TL;DR: CO₂ emission factors are key to understanding and managing your carbon footprint. By measuring emissions across all three scopes, you can make informed decisions to reduce emissions, save costs, and meet sustainability goals. Tools like the carbon footprint calculator from Regreener can help you to track, analyze, and reduce your carbon impact effectively.
Introduction to CO2 emission factors
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a central theme in today’s climate conversation. But what exactly is it? CO2 is invisible, odorless, and ever-present; a byproduct of how we move, produce, and consume. That makes it hard to detect with the naked eye. So how do we know how much CO2 is being released—and from where?
The answer starts with a key concept: CO2 emission factors.
Emission factors act as the link between our actions and the emissions they cause. Almost everything we do, whether it’s driving a car, running a machine, or flipping on a light switch, has an associated emission factor. It tells us how much CO2 (or CO2-equivalent) is released per unit of activity.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
Activity Data × CO2 Emission Factor = CO2 Emissions
For example, if you drive 100 kilometers, multiplying that distance by your vehicle’s emission factor, say, 120 g CO2 per kilometer, shows you the total emissions from that trip: 12 kg of CO2.
In a climate-conscious world, understanding CO2 emission factors is more important than ever. Especially for businesses. Knowing your emissions empowers you to:
Make informed choices about energy and resources
Plan smarter sustainability strategies
Stay ahead of environmental regulations
Lower costs through efficiency and data-driven decisions
If you want to implement real climate action in your company, measurement is the starting point. Understanding your CO2 emissions is the foundation for setting effective goals, tracking progress, and contributing to global climate solutions.
A full overview of emission factors, by fuel type, activity, and scope, can be found at CO2emissiefactoren.nl, the official Dutch platform for standardized CO2 data.
Types and sources of CO2 emission factors
CO2 emission factors vary significantly based on their sources and the specific activities that generate them. These factors are categorized into three distinct scopes, each representing different aspects of an organization's carbon footprint.
Scope 1: direct emissions from owned sources
Scope 1 covers direct emissions from assets your company owns or controls—think factory boilers, delivery vans, or diesel generators. These are the most tangible emissions and typically fall into two groups:
Stationary combustion – e.g. heating systems, on-site power plants, or manufacturing processes
Mobile combustion – e.g. company cars, trucks, construction equipment, or aircraft
Emission factors for these sources depend on the type and quality of fuel used. For example, coal emits far more CO2 than natural gas.
For each fuel type and their CO2 impact, there are however also other factors that can affect the emission rates.
Other key variables that influence emissions:
Fuel composition and quality
Combustion efficiency
Operating conditions
Equipment design and age
Maintenance practices
Understanding these factors helps you make better decisions about fuel choices, system upgrades, and efficiency improvements.
Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased electricity
Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions from the generation of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling that your company purchases. These emissions happen at the power plant—but are counted in your footprint because your demand drives the output.
Emission factors here vary based on:
The type of energy source (coal, gas, solar, wind, nuclear, etc.)
Regional energy mix (e.g. the Dutch grid vs. the French grid)
Time of day and consumption patterns
For example:
Coal-fired power: ~820–1,040 g CO2e/kWh
Solar power: ~6 g CO2e/kWh
Nuclear: ~3 g CO2e/kWh
Reducing Scope 2 emissions can be as simple as switching to a certified green energy provider or investing in on-site solar. Smarter energy choices = lower emissions.
Scope 3: other indirect emissions throughout the product lifecycle
The third and most complex category is Scope 3, which encompasses all other indirect emissions that occur across a company’s value chain. These are not owned or directly controlled by your company but are nonetheless linked to its activities.
Scope 3 is often broken down into upstream and downstream emissions:
Upstream includes emissions from suppliers, business travel, employee commuting, and the production of purchased goods and services.
Downstream covers product distribution, use-phase emissions (e.g., energy consumed by a product), and end-of-life treatment.
Consider a tech company selling smartphones. The energy used to assemble the phones (Scope 1 and 2 of the supplier), the transportation of devices to retailers, and even the electricity consumed when users charge their phones at home all contribute to the tech company’s Scope 3 emissions. For many firms, Scope 3 can account for over 70% of total emissions.
You can address these challenges by implementing robust data collection systems, engaging with suppliers, and using standardized calculation methods from recognized frameworks like the GHG Protocol.
Want to dive deeper into Scope 1, 2, and 3? Check out our knowledge article
Measuring carbon footprint as part of a broader green strategy
If your business is serious about sustainability, measuring your carbon footprint is the place to start. It’s the foundation for any meaningful climate strategy. A solid measurement system gives you insight into where your emissions are coming from, where the biggest impact lies, and how to take targeted action.
Carbon footprinting isn't just about tracking numbers; it’s about turning data into decisions.
What makes an effective footprint strategy
An effective footprint strategy includes:
Structured data collection across all business activities
Consistent monitoring and reporting routines
Reliable, standardized calculation methods
Benchmarks that help you compare and improve over time
How emission factors strengthen your strategy
By integrating CO2 emission factor analysis into your sustainability efforts, you gain the insights needed to:
Set science-based targets aligned with global climate goals
Design focused mitigation strategies that tackle your largest sources
Allocate resources where they deliver the most carbon savings
Track progress transparently and communicate results with confidence
Commercial benefits of measuring your carbon footprint
Measuring your carbon footprint isn’t just about responsibility; it’s a strategic move that adds value across your organisation. From compliance to cost savings, it gives you the insights you need to move forward with confidence.
Reputation
One of the biggest wins? Reputation. Companies that measure and reduce their emissions build trust—internally and externally. Customers, partners, and investors increasingly expect transparency. Showing real progress can strengthen your brand and open doors to new business opportunities.
Compliance
There’s also a compliance advantage. Climate disclosure rules are evolving fast. By getting ahead with solid carbon data, you reduce regulatory risk and position your company to respond quickly to policy changes—rather than playing catch-up.
Financial advantages
And let’s not forget the financial impact. Carbon measurement often highlights inefficiencies: energy waste, overuse of materials, outdated processes. Tackling these issues isn’t just good for the climate—it can directly lower your operating costs and improve resource management.
In short: knowing your footprint helps you take smarter, faster action. And in a climate-conscious economy, that’s a competitive edge.
Curious why the future of business is green?
Check out our knowledge article and discover how sustainability is becoming the key to staying ahead, instead of falling behind.
Want to get started with carbon assessments?
Read our 5-step guide.
Tools and consulting for CO2 emission management
At Regreener, we help businesses take control of their carbon emissions—with smart tools and hands-on guidance. Whether you're just getting started or scaling up your sustainability efforts, we make it easy to measure, manage, and reduce your footprint.
Our carbon footprint calculator is built around a certified database of emission factors—based on both GHG Protocol standards and national benchmarks. It enables accurate CO2 calculations per scope and gives you clear insight into your impact.
Key features
Full emissions tracking across Scopes 1, 2, and 3
Smart dashboards that turn data into insight
Automated calculations using certified emission factors
Curious to see how it works?
Start your free trial and explore everything our tool has to offer. No strings attached.
Expert support
Our expert consulting team is here to guide you through every stage of your carbon journey. We help you turn insights into action with hands-on support tailored to your business.
We can help you:
Identify your biggest emission hotspots
Develop targeted, practical reduction strategies
Integrate sustainable practices across your operations
Track progress toward your CO2 reduction goals
From your first footprint assessment to long-term implementation, we offer full-spectrum support. That includes in-depth emissions analysis, strategy development, and ongoing guidance to keep you on track.
By combining our smart tool with expert advice, we empower your team to make data-driven decisions—reducing emissions while keeping your operations running efficiently.
Conclusion
Understanding CO2 emission factors isn’t just a technical step, it’s the foundation for real climate action. By mapping out where your emissions come from and how they’re distributed across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, you gain the clarity to make smarter, greener choices.
Whether you're cutting direct emissions from company vehicles, switching to cleaner electricity, or addressing upstream supply chain impact. Accurate data leads to real progress.
And you don’t have to do it alone. With our carbon footprint calculator and expert consulting support, we help you turn insight into action. From first assessment to long-term strategy, we’re here to support your journey toward lower emissions, higher efficiency, and a stronger commitment to a sustainable future.
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