Emissions Intensity Metrics
Calculate emissions per unit of relevant activity drivers
What Are Emissions Intensity Metrics?
Emissions Intensity Metrics measure emissions relative to a specific activity, like emissions per dollar of revenue, per product sold, or per full-time employee (FTE).
Why Are Emissions Intensity Metrics Useful?
These metrics allow companies to track emissions efficiency over time, even as they grow. For instance, while total emissions might increase as a company expands, an intensity metric—such as emissions per dollar of revenue—can reveal reductions in emissions relative to growth, highlighting the impact of reduction efforts. This concept is similar to financial ratios used to assess operational efficiency.
Emissions Intensity Metrics are also valuable for:
- Customers: Other companies can use these metrics as primary emissions factors when purchasing from you, aligning with supplier engagement or portfolio emissions tracking.
- Industry Comparisons: Since they scale with company size, intensity metrics make it easier to compare emissions performance across companies and industry averages, regardless of scale.
Recommended Emissions Intensity Metrics
A baseline intensity metric is emissions per dollar of operating revenue, as it provides a universal point of comparison. For more accurate insights, consider calculating emissions per unit produced, though this may require activity-based costing to apportion emissions correctly.
💡 Additional metrics might include emissions per FTE, per office, per square meter, or per unit relevant to your industry, like per passenger or per night stayed.
How To Calculate Emissions Intensity Metrics in Sumday
- Go to the Intensity Metrics screen in the Assessments section.
- Choose a Unit of Measure for the metric, like dollars, kg, unit count, or FTE.
- In the Input field, select the activity (e.g., product or service) you’d like to use. If it’s not listed, contact support@sumday.io.
- Set the emissions boundaries for your assessment (e.g., Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 Upstream).
- Enter the quantity for your chosen unit (e.g., kgs of coffee beans sold or electronic goods sold). If you have monthly data, you’ll be able to track changes in the intensity metric throughout the period.
Last updated on November 6, 2024