Carbon footprint
We have calculated emissions from all RSPCA activities, including RSPCA Assured and RSPCA Branches, for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 calendar years. Our calculations for our 2023 baseline year has been verified, the figures provided may be subject to changes.
Scope 1
- Direct emissions from activities owned or controlled by the RSPCA.
Scope 2
- Indirect emissions from purchased electricity.
- Market-based emissions were calculated using factors that reflect the actual electricity purchased. For electricity supplied under a standard grid tariff, we applied CO2e per kWh based on the fuel mix disclosures provided by suppliers.
- Location-based emissions from electricity were calculated using the average emissions from the UK grid.
| Scope | GHG emissions | 2023 GHG emissions, tCO₂e | 2024 GHG emissions, tCO₂e | 2025 GHG emissions, tCO₂e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 |
Stationary fuel consumption (heating and bulk fuels) |
621 |
631 |
553 |
|
Mobile fuel consumption (RSPCA owned and leased fleet vehicles) |
2,215 |
2,123 |
2,207 |
|
|
Refrigerant gases (estates and vehicle fleet) |
35 |
51 |
130 |
|
|
Anaesthetic gases |
75 |
44 |
41 |
|
|
Biogas (wastewater treatment) |
17 |
18 |
15 |
|
|
Waste incineration |
6 |
6 |
2 |
|
| Scope 2 |
Purchased electricity: generation (market-based) |
1,263 |
270 |
168 |
|
Purchased electricity: generation (location-based) |
879 |
824 |
770 |
|
| Total |
Market-based |
4,233 |
3,143 |
3,116 |
|
Location-based |
3,848 |
3,697 |
3,718 |
Scope 3
- All other indirect emissions across our value chain, reported under 15 categories, 13 of which are applicable to the RSPCA.
| Scope 3 | GHG emissions | 2023 GHG emissions, tCO₂e | 2024 GHG emissions, tCO₂e | 2025 GHG emissions, tCO₂e |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 |
Purchased goods and services |
10,924 |
10,940 |
9,538 |
| Category 2 |
Capital goods |
601 |
852 |
2,796 |
| Category 3 |
Fuel- and energy-related activities |
905 |
876 |
865 |
| Category 4 |
Upstream transportation and distribution (retail) |
255 |
90 |
45 |
| Category 5 |
Waste generated in operations |
388 |
384 |
442 |
| Category 6 |
Business travel |
539 |
402 |
371 |
| Category 7 |
Colleague commuting and homeworking |
1,200 |
1,228 |
1,235 |
| Category 8 |
Upstream leased assets (Pets at Home) |
26 |
0 |
0 |
| Category 9 |
Downstream transportation and distribution (retail) |
513 |
1 |
0 |
| Category 12 |
End-of-life treatment of sold products |
193 |
144 |
97 |
| Category 13 |
Downstream leased assets (society housing and share equity properties) |
136 |
178 |
171 |
| Category 14 |
Branch network |
4,427 |
3,742 |
3,456 |
| Category 15 |
Investments and pensions |
24,196 |
40,896 |
36,551 |
| Total |
44,304 |
59,732 |
55,569 |
| Example Rich Text | Example Rich Text | Example Rich Text | Example Rich Text | Example Rich Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1, 2 and 3 total (market-based) |
48,537 |
62,875 |
58,685 |
|
| Scope 1, 2 and 3 total (Location - based) |
48,152 |
63,428 |
59,286 |
