What Are Scope 1 Emissions, And How Can Companies Reduce Them?

TL;DR

Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources a company owns or controls, such as fuel combustion, company vehicles, and equipment leaks. They are the most immediate and controllable emissions, making them a key focus for compliance with regulations like the CSRD and achieving net-zero targets. ECO-OS helps manufacturers accurately measure and reduce Scope 1 emissions with automated data standardization, emissions insights, and AI-driven decarbonization strategies.

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is becoming a top priority for businesses striving to meet sustainability goals and comply with environmental regulations. A critical first step in measuring a company’s carbon footprint is understanding Scope 1 emissions — the most direct and controllable category of emissions.

But what exactly are Scope 1 emissions, why are they so important, and how can companies reduce them?

What Are CO₂e Emissions — and Why Measuring Your Carbon Footprint Matters

As the climate crisis accelerates, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become a global imperative. At the core of this effort is the concept of CO₂e emissions — or carbon dioxide equivalent — a standard unit for measuring the global warming potential of various greenhouse gases, including methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), relative to carbon dioxide.

When we refer to a company’s carbon footprint, we’re talking about the total volume of CO₂e emissions it generates, both directly and indirectly, through its operations and value chain.

Following the landmark Paris Agreement (COP21) in 2015, 195 countries committed to limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C — ideally to 1.5°C — above pre-industrial levels. This global climate goal requires significant emissions reductions, aligned with what scientists call a net-zero trajectory.

For businesses, this means taking urgent, measurable action to:

• Monitor and reduce emissions

• Implement low-carbon strategies

• Ensure regulatory compliance

• Demonstrate climate leadership

Measuring your carbon footprint isn't just an environmental formality — it's a strategic necessity. A thorough carbon assessment reveals where emissions come from, enabling informed decision-making, transparent reporting, and meaningful progress toward climate targets.

Understanding Emission Scopes: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3

To make carbon accounting more manageable, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol — the most widely used international standard — categorizes emissions into three scopes:

• Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization

• Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heating, cooling, or steam

• Scope 3: All other indirect emissions across the value chain (e.g., supplier emissions, business travel, product use)

  
  

This article focuses on Scope 1 emissions, as they often represent the most immediate opportunity for impactful reduction.

What are Scope 1 Emissions?

Scope 1 emissions refer to direct greenhouse gas emissions that come from sources owned or controlled by a company. These emissions result from activities that happen on-site or are directly managed by the organization.

Scope 1 is one of the foundational categories defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and includes emissions that are:

• Physically released into the atmosphere

• Directly linked to operational processes or company assets

Common Examples of Scope 1 Emissions

Understanding Scope 1 becomes easier with concrete examples. These typically include:

• On-site fuel combustion — e.g., gas boilers used for heating buildings

• Company-owned vehicles — those that burn gasoline or diesel

• Fugitive emissions — unintentional leaks from refrigeration, air conditioning, or fire suppression systems

• Industrial processes — emissions from chemical reactions or manufacturing operations

Because Scope 1 emissions are both measurable and controllable, they are often the first priority in a company’s decarbonization journey.

How to Measure Scope 1 Emissions

Addressing Scope 1 emissions is essential for organizations seeking to:

• Reduce their environmental impact by cutting emissions at the source.

• Comply with European climate regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and country-specific requirements — ensuring alignment with evolving sustainability and decarbonization mandates.

• Showcase corporate social responsibility (CSR) and align with growing stakeholder expectations.

• Meet net-zero targets and broader sustainability commitments.

Since these emissions originate from assets directly owned or controlled by the company, reductions can be implemented faster and more transparently than other types of emissions. Taking action on Scope 1 is a powerful signal of a company’s commitment to climate leadership and accountability.

How to Measure Scope 1 Emissions

Measuring Scope 1 emissions typically involves three key steps:

1. Identify emission sources

   Pinpoint all sources under the company’s control — including stationary combustion (e.g., boilers), mobile combustion (e.g., vehicles), and fugitive emissions.

2. Collect accurate data

   Track fuel usage, equipment operations, refrigerant management, and other relevant metrics.

3. Apply emission factors

4. Use standardized emission factors from trusted sources like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Data accuracy is essential. Many organizations use sustainability software or work with carbon accounting consultants to ensure compliance and generate actionable insights.

Strategies to Reduce Scope 1 Emissions

Once emissions are measured, organizations can implement a range of reduction strategies:

• Electrify vehicle fleets by switching to electric or hybrid vehicles — especially in regions with low-carbon electricity grids (Check your country’s energy mix at Electricity Maps)

• Improve energy efficiency in buildings through insulation, automation, and regular energy audits

• Maintain HVAC and refrigeration systems to prevent refrigerant leaks and improve system performance

• Replace fossil fuels with cleaner alternatives, such as electric heat pumps or biomass boilers

• Train employees to adopt energy-efficient behaviors and optimize equipment use

These actions not only cut emissions but can lead to:

• Long-term cost savings

• Improved operational efficiency

• A stronger, more credible sustainability brand

Scope 1: The First Step Toward Net-Zero

Scope 1 emissions are the most direct and actionable component of a company’s carbon footprint. By prioritizing their measurement and reduction, businesses lay the groundwork for a credible, science-aligned sustainability strategy.

How ECO-OS Helps Companies Manage and Reduce Scope 1 Emissions

At ECO-OS, we help manufacturers gain full control of their Scope 1 emissions by turning raw operational data into audit-ready carbon accounting. Our platform ingests data in its rawest form — fuel use, refrigerant logs, vehicle activity, and more — and supports a comprehensive bank of measurement units, so you can upload exactly what you have. Whether it’s liters, kilograms, kilowatt-hours, or cubic meters, ECO-OS automatically standardizes the inputs, identifies gaps or inconsistencies, and prepares your emissions data to meet all the various corporate sustainability reporting requirements and frameworks.

Beyond reporting, we offer AI-powered deep decarbonization insights so you know where to prioritize your reduction efforts based on cost, effort, and impact. The platform also flags inefficiencies and leaks, maps trends, and forecasts end-of-year emissions. Whether switching to biofuels, electrifying fleets, or improving equipment maintenance, ECO-OS helps you move from data to decisions with speed and clarity, accelerating your journey toward compliance and net-zero.