Measure your carbon footprint
What measuring your carbon footprint involves
Measuring your carbon footprint means adding up the greenhouse gas emissions your organisation is responsible for and expressing them as a single, comparable figure: tonnes of CO2e. We follow the GHG Protocol, the international standard for corporate carbon accounting, and split your emissions into Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3. The result is a baseline year you can measure everything else against.
Scope 1, 2 and 3, and why the baseline matters
Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources you own or control, such as gas heating, on-site processes and company vehicles. Scope 2 covers the emissions created generating the electricity, heat or steam you buy. Scope 3 is everything else in your value chain, from purchased goods and business travel to the use of the products you sell, grouped into fifteen defined categories.
For most organisations Scope 3 is by far the largest share, and the hardest to pin down. We start with the data you already hold, energy bills, fuel and mileage records, waste and spend, and apply the UK Government (DESNZ) emission factors that are updated every June. Where activity data is missing, we use recognised factors to produce a defensible estimate and flag it clearly.
Measuring first gives you a baseline: a like-for-like reference point. Without it, reduction targets are guesswork and any public claim is hard to defend. A robust footprint is also the foundation of formal carbon reporting, whether for SECR, a tender or a customer request.
A one-off measurement is where our full carbon reporting service begins. If you are not sure where measuring fits into the wider picture, our sustainability consultancy hub sets out the whole journey, and the natural next step is to reduce your emissions.
What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
Scope 1 is direct emissions from sources you own or control, such as gas heating and company vehicles. Scope 2 is the emissions created generating the electricity, heat or steam you buy. Scope 3 covers everything else in your value chain, from purchased goods and business travel to the use of the products you sell, grouped into fifteen defined categories.
Why measure a baseline before doing anything else?
You can't manage what you haven't measured. A baseline year gives you a like-for-like reference point, so every future reduction, target and public claim can be judged against real numbers rather than guesswork.
What data do you need from us?
Mostly things you already hold: energy bills, fuel and mileage records, waste and water data, and spend or supplier information for Scope 3. We help you gather what is missing and fill any gaps with recognised emission factors.
Which standard and emission factors do you use?
We follow the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and apply the UK Government (DESNZ) conversion factors, which are refreshed every June. Using the correct year of factors keeps your footprint accurate and comparable over time.
Ready to measure your footprint?
Get an accurate Scope 1, 2 and 3 baseline you can build a credible plan on. Tell us a little about your organisation and we will explain exactly what is involved.
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