Posts

Why Indirect Emissions Matter and How Your Company Can Reduce Them

Indirect emissions, also known as Scope 3 emissions in the framework of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, are an often-overlooked aspect of a business’s carbon footprint. They are defined as emissions from non-direct sources engaged in peripheral activities such as:

  • Shipping and product distribution
  • Goods and services procurement from outside parties
  • Waste disposal
  • Franchise management
  • Investments and leased asset management
  • …and, of course, commuting

While the exact percentage of business-related greenhouse gas emissions that come from commuting has been a notoriously gray area in terms of analysis, current estimates show that transportation is responsible for a staggering 20 to 27 percent of all GHG emissions in the United States. Obviously, businesses have a key role to play when it comes to reducing these emission levels, and one of the most direct ways to address the issue is to encourage smarter, more ecologically responsible modes of commuting.

To that end, here are some popular commuter management strategies that reduce employee reliance on single-occupancy vehicles:

  • Building a company-wide or cooperative, community-based rideshare program
  • Offering free or subsidized transit passes
  • Creating vanpool shuttle services linking company facilities with local public transportation hubs
  • Supporting bike-to-work initiatives by adding secure bike parking areas, lockers, and on-site showers
  • Participating in local and national challenge programs
  • Launching commuter gamification programs that reward participants for logging trips using alternative modes of transportation
  • Implementing earn-a-bike and/or parking cash-out programs

The transportation demand management professionals at RideAmigos can help you set up and run these and many other commuter programs as part of a concerted effort to help reduce the emissions generated by employee commutes. The RideAmigos software platform is also the ideal tool for tracking the impact of your commuter programs, and features a comprehensive suite of next-generation management and reporting tools.

Get started today and help your company build toward a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

Pages

What are Scope 3 Indirect Emissions?

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol defines three classes of emissions

Learn more about Scope 3 indirect emissions …

The GHG Protocol is a widely used international standard for classifying greenhouse gas emissions. It defines emissions in three categories, known as Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3.

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions come from owned or purchased assets that are directly involved in an organization’s operations. Scope 1 emissions cover direct greenhouse gas emissions emerging from owned sources such as company vehicles, combustion appliances or equipment, and fugitive emissions, which are emissions caused by leaks, malfunctions, and other irregular or accidental circumstances.

Scope 2 emissions differ from the Scope 1 classification in that they are indirect rather than direct, but still come from owned, purchased, or rented assets. Utilities such as electricity and heat are common examples of Scope 2 pollutants.

Scope 3 indirect emissions cover all non-direct sources that come from peripheral activities related to the organization. These include emissions resulting from goods and services delivered through an outside provider, as well as waste disposal, investments, product distribution, franchises, and leased assets. However, one of the most prominent sources of Scope 3 indirect emissions is commuting and employee travel.

While there are many strategies that can cut down on the GHG emissions caused by commuting and employee travel, a majority of people still rely on single-occupancy vehicles to get to and from work. Encouraging commuters to switch to greener, smarter, and more efficient transportation modes is an excellent way for businesses and organizations to reduce their carbon footprints.

RideAmigos helps businesses and organizations achieve meaningful reductions in their Scope 3 indirect emissions

RideAmigos has developed an innovative, comprehensive transportation demand management (TDM) software platform replete with features that help businesses encourage commuters to shift their behaviors away from single occupancy vehicles. We can help your organization adopt and implement a wide range of proven strategies that improve access to smart alternatives with tools like ridematching, vanpool management, public transit integration, and both active and passive commute tracking.

The RideAmigos software platform also contains comprehensive tools for publicizing and managing incentive programs, such as commuter challenges and gamification. We’ve helped organizations around the world, in both the public and private sectors, drive positive behavior change among their commuters. We can help yours, too.

Get started with RideAmigos to arrange a consultation, discover helpful commuter tips, or get a free analysis or your existing commuter programs.

More information about the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard.