Can we have a scope 3, please?

From scopes to carbon neutral and net zero, we‘re getting into more climate terminology

Welcome to another issue of The Crisps, your snackable anti-greenwashing newsletter for the fashion industry. This issue was supposed to be published last week already. We apologize for being a little late – last week’s heat wave knocked us out quite a bit giving a little glimpse of what the climate crisis has in store for us. So it actually fits well with this issue where we talk about carbon neutral, net zero, and scopes 1,2 and 3. If you haven’t subscribed already, make sure to receive future issues of The Crisps directly to your inbox.

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While carbon dioxide (CO2) has a significant negative impact on our environment, there are other gases to consider as well. These gases are collectively measured using a single metric known as CO2 equivalent (CO2e).¹ Why is it relevant? Because by solely focusing on CO2 emissions, we don’t get the full picture of the negative impact we’re causing.

The European Union is often cited, stating that the global clothing industry contributes around 10 percent of global CO2e emissions.² Especially the global south has to bear the negative impacts of these emissions – even though they’re contributing the smallest share of climate-altering gases. When we’re speaking about the climate crisis, we’re also speaking about global equity and the role fashion plays in our global economy.

We want to get that full picture, right?! So in this issue, we’ll get into some more greenhouse gases and the terms carbon neutral and net zero.

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The greenhouse gases you should know about

From burning fossil fuels to decomposing of organic waste all our activities generate various greenhouse gas emissions. All of them contribute to the greenhouse effect – just not to the same extent and for different periods of time. Here’s a glance at what you should know about each of them.³

Carbon dioxide: It’s the best-known greenhouse gas and is released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (such as coal and oil) and waste. But it also comes from wildfires or volcanic eruptions.

Methane: You’ve also heard of this one, we’re sure. But do you know how methane is emitted? During the production and transportation of fossil fuels, agricultural practices and decomposition of organic waste. Methane’s effect on the climate is 28 times more severe than CO2, but it doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long.