Setting the Bar: Defining Clear Sustainability Objectives

Scope 1 – Direct Emissions from our Operations

This includes emissions from on-site fuel combustion for heating or backup generators.

Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions from Energy We Purchased

This includes the electricity used to power our offices and data centers. It also covers the energy used for lighting, heating, and cooling our facilities.

Scope 3 – All Other Indirect Emissions

This scope involves other indirect emissions, such as those from our supply chain. It includes emissions from transporting the hardware we buy and customers’ use of our products. It also includes business travel, employee commuting, and waste from our operations.

By categorizing our emissions, we identified where we could make the most impact. We discovered that 98% of our emissions were indirect—Scope 3. With this insight, we set actionable objectives for each scope. We prioritized these objectives based on ease of implementation and impact on emissions. This approach allowed us to focus our efforts where they would be most effective.

From Manual Audits to Automated Efficiency

We conduct yearly carbon audits to understand our carbon footprint. Our first audit in 2022 was manual and time-consuming but necessary, giving us a clear picture and a baseline. In 2023, we switched to Breeze software, automating the process and making it more efficient and accurate.

Breeze has been a game-changer! It streamlines operations, calculates our CO2 impact, and provides clear insights, enabling informed action to reduce our footprint.

– Nicholas Naranjo, Carbon Audit Champion

This efficiency is crucial since we all have day jobs at Datavalet. The software helps us track our progress toward sustainability goals, showing how our efforts are paying off and where we need to adjust.

Benchmarking

Comparing our results to industry standards is essential. Benchmarking helps us understand how we stack up against our peers and motivates us to improve. We use industry benchmarks to set our targets and measure our success. This way, we ensure that our objectives are ambitious and achievable. By constantly comparing our performance to the best in the industry, we stay on track and push ourselves to do better.

Conclusion

Setting clear sustainability objectives has been vital to our journey at Datavalet. By understanding our consumption under Scopes 1, 2, and 3, conducting a thorough carbon audit-readiness review, integrating efficient tools, and benchmarking our results, we have created a robust framework for achieving our goals. This structured approach ensures we are always moving forward and making meaningful progress.

Stay tuned for our next article in this series. We will discuss how we are transforming our operations with sustainable practices. Together, we can make a difference and lead the way towards a greener future.