AF Bostäder has achieved good results in measuring and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in its own operations and from purchased energy. Now, the focus is intensifying on other indirect emissions. A recent review is to form the basis for reducing emissions from new construction projects and property management.
“There are different standards for reporting emissions of greenhouse gases,” says Louise Halén, Sustainability Coordinator at AF Bostäder. “We use the leading standard, the Green House Gas Protocol, which is divided into three scopes. Scope 1 concerns direct emissions from the company’s own operations, scope 2 concerns indirect emissions from purchased energy, and scope 3 relates to other indirect emissions from purchased materials, purchased waste management, travel etc.”
In 2021, AF Bostäder, together with a consultant, mapped the emissions in scope 3, using the 2020 figures as a baseline, to ascertain where the emissions are largest. Some assumptions were made where data was lacking. Emissions from business travel were reported previously, but after the mapping, scope 3 will be expanded to eight categories that are relevant for the organisation.
“After the initiatives of recent years, our total emissions from scope 1 and 2 are considerably lower than those from scope 3. The largest category in scope 3 is “purchased goods and services”, which includes both new construction and maintenance of properties. Now, we will produce more precise figures and a plan for reporting and reducing emissions in scope 3. This will be challenging work over several years that will also require a considerable commitment from the company’s partners. In 2022, we will also formulate a new sustainability target for operations, focusing on the climate,” concludes Louise Halén.
Latest update June 9, 2022