What activities should I be measuring?

Modified on Wed, 16 Oct at 11:30 AM

To determine which activities to measure for your carbon footprint, follow these key steps:

1. Get a basic understanding of what your organisation should be measuring

Different industries have unique operations and processes that contribute to their carbon footprint. Tailor your measurements to these specific activities for accuracy and relevance. Download our Data Helper Tool to get a baseline of what activities to measure.

Begin by understanding your Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) emissions, which are typically the easiest to measure because your organisation has control over them.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from activities your company owns or controls.

These include:

Fuel combustion: emissions from company-owned vehicles, like trucks or delivery vans. For instance, a food delivery company would track emissions from the fuel used in its fleet.
Refrigerant leaks: emissions from air conditioning or cooling systems. If your company operates a refrigerated warehouse, any refrigerant leaks would fall under Scope 1.
Chemical processes: emissions from production activities, such as emissions from chemicals used in manufacturing. A factory might emit gases during product production.

Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the energy your organisation buys and consumes, such as:

Electricity usage: emissions from power plants that provide electricity to your offices or production facilities. For example, a retail store would measure emissions from the electricity used for lighting.
Purchased steam, heat, or cooling: If you use district heating or cooling systems for your office or factory, the emissions from these external sources are counted in Scope 2.

2. Include Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur across your supply chain, both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (customers). These emissions can make up the bulk of your carbon footprint, depending on your industry.

For example, organisations in the manufacturing industry may focus on:

Chemicals: emissions from the use and disposal of chemicals.
Machinery and Equipment: energy consumption and emissions related to production equipment.
Construction Materials and Waste: emissions from materials used and waste generated.

Organisations in Retail may focus on:

Products: emissions from the raw materials and manufacturing of products.
Packaging: emissions from packaging production and disposal.
Product Transportation: emissions from the logistics of moving products
Waste Management: emissions from managing waste such as plastics, paper, and food.

Organisations in the Professional Services sector would focus on:

IT and Electronics: emissions from IT equipment and electronics.
Food and Drink: emissions from providing food and beverages for internal and external events or meetings.
Business Travel: emissions from travel for client meetings and events.
Purchased Goods and Services

When assessing Scope 3 emissions, you can work through the following list to ensure you are covering and measuring all relevant activities within your scope:

Activity	Scope 3 Category
Accessories	1. Purchased goods and services
Advertising	1. Purchased goods and services
Agriculture	1. Purchased goods and services
Apparel	1. Purchased goods and services
Biofuel	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Biogas	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Biomass	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Business Services	1. Purchased goods and services
Business Travel: Air	6. Business travel
Business Travel: Rail	6. Business travel
Business Travel: Road	6. Business travel
Business Travel: Sea	6. Business travel
Chemicals	1. Purchased goods and services
Computers	1. Purchased goods and services
Construction	1. Purchased goods and services
Digital Advertising	1. Purchased goods and services
Digital Network	1. Purchased goods and services
Digital Network Operator	11. Use of sold products
Digital: Web and Cloud Hosting	1. Purchased goods and services
Downstream leased assets: Buildings: Electricity	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Buildings: Gas	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Buildings: Refrigerant losses	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Buildings: Waste	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Buildings: Water	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Information technology	13. Downstream leased assets
Downstream leased assets: Vehicles	13. Downstream leased assets
Electrical items	1. Purchased goods and services
Electricity	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Employee Car Liquid Fuels	6. Business travel
Employee Commuting: Air	7. Employee commuting
Employee Commuting: Rail	7. Employee commuting
Employee Commuting: Road	7. Employee commuting
Employee Commuting: Sea	7. Employee commuting
End of Life of Sold Products	12. End-of-life treatment of sold products
Events	1. Purchased goods and services
Events: Accessories	1. Purchased goods and services
Events: Travel	6. Business Travel
Financed Emissions	15. Investments
Food and Drink	1. Purchased goods and services
Freight: Downstream	9. Downstream transportation and distribution
Freight: Owned vehicles	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Freight: Upstream: Third party	4. Upstream transportation and distribution
Furniture	1. Purchased goods and services
Gas	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Gaseous fuels	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Heat and Steam	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Home Working	7. Employee commuting
Hotel Stay	6. Business travel
Hygiene	1. Purchased goods and services
Industrial activities	1. Purchased goods and services
Information Technology: Hardware	1. Purchased goods and services
Information Technology: Services	1. Purchased goods and services
Information Technology: Software	1. Purchased goods and services
Liquid fuels	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Machinery	2. Capital goods
Manufacturing	1. Purchased goods and services
Materials	1. Purchased goods and services
Metal	1. Purchased goods and services
Mineral	1. Purchased goods and services
Packaging	1. Purchased goods and services
Paper	1. Purchased goods and services
Plastic	1. Purchased goods and services
Purchased capital goods	2. Capital goods
Real Estate	1. Purchased goods and services
Solid fuels	3. Upstream emissions from purchased fuel and energy
Supplier Electricity	1. Purchased goods and services
Supplier Gas	1. Purchased goods and services
Supplier Liquid Fuels	4. Upstream transportation and distribution
Supplier refrigerant	1. Purchased goods and services
Textiles	1. Purchased goods and services
Trips: Accommodation	1. Purchased goods and services
Trips: Flights excluded: Client flights to/from point of departure	11. Use of sold products
Trips: Flights included: Client flights to/from point of departure	1. Purchased goods and services
Trips: Food and Drink	1. Purchased goods and services
Trips: In-trip transport	1. Purchased goods and services
Trips: Packaging	1. Purchased goods and services
Upstream leased assets: Buildings: Electricity	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Buildings: Gas	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Buildings: Refrigerant losses	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Buildings: Waste	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Buildings: Water	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Information technology	8. Upstream leased assets
Upstream leased assets: Vehicles	8. Upstream leased assets
Use of Sold Products	11. Use of sold products
Use of Sold Products: Information Technology	11. Use of sold products
Vehicles	2. Capital goods
Waste construction	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste electrical items	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste glass	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste metal	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste paper	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste plastic	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste textiles	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste: Average	5. Waste generated in operations
Waste: Refuse	5. Waste generated in operations
Water	1. Purchased goods and services

3. Consider Stakeholder and Compliance Expectations

It’s important to align your measurements with what matters most to your stakeholders:

Regulatory Requirements: make sure to comply with any local or industry-specific regulations regarding carbon emissions reporting.
Investor and Consumer Expectations: many investors and consumers expect transparency on environmental impact, so measure activities that matter to them.
Benchmarking and Standards: Use established frameworks, like the GHG Protocol, to guide what to measure and ensure nothing is overlooked.

4. Assess Data Availability and Accuracy

Ensure you have reliable data for the activities you measure. Identify and address any gaps in your data, using estimates or industry averages if needed.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to focus on the right activities and get a clearer picture of your organisation’s carbon footprint.