Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions that occur from sources owned or controlled by a company. They represent the most straightforward category of emissions to measure and are mandatory under virtually all carbon reporting frameworks.
Common sources of Scope 1 emissions include:
- Stationary combustion: Burning fossil fuels in boilers, furnaces, or generators on company premises
- Mobile combustion: Fuel used by company-owned vehicles (cars, trucks, aircraft)
- Process emissions: Chemicals released during industrial processes (e.g., cement production, refrigerant leaks)
- Fugitive emissions: Unintentional releases from equipment such as HVAC systems or gas pipelines
Under the GHG Protocol, Scope 1 emissions must be calculated using either activity data (e.g., litres of fuel consumed × emission factor) or direct measurement from continuous emissions monitoring systems.
For CSRD reporting, Scope 1 emissions are disclosed under ESRS E1 and must be reported in metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), covering all seven greenhouse gases defined by the Kyoto Protocol.
Scope 1 typically represents a smaller share of total emissions for service-based companies but can be the dominant category for manufacturing, energy, and transport businesses. Reducing Scope 1 emissions often involves electrification of fleet vehicles, switching to renewable energy sources, and improving operational efficiency.
Dcycle’s automated data collection simplifies Scope 1 measurement by connecting directly to utility and fleet management systems.
