An emission profile is a detailed breakdown of the greenhouse gas emissions your business generates through its operations. It identifies the sources of emissions—such as energy use, fuel, waste, and travel—and categorizes them to understand your environmental impact. Developing an emission profile involves more than listing sources; it requires documenting the emissions and determining their operational relevance by identifying their scope.

Key considerations when building an emission profile include:

• Energy Use: Emissions from electricity consumed for air conditioning, lighting, and office equipment. These are typically categorized as Scope 2 emissions because they result from purchased energy.
• Fuel: Direct emissions from petrol or diesel burned in company-owned vehicles, generators, or machinery are classified as Scope 1.
• Waste: Emissions from waste sent to landfill, where materials like food scraps and packaging release methane. These are Scope 3 emissions because they occur outside your direct operations.
• Paper: Emissions from producing and disposing of paper, including office supplies and packaging. These fall under Scope 3, as they are tied to upstream production and disposal processes.
• Flights: Business travel contributes significantly to Scope 3 emissions. For example, while your business isn’t responsible for the fuel burned by airlines, documenting this as part of your profile is crucial, as it reflects your choices and impact.

Understanding the relationship between emission sources and scopes ensures you can accurately determine where your operational responsibility lies. For example, emissions from flights are reported as Scope 1 by the airline but are Scope 3 for your business. Keeping your emission profile well-documented enables clearer reporting, aligns with sustainability frameworks, and helps guide actionable goals for reducing your carbon footprint.

And remember: 

Scope 3 emissions can feel overwhelming, as they encompass a wide range of sources across your value chain. It's important to document these emissions as thoroughly as possible since they represent your influence on suppliers, customers and other external activities. However, it's also reassuring to know that your Scope 3 emissions are another company's Scope 1 or 2 emissions, meaning they are counted somewhere. For example, emissions from air travel make up your Scope 3activities, but they fall under the Scope 1 activities of the actual airline.