netzero@fdfscotland.org
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Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
While understanding key terms and concepts related to greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions is crucial, it is the three types of scoping emissions that are the most important
to Scottish food and drink businesses on their Net Zero journey.
Think of them as diOerent layers of an onion (but without the tears!). Below, we peel back
each layer, one by one, and reveal what they really mean.
Scope 1 emissions
Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions from operations owned or controlled by a
company. For example, in the food and drink industry, scope 1 emissions may arise from
the combustion of fossil fuels in manufacturing facilities, on-site power generation, or the
operation of company-owned vehicles and equipment.
A brewery that uses natural gas to power its boilers or a dairy company that operates a
fleet of refrigerated trucks for example, would need to account for these emissions as
part of their scope 1 inventory.
Scope 2 emissions
Scope 2 emissions are indirect GHG emissions associated with the generation of
purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heating, or cooling consumed by a company. In
the food and drink industry, scope 2 emissions are often significant due to the energy-
intensive nature of many processes, such as refrigeration, cooking, and packaging.
For instance, a bakery that purchases gas and electricity to power its ovens and lighting
would need to account for the associated scope 2 emissions based on information from
the supplier.
Likewise, while distilleries may produce some direct (scope 1) emissions, a significant
portion comes from scope 2 emissions related to purchased energy sources like steam
or electricity used to operate the stills and other distillery equipment.
Scope 3 emissions
Scope 3 emissions are indirect GHG emissions that occur in a company's value chain,
both upstream (from suppliers and logistics) and downstream (from product use and
disposal), over which the company has limited direct control.
In the food and drink industry, scope 3 emissions can be substantial and may include
emissions from agricultural activities (e.g., fertiliser use and livestock rearing),
transportation of raw materials and finished products, and the disposal or recycling of
packaging materials.