What are Scope 1 emissions?
Scope 1 emissions encompass all direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating from sources owned or controlled by the company itself. This includes the fuel consumption of company fleets, heating oil and gas combustion in corporate buildings, and emissions from internal manufacturing and operational processes. Within the VSME framework, Scope 1 disclosure is a mandatory data point in the basic module for robust ESG reporting.
What is Included in Scope 1 Emissions?
Scope 1 emissions encompass all direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources that are directly owned or controlled by the company:
• Stationary Combustion: Gas, oil, or coal heating systems in company-owned buildings
• Mobile Combustion: Diesel, petrol, or natural gas used in company vehicles
• Process Emissions: CO₂ and other gases released during production processes
• Fugitive Emissions: Refrigerant leaks from cooling systems or air conditioning units
Which Greenhouse Gases are Part of Scope 1?
Scope 1 emissions cover all 7 greenhouse gases defined by the Kyoto Protocol, reported as CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e):
• CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)
• CH₄ (Methane)
• N₂O (Nitrous Oxide)
• HFCs, PFCs, SF₆, NF₃
How Do You Calculate Scope 1 Emissions?
The calculation is based on emission factors: activity data (e.g. litres of diesel, kWh of gas) multiplied by the corresponding emission factor yields the total CO₂e. ESG Lift automatically calculates Scope 1 emissions within its hybrid CO₂ calculator, leveraging your consumption data and the latest emission factors to streamline your ESG reporting.
What Do I Need for Scope 1 Data Collection?
To calculate Scope 1 emissions, SMEs require:
• Gas bills from the past financial year (in kWh or m³)
• Heating oil consumption in litres
• Fuel consumption of company fleets (litres of diesel/petrol)
• Optional: Refrigerant top-up quantities from maintenance records
Scope 1 emissions explained: What direct greenhouse gas emissions are, which sources they include, and how SMEs calculate them for their VSME report.