A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gases caused directly or indirectly by your business activities — from office electricity to delivery van fuel, supplier emissions to waste disposal. All emissions are measured in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions): Company vehicles burning fuel, gas boilers in your buildings, manufacturing processes you control.
Scope 2 (Indirect Energy): Electricity you buy for offices, heating from district systems, cooling systems using purchased energy.
Scope 3 (Everything Else): Supplier emissions from goods you buy, inbound and outbound distribution, employee travel and commuting, waste disposal. Most businesses find Scope 3 makes up 70-90% of their total footprint.
UK public procurement now requires carbon reduction plans for contracts over £5 million (PPN 06/21). SECR regulations mandate reporting for large companies. Net zero roadmaps are becoming standard. Beyond compliance, measuring your footprint reveals operational inefficiencies — many businesses save 10-20% on operating costs through better carbon management.
The process involves: gathering 12 months of energy bills, fuel records, and travel data; applying DEFRA emission factors to convert activity data into CO₂e; calculating totals by scope following the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard; and producing a detailed report with emission breakdowns and intensity metrics.
A carbon footprint is the measurement. A Carbon Reduction Plan (required under PPN 06/21) goes further — it includes your baseline emissions, a Net Zero 2050 commitment, and specific reduction measures. You need a carbon footprint before you can create a reduction plan.
The total greenhouse gases a business produces from energy, transport, and supply chain activities, measured in CO₂e.
By collecting 12 months of energy, fuel, and travel data, applying DEFRA emission factors, and calculating totals across Scope 1, 2, and 3 following the GHG Protocol.
Scope 1: direct emissions from vehicles and facilities. Scope 2: purchased electricity. Scope 3: supply chain, travel, waste — typically 70-90% of total footprint.