
Carbon Footprint Calculators
There are several free online calculators available to help you calculate your footprint. These will provide you with a useful baseline figure against which you can begin to quantify your carbon footprint. See the list below for some recommendations:
- Carbon Trust – SME Carbon Footprint Calculator
- SME Climate Hub – Emissions measurement tool
- SSE Carbon Footprint Calculator for UK businesses
If you are looking to develop an accurate picture of your carbon footprint, you can create your own carbon footprint calculator, using the UK Government Conversion Factors for Greenhouse Gas reporting data, produced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Select the relevant conversion factor publication for your chosen baseline year, and begin entering your data and information.
Alternatively, you can opt to use a paid service. Many platforms offer useful services that can link your accounting software and emissions data together. This is often preferred by larger organisations who may be required to report on their carbon footprint data.