Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions: What They Mean for Glove Manufacturers and Users

Previously, the ASK GIA Blog previously discussed the release of SW’s sustainability report in May. Our sustainability report showcases our brand’s commitment to sustainability – what definitive actions our business has taken to move towards sustainable business practices. As part of our commitment towards sustainability, we included quantitative data on our company’s production of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

• According to the California climate law (SB 253+261), reporting scope 1, 2 and scope 3 is mandatory, based on the company revenue levels.
• According to the SEC (Securities Exchange Commissions), in the US, only scope 1 & 2 emissions are mandatory to report, and scope 3 is not required at the moment, but this would eventually become mandatory.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the industry standard for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. SW is the only B Corp certified glove manufacturer that has targets for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. We aim to demonstrate our leadership in sustainability and corporate responsibility. The GHG Protocol monitors six greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PCFs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).

1. Scope 1 emissions pertain to any direct emissions produced by company-owned and controlled resources. This includes mobile combustion – any company owned transportation that burns fuel, fugitive emissions – leaks from machines like refrigerators or air conditioners, and process emissions – greenhouse gasses produced during industrial processes like manufacturing.
2. Scope 2 emissions pertain to indirect emissions that were purchased by the business or company. These include all greenhouse gas emissions released due to the consumption of purchased electricity, steam, heat or cooling. Scope 3 emissions are often hard to report because they include such a wide category of emissions. This scope includes all indirect emissions linked to the business.
3. The GHG Protocol lists 15 different categories under Scope 3: Upstream activities – business and employee commuting emissions, waste generated in business operations, purchased goods and services, transportation or distribution emissions, capital goods – anything businesses regularly use to manufacture a product or provide a service, investment emissions, franchise emissions, leased assets emissions, emissions resulting from using sold products, and end of life treatment emissions.

Now that we’ve explained which emissions fall under which scopes, let’s discuss what plans SW has for reducing our emissions across all three scopes. We aim to reduce scope 1 & scope 2 emissions by 42% with more efficient steam utilization. This is possible by fixing heat loss areas in our production houses, thus allowing us to use less fossil fuel sources. We will also reduce natural gas consumption by 32% by switching to biomass alternatives. Our scope 3 emissions come from business and employee commuting. We have allowed for more remote staffing and centralizing sales operations based on region.

SW’s brand as a production house specializing in high quality hand protection has always prioritized sustainability. For us sustainability is an inherent component in hand protection, not just an add on. We continuously work on reducing our carbon footprint and work towards pushing the industry in a more sustainable direction. Those interested may find our 2023 sustainability report on our website.

About SW Sustainability Solutions

At SW, we are committed to leading the glove industry in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Our innovative EcoTek® technology exemplifies our dedication to sustainable solutions, while our expertise in sweat management ensures comfort and performance. We also offer specialized chemical compatibility support, assisting customers in selecting gloves tailored to their unique needs. Our mission is to provide products that prioritize safety, health, and environmental responsibility for our customers and the planet.