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Emission factors

If you are calculating your own emissions, you should use the following formula with the emissions factors below:

[Amount in units given] x [emission factor] = kgCO2e

On this page, you will find emission factors for the following:

If you would like any emission factors not included here, please refer to the UK Government conversion factors spreadsheet.

Energy and fuel

The electricity factor includes the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) factor to account for the Scope 3 emissions associated with grid losses (the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity from the power plant to the organisations that purchase it).

SourceEmission factor
Biomass 0.01 per kWh
Natural gas0.18 per kWh
LPG0.21 per kWh or 1.56 per litre
Electricity (grid)0.23 per kWh
Fuel oil0.27 per kWh or 3.18 per litre

Transport

All transport factors include the Well to Tank (WTT) factors to account for the upstream Scope 3 emissions associated with extraction, refining and transportation of the fuel before use.

Bus/coach

Train

SourceEmission factor
International0.009 per passenger mile
Light rail and tram0.06 per passenger mile
London Underground and metro0.06 per passenger mile
Within the UK0.07 per passenger mile

Car (average size)

SourceEmission factor
Electric car0.09 per mile
Plug-in hybrid electric car0.22 per mile
Hybrid car0.26 per mile
Petrol car0.34 per mile
Diesel car0.34 per mile
Car – unknown fuel0.35 per mile

Taxi

SourceEmission factor
Regular taxi0.42 per passenger mile
Black cab0.62 per passenger mile

Van (average size)

SourceEmission factor
Electric van0.16 per mile
Petrol van0.46 per mile
Diesel van0.50 per mile
Van – unknown fuel0.50 per mile

Ferry

SourceEmission factor
Foot0.04 per passenger mile
Car0.26 per passenger mile

Flights

SourceEmission factor
Domestic0.49 per passenger mile
Short-haul (average)0.34 per passenger mile
Short-haul (economy class)0.33 per passenger mile
Short-haul (business class)0.50 per passenger mile
Long-haul (average)0.47 per passenger mile
Long-haul (economy class)0.36 per passenger mile
Long-haul (premium economy class)0.58 per passenger mile
Long-haul (business class)1.05 per passenger mile
Long-haul (first class)1.45 per passenger mile

Vehicle fuel

SourceEmission factor
Petrol2.08 per litre
Diesel2.51 per litre
Jet fuel2.54 per litre
Marine fuel2.77 per litre

Freight

SourceEmission factor
Sea0.025 per tonne, per mile
Diesel HGV – average0.20 per tonne, per mile
Battery electric van – average0.50 per tonne, per mile
Diesel van – average1.23 per tonne, per mile
Petrol van – average1.69 per tonne, per mile
Air – long-haul1.99 per tonne, per mile
Air – short-haul3.01 per tonne, per mile
Air – domestic8.44 per tonne, per mile

Hotel stays

SourceEmission factor
UK hotel stay10.4 per night

Waste disposal

Landfill

UnitEmission factor
Per litre0.043
Per kg0.497
Per bin bag (80 litres)3.48

Energy from waste

UnitEmission factor
Per litre0.0005
Per kg0.0064
Per bin bag (80 litres)0.045

Mixed recycling

UnitEmission factor
Per litre0.0005
Per kg0.0064
Per bin bag (80 litres)0.045

Food waste (to anaerobic digestion)

UnitEmission factor
Per litre0.0045
Per bin bag (1.25 litres)0.0056
Per kg0.0089

Waste electrical and electronic equipment

UnitEmission factor
Per kg0.0064

Water (supply and waste treatment combined)

UnitEmission factor
Per cubic metre0.34

If you have any questions about this section, please email: [email protected].