Carbon emissions are responsible for 81% of overall GHG emissions, and businesses are responsible for a lot of it. Fashion businesses must monitor and report their CO2 emissions, which is the key first step in reducing them. To do so, companies must classify their carbon footprint in three scopes.
"Companies that persist in treating climate change solely as a corporate social responsibility issue, rather than a business problem, will risk the greatest consequences."
-Michael E. Porter
Explained: Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
According to the leading GHG Protocol corporate standard, a company’s greenhouse gas emissions are classified into three scopes. Scope 1 and 2 are mandatory to report, whereas scope 3 is voluntary and the hardest to monitor. However, companies succeeding in reporting all three scopes will gain a sustainable competitive advantage.
Source: Scheme 1,2,3 scope emissions- Plan A based on GHG protocol
Scope 1: direct emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from company-owned and controlled resources. It is divided into four categories:
> Stationary combustion (e.g fuels, heating sources). All fuels that produce GHG emissions must be included in scope 1.
> Mobile combustion is all vehicles owned or controlled by a firm, burning fuel (e.g. cars, vans, trucks). The increasing use of “electric” vehicles (EVs), means that some of the organization fleets could fall into Scope 2 emissions.
> Fugitive emissions are leaks from greenhouse gases (e.g. refrigeration, air conditioning units). It is important to note that refrigerant gases are a thousand times more dangerous than CO2 emissions. Companies are encouraged to report these emissions.
>Process emissions are released during industrial processes, and on-site manufacturing (e.g. production of CO2 during manufacturing textile)
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