The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard divides greenhouse gas emissions into three scopes. a categorisation framework that determines how emissions are attributed, measured and reported. This framework underpins carbon neutral certification, Australian mandatory climate disclosure requirements, and ESG reporting standards including GRI and ISSB. For cleaning businesses and for the facility managers who procure cleaning services, understanding how the scope framework applies to cleaning operations is the foundation for evaluating carbon claims and meeting disclosure obligations.
Scope 1. Direct Emissions from Owned Sources
Scope 1 covers greenhouse gas emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the cleaning business. where the business is directly combusting fuel or generating emissions from its own operations.
For a cleaning company, Scope 1 emissions are dominated by the vehicle fleet. Cleaning businesses operate large fleets of vehicles for transporting workforce and equipment between depot and cleaning sites. these vehicles burn fuel that generates CO₂, methane and nitrous oxide directly. Scope 1 also includes:
- Fuel combustion in owned or leased vehicles (petrol, diesel, LPG)
- Stationary combustion. natural gas or LPG used for heating at owned premises
- Refrigerant losses from vehicle air conditioning systems (a small but real source for large fleets)
Fleet electrification is the primary Scope 1 reduction measure. replacing internal combustion vehicles with EVs eliminates the direct combustion emissions from vehicle operation. The residual Scope 1 source (electricity for vehicle charging) shifts to Scope 2.
Scope 2. Indirect Emissions from Purchased Electricity
Scope 2 covers emissions from the generation of electricity that the cleaning business purchases and consumes. the emissions occur at the power station, but are attributed to the consumer under the GHG Protocol framework.
For cleaning businesses, Scope 2 sources include electricity consumption at offices, depots, training facilities and warehouses. As vehicle fleets electrify, EV charging electricity also falls under Scope 2. Scope 2 emissions vary significantly by state and territory. because the emission intensity of electricity grids varies based on the renewable energy mix. The ACT grid has substantially lower emission intensity than Queensland or Victoria. meaning the same kWh consumption generates different CO₂-equivalent depending on location.
Scope 2 reduction measures include: procuring electricity from renewable sources (GreenPower or corporate PPAs), installing solar at owned facilities, and reducing electricity consumption through energy efficiency measures.
Scope 3. Indirect Emissions from the Value Chain
Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions. those that occur as a consequence of the cleaning business's activities but from sources not owned or controlled by the company. It is typically the largest emission category and the hardest to measure.
Under the carbon neutral methodology, required Scope 3 categories for a cleaning business include:
- Purchased goods and services: Emissions from the manufacture of cleaning chemicals, consumables (paper towels, bin liners, disposable products) and equipment. based on purchase volumes and product emission factors
- Upstream transport: Transport of cleaning products and chemicals from manufacturer to the cleaning company
- Business travel: Air and ground travel by employees for work purposes not covered by the company-owned fleet
- Employee commuting: Emissions from employees travelling between home and work (subject to data availability)
- Waste: Emissions from disposal of waste generated by the business
Measuring Scope 3 requires either supplier-specific data (emission factors from chemical manufacturers) or use of industry average factors from datasets such as the Australian Input-Output database or product-category factors published by DCCEEW. The supply chain article addresses how supplier engagement reduces Scope 3 measurement uncertainty and supports longer-term emission reduction.
Scope 3 is where the numbers get hard and where the engagement with suppliers becomes necessary. It is also where clients with disclosure obligations need the most from their cleaning providers. verified supply chain emission data they can use in their own reporting.
— CPC Carbon Program
Emission Factors and the DCCEEW NGA Factors
Activity data (litres of fuel, kWh of electricity, kilograms of chemical purchased) is converted to CO₂-equivalent emissions using emission factors. The authoritative source for Australian carbon reporting is the National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors document published annually by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The NGA Factors document provides:
- Fuel combustion emission factors by fuel type (petrol, diesel, LPG, natural gas). in kg CO₂-e per litre or per GJ
- Electricity emission factors by state and territory. updated annually to reflect changes in grid renewable energy mix
- Refrigerant global warming potential factors
- Waste emission factors by disposal method
Using current-year DCCEEW factors (rather than outdated or international equivalents) is a requirement for carbon neutral certification. As the Australian electricity grid becomes progressively greener, Scope 2 emission factors will decline. meaning organisations with fixed renewable energy purchasing will show falling Scope 2 emissions even without changing their consumption level.
Why Clients Need Their Provider's Emission Data
Mandatory climate disclosure requirements in Australia (aligned with ISSB standards) require large entities to report Scope 3 emissions. which include emissions from services purchased from contractors. A facility operator with disclosure obligations needs verified emission data from its cleaning provider to accurately report its Scope 3 footprint.
A cleaning provider with carbon neutral certification can supply a verified total emission figure. the audited inventory from the certification process. A provider without certification can only supply an estimate or self-calculated figure, which does not satisfy the independent verification requirements of disclosure frameworks.
CPC's carbon neutral program produces a verified annual emissions figure as a standard output of the carbon neutral certification process. making it available to clients for their own Scope 3 disclosure. This positions the certification not only as a procurement credential but as a data-supply function that clients with disclosure obligations genuinely need.