Scope 1, 2, and 3 – briefly explained

Published on: 24. October 2025

These terms come from the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol and help categorize greenhouse gas emissions:

  • Scope 1: Direct emissions – e.g., from burning fossil fuels within the company.
  • Scope 2: Indirect emissions – from the production of purchased energy like electricity or district heating.
  • Scope 3: Other indirect emissions – e.g., from supply chains, business travel, product use or disposal. Scope 3 emissions are divided into 15 categories and classified into upstream and downstream areas.

Each scope highlights a different part of the value chain – essential for transparent sustainability communication.