Setting the Bar: Defining Clear Sustainability Objectives

Setting clear objectives is crucial in our journey towards sustainability. Having well-defined goals helps us stay focused and measure our progress. This article is part of our series on sustainability, and we hope it inspires other organizations to follow suit.

Collaborative Goal Setting

The first step was categorizing our consumption under Scopes 1, 2, and 3, following the GHG Protocol. This protocol is an international standard for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

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.