What data is required for a corporate carbon footprint and ESG reporting?
To compile a complete corporate carbon footprint in accordance with the GHG Protocol, SMEs primarily require energy bills (electricity and gas), fuel receipts for company vehicles, and data on business travel. Most of this information can already be found within accounting departments or obtained from energy suppliers. ESG Lift guides you through an accurate checklist to automate your emission calculations for streamlined ESG reporting.
Data Checklist for Your Carbon Footprint
Scope 1 – Direct Emissions:
• Gas consumption (m³ or kWh from gas invoice)
• Heating oil consumption (litres)
• Fuel consumption of company vehicles (litres of diesel/petrol/CNG)
• Refrigerant quantities (from air conditioning maintenance logs, optional)
Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions (Electricity and Heat):
• Total electricity consumption (kWh from annual utility bill)
• District heating (kWh or MWh from utility bill, if applicable)
• Proof of electricity origin (green electricity certificate, optional)
Scope 3 – Supply Chain (Material Categories for ESG Reporting):
• Business travel (flight kilometres, rail kilometres, hotel stays)
• Employee commuting (optional, typical data per employee)
• Waste volumes by category (kg, from waste disposal invoices)
Where can I find this sustainability data within the company?
• Energy bills: Accounting department or directly from the utility provider as an annual statement
• Fuel: Fuel cards, booking receipts, or vehicle logbooks
• Travel expenses: Travel expense claims from the finance department
• Waste: Invoices from waste management providers
What should I do if certain data is missing?
ESG Lift enables the use of industry averages and estimations for data points that are not precisely available. The VSME standard permits this under specific conditions. VSME Assist provides guidance on quality requirements and outlines when estimations are permissible for compliant ESG reporting.
Carbon footprint data for SMEs: A comprehensive checklist of all required information for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and where to locate them within your organisation for robust ESG reporting.