Businesses sort the different emissions they produce into three scopes. This makes it easier for them to work out where their emissions are coming from and how to reduce them. ‘Burn, buy and beyond’ is a good way of remembering the scopes.
Scope 1: These are emissions from sources a business controls or owns. They are released into the environment through a company’s activities. If it’s burned by the business, it’s Scope 1.
Scope 2: Businesses need electricity to function — they get this from a utility provider. Because they don’t generate the electricity themselves, it’s not seen as a direct carbon emission. If it’s bought by the business, it’s Scope 2.
Scope 3: These come from sources outside of a company’s control or ownership. They can be found either ‘upstream’ or ‘downstream’ of the company. Upstream being emissions created from the production of a service or product, while downstream emissions come from the product’s use or disposal. If it’s beyond the business’s control, it’s Scope 3.