SB 253 compliance in 2026. Others: +$25,000 · Our offer: free

In 2026, SB 253 only requires Scope 1 and 2. That is fully automatable. We cover it at no cost so you meet your CARB deadline without a five-figure invoice.

  • Free Scope 1 and 2 compliance for your 2026 CARB deadline.
  • Scope 3 is not required until 2027. You have time to plan it right.
  • Audit-ready report with third-party verifier support, included.
  • Add Scope 3 for 2027 with no migration, no new contract.

Security and compliance documentation available at security.dcycle.io.

Get your free SB 253 assessment

Vertrouwd door meer dan 2.000 Europese bedrijven, van mkb tot multinational

ABB
Ajinomoto
Eiffage
HP
KLN
Pepe Jeans
Sabadell
Valeo
Pricing reality check

What competitors charge vs. what Dcycle charges

Most ESG platforms treat Scope 1 and 2 as a paid add-on. Dcycle includes it free because SB 253 compliance in 2026 should not cost $25,000.

CapabilityOther ESG platformsDcycle
SB 253 Scope 1 and 2 (2026) Up to $25,000 Free
Audit-ready GHG report Extra fee Included
Third-party verifier support Billed separately Included
Scope 3 (all 15 categories, 2027) New contract Seamless upgrade
Limited offer: Q2 2026

Start Scope 1 and 2 free. Lock in Scope 3 pricing now.

Sign a 2027 Scope 3 contract before June 30, 2026 and Dcycle covers your full 2026 Scope 1 and 2 reporting at no added cost. Two years of coverage. You only pay for Scope 3.

Get your free SB 253 assessment

In 2026, SB 253 only requires Scope 1 and 2. Start there.

The 2026 deadline is specific: companies must disclose direct emissions (Scope 1) and purchased energy (Scope 2). Scope 3, the complex value chain emissions across 15 categories, is not required until 2027. Dcycle covers your full Scope 1 and 2 calculation, GHG Protocol-aligned, with verified factors from DEFRA, ecoinvent and ADEME. Audit-ready from day one, at no cost.

Multi-Framework Reporting
One data point → Every framework
6 Active2 Pending
CSRDCSRD / ESRS
87%
142/163 datapoints
GHGGHG Protocol
94%
Scope 1, 2 & 3
ISO 14064ISO 14064
91%
All categories
EcoVadisEcoVadis
78%
Environment theme
CDPCDP
62%
Climate Change
EINFEINF
55%
5 pillars

Your competitors are paying $25,000 for something you can get free

Most ESG platforms charge $25,000 or more just to produce a Scope 1 and 2 disclosure under SB 253. Dcycle includes it at no cost because we believe the barrier to compliance should be zero. You connect your data sources, we calculate and generate the CARB-ready report. No consultants, no manual spreadsheets, no surprise invoices.

Data Reuse Map
One data point feeds multiple frameworks automatically
Electricity Bill
45,320 kWh · Q1 2026
GHG · Scope 2CSRD · ESRS E1ISO 14064EcoVadis
Fleet Diesel
8,400 L · Jan 2026
GHG · Scope 1CSRD · ESRS E1ISO 14064
Business Travel
12 trips · Q1 2026
GHG · Scope 3CSRD · ESRS E1CDP · C6

When Scope 3 comes due in 2027, you are already set up

Starting with Dcycle for free Scope 1 and 2 in 2026 means your data infrastructure, emission factors and team workflows are already in place for 2027. Adding Scope 3 is a seamless upgrade, not a new platform migration. All 15 categories, supplier engagement, spend-based calculation and audit trail included.

Report Generator
Audit-ready reports for any framework
CSRD
CSRD Report — FY2025
XBRL tagged · 163 datapoints · Full traceability
Ready
GHG Protocol
Carbon Footprint — GHG Protocol
Scope 1, 2, 3 · PDF export · Verified EFs
Ready
ISO 14064
ISO 14064 Verification
All categories · Audit trail attached
Ready
EcoVadis
EcoVadis Questionnaire
Environment section · 78% pre-filled
In progress

What Dcycle covers for California SB 253

01

Scope 1 and 2, free in 2026

Direct and purchased-energy emissions, fully calculated and audit-ready. No cost for the 2026 SB 253 requirement.

02

GHG Protocol-aligned calculation

Verified emission factors from DEFRA, ecoinvent, ADEME and EPA. Always current.

03

CARB-ready audit trail

Every data point with source document, emission factor applied and approval chain. Your verifier gets a clean report the first time.

04

Scope 3 upgrade for 2027

All 15 categories, supplier engagement and spend-based calculation. Seamless from your existing Scope 1 and 2 setup.

05

AI-ready emissions data

Once your Scope 1 and 2 data is in Dcycle, you can query it in plain language through any AI assistant (ChatGPT, Copilot, or Claude) via Dcycle's MCP Server. The only ESG platform that connects directly to the AI tools your team already uses.

Find out where you stand on California SB 253 compliance. Book a free 30-minute assessment.

Get your free SB 253 assessment

Who this applies to

Companies with over $1B revenue doing business in California

SB 253 requires annual GHG disclosure regardless of where you are incorporated. If you operate in California and your revenue exceeds $1 billion, 2026 is your first deadline for Scope 1 and 2.

Sustainability teams that cannot justify a $25,000 compliance bill

Scope 1 and 2 in 2026 is a defined, automatable task. There is no reason it should cost $25,000. Dcycle covers it free so your budget goes toward the harder Scope 3 work in 2027.

Companies already thinking about 2027 Scope 3

Starting with Dcycle for free Scope 1 and 2 means your data infrastructure is ready when Scope 3 is due. No migration, no duplication. One platform, both years.

SB 261

Also subject to SB 261?

California SB 261 requires companies with over $500 million in annual revenue doing business in California to disclose climate-related financial risks annually. Companies with over $1 billion in revenue are likely subject to both laws. Dcycle covers both disclosure requirements on a single platform.

Speak with an expert about SB 261

Transparent pricing for California SB 253

Scope 1 and 2 for 2026: free. No hidden costs, no per-user fees, no surprise invoices. Scope 3 for 2027 is a paid upgrade. Most companies find the combined cost is still a fraction of what other platforms charge for Scope 1 and 2 alone.

In 30 minutes we show you what free Scope 1 and 2 compliance looks like with your real data.

Get your free SB 253 assessment

You get a dedicated expert from day one

A Dcycle specialist sets up your Scope 1 and 2 calculation, configures your emission factors, migrates historical data and supports your third-party verification process. Real implementation, not a generic onboarding call.

Luis Cecilia Dani Cris Anita Ana Liza Marina

Your team at Dcycle, always available

What California SB 253 actually requires, year by year

2026: Scope 1 and 2

Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased electricity and heat (Scope 2). This is the 2026 deadline. Dcycle covers this free.

2027: Scope 3

Value chain emissions across all 15 GHG Protocol categories: upstream supply chain, business travel, product use and end-of-life. This is the 2027 requirement. Dcycle covers this as a paid upgrade.

Both years: third-party verification

CARB requires independent assurance from day one. Dcycle generates structured, traceable reports designed to pass verification on the first submission.

How to get compliant with California SB 253 in 2026

01

Connect your Scope 1 and 2 data sources

Utility bills, fuel invoices, fleet data, refrigerant logs. 50+ native integrations or file upload. Dcycle maps each source to the right emission factor automatically.

02

Review your calculated inventory

Dcycle applies GHG Protocol-aligned factors and produces your Scope 1 and 2 inventory in real time. You see the numbers, the sources and the methodology.

03

Get your report verified

Share your Dcycle audit trail with your chosen third-party verifier. Every data point is traceable to its source. Most clients pass on the first submission.

04

File with CARB and plan for Scope 3

Submit your 2026 disclosure and start planning your Scope 3 coverage for 2027. Your data infrastructure is already in place.

CARB enforcement

CARB can impose administrative penalties of up to $500,000 per year for missing the deadline, submitting incomplete data, or failing to obtain third-party verification.

Frequently asked questions about California SB 253

What does California SB 253 require in 2026?

In 2026, SB 253 requires companies with over $1 billion in annual revenue doing business in California to disclose Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (purchased energy) greenhouse gas emissions, independently verified by a third party. Scope 3 is not required until 2027.

Why is Dcycle offering free Scope 1 and 2 compliance?

Scope 1 and 2 calculation is automatable with the right data connections. Dcycle covers it at no cost because we believe the barrier to SB 253 compliance should be zero. The business model is the 2027 Scope 3 upgrade, not a $25,000 charge for a task that software should handle automatically.

What is the difference between Scope 1, 2 and Scope 3 under SB 253?

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from sources your company owns or controls. Scope 2 covers emissions from purchased electricity and heat. Scope 3 covers all indirect value chain emissions across 15 categories, including supplier purchases, business travel and product use. SB 253 requires Scope 1 and 2 by January 2026 and Scope 3 by January 2027.

Who must comply with California SB 253?

Any public or private company with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion that does business in California, regardless of where it is incorporated or headquartered. This includes foreign companies with California operations.

Does SB 253 require third-party verification?

Yes. Both Scope 1 and 2 disclosures require independent third-party verification from the first year. Dcycle generates structured, traceable reports designed to pass on the first submission.

What happens if we do not comply with SB 253?

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) can impose administrative penalties of up to $500,000 per year. Penalties apply for missing the deadline, submitting incomplete data and failing to obtain required third-party verification.

How does Dcycle handle the Scope 3 upgrade for 2027?

When you are ready to add Scope 3, Dcycle covers all 15 GHG Protocol categories: purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy, upstream transport, waste, business travel, employee commuting, leased assets, downstream transport, processing, use and end-of-life of sold products, franchises and investments. Your existing Scope 1 and 2 setup, data sources and team workflows carry over with no migration.

What is the difference between California SB 253 and SB 261?

SB 253 requires annual GHG emissions disclosure for companies with over $1 billion in revenue doing business in California. SB 261 requires climate-related financial risk disclosures for companies with over $500 million in revenue. Both laws were signed in 2023. A company with over $1 billion in revenue may need to comply with both.

Get your free SB 253 assessment

Get your free SB 253 assessment