Demystifying Carbon Scopes: What You Need to Know
Your 2025 Roadmap to Carbon Emissions & Scopes: From Basics to Action
As the climate crisis deepens and carbon regulations tighten across global markets, understanding and reporting your emissions—Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3—is no longer optional. Whether you’re a purpose-driven startup or a multinational navigating ESG compliance, knowing where your emissions come from is essential to building trust and driving real climate impact.
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 Explained
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 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. Example: 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.
Example: Electricity used in your office or factory, Purchased steam or heating systems
Scope 3 – Other Indirect Emissions
These are all the other emissions in your value chain that come from sources you don’t own or control, but still influence.
Example: Emissions from suppliers making your raw materials, Business travel (flights, hotel stays), Employee commuting, Product use by your customers
Carbon Scopes: The Climate Metric That Could Make or Break Your Net-Zero Plan
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 stakeholder
- 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.
A Simple Framework to Track and Act on Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions
1. Understand the Three Scopes
2. Set Your Reporting Boundaries
3. Collect the Right Data
4. Use Smart Tools
Thankfully, tracking emissions in 2025 is easier than ever, thanks to powerful tools:
- 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. Reach out to Planetary Plus today for a free GHG audit (offer available only for a limited period).
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.
Your Next Steps with Planetary Plus — Let’s Make an Impact Together
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
Together, we can build a low-carbon future — starting with better data and smarter action.