A 2025 Guide to Understanding Carbon Emissions and Their Scopes
The climate crisis and tightening carbon regulations across international markets, accounting for your emissions Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3, is imperative. Whether you’re a
sustainability-driven startup or a corporation working toward compliance with ESG standards or a net-zero multinational, it is crucial to comprehend what these scopes refer to.
At Planetary Plus, we have made it our mission to support organizations in simplifying carbon accounting. This guide breaks down the emission scopes into simple, actionable insights for you to report properly, build trust, and act on climate with a sure footing.
Carbon Scopes
Carbon emissions are grouped into three scopes to help businesses track where their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are coming from. These scopes are defined by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the most widely used international standard.
Scope 1 – Direct Emissions
These are emissions that come directly from your company activities things you own or control. Examples like Fuel burned in company-owned vehicles, Emissions from manufacturing equipment, On-site boilers or generators
Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions from Energy
These are emissions from the electricity, heating, or cooling you buy for your operations. You don’t produce them yourself, but you use the energy that does Examples like Electricity used in your office or factory, Purchased steam or heating systems
Scope 3 – Other Indirect Emissions (The Big One)
These are all the other emissions in your value chain that come from sources you don’t own or control, but still influence Examples like Emissions from suppliers making your raw materials, Business travel (flights, hotel stays),Employee commuting, Product use by your customers, Waste disposal and end-of-life treatment
Why Do These Scopes Matter
Understanding and measuring your Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions is key to credible climate action.
- Helps meet ESG and regulatory requirements
- Uncovers inefficiencies in operations or supply chains
- Enables cost-saving strategies and better resource use
- Builds trust with customers, investors, and stakeholders
- Supports science-based targets and net-zero goals
In 2025 and beyond, more regulators (like the EU’s CSRD and India’s BRSR Core) require detailed carbon disclosures. Without understanding your emissions scopes, it’s hard to compete.
Framework to Understand and Track Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions
1. Understand the Three Scopes
Before you begin tracking, learn what each scope
2. Set Your Reporting Boundaries
Decide if you’re calculating emissions for the whole company or a single product. Use GHG Protocol guidelines to define which operations and activities will be included.
3. Collect the Right Data
Start gathering information from: Electricity bills, Fuel usage logs, Employee travel records, Supplier emissions data Then, convert this information into GHG emissions using standard emission factors from trusted sources (e.g., IPCC or national databases).
4. Use Smart Tools
In 2025, there are many tools to make this process easier:
- Platforms like Spherics, Sweep, and Watershed (great for medium to large companies)
- Excel templates (good for smaller businesses)
- IoT integrations or APIs that track energy use and link with company systems automatically
5. Review and Validate
Have your data double-checked internally or by a third party. This makes your numbers credible for ESG reports, stakeholders, and regulatory audits.
6. Report and Take Action
Use your findings to Write sustainability or ESG reports, Share progress with teams and investors, Improve processes like choosing greener suppliers or reducing travel emissions.
🌍 Getting Started with Planetary Plus
If you’re just starting your GHG tracking journey, or want to better handle Scope 3, Planetary Plus is here to help with:
- Carbon accounting and reporting
- Scope 1-2-3 emissions breakdown
- Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)
- ESG-aligned reporting
- Climate education for internal teams
Let’s build a low-carbon future starting with better data. Need help?
Visit: www.planetaryplus.com