What is Process Emissions? Examples & How to Reduce It

Understanding the Types of Scope 1 Emissions

According to the GHG Protocol, Scope 1 emissions are defined as direct emissions from assets controlled by the company. These cover four important categories:

For a deeper understanding of each category, please refer to the following:

• Stationary Combustion: Emissions from the combustion of fuels by stationary machines (boilers, generators).
• Mobile Combustion: Emissions from the combustion of fuel by motor vehicles.
• Fugitive Emissions: Emissions from gas leaks (methane, refrigerants).
• Process Emissions: Emissions from chemical reactions in industrial processes.

Definition of Process Emission

Process emissions are direct emissions (Scope 1) resulting from chemical or physical processes in industrial activities that do not involve fuel combustion. These emissions arise as byproducts of chemical reactions during production processes.

Unlike stationary and mobile combustion, which stem from fuel burning, process emissions originate from:

• Chemical reactions (e.g., decarbonation of calcium carbonate in cement production)
• Gas release from raw materials or chemicals
• Metallurgical and other industrial processes

These emissions are commonly found in the cement, steel, fertilizer, and chemical sectors.

Examples of Emission Sources

Some of the most common sources of process emissions in Scope 1 for industries include:

• Cement production: CO2 emissions from limestone calcination
• Steel industry: Gas release from iron ore reduction
• Fertilizer production: Emissions from chemical processes involving ammonia and urea
• Chemical industry: Chemical reactions during the production of plastics, solvents, etc.
• Glass and ceramic production: Reactions that generate emissions during raw material heating processes

Process emissions typically occur without combustion and may happen even when conducted in closed systems.

Use the Carbon Emission Accounting Platform from Jejakin

Managing emissions from process-based industrial activities no longer needs to be complicated. With CarbonIQ, a platform by Jejakin, companies can calculate emissions from processes like aluminum electrolysis, coal reduction, and the use of explosives by simply entering key data such as:

• Type of industrial process or activity
• Volume or quantity of materials used (e.g., tons of alumina, kilograms of coal, or explosives)
• Type of core process material (e.g., reducing agents or explosives)

CarbonIQ will automatically calculate total emissions based on IPCC or national standards methodology, provide per-process analysis, and present strategic insights for emission reduction—all in one practical and user-friendly dashboard.

Why Should It Be Measured and Reported?

Process emissions are among the most complex but also the most critical types of Scope 1 emissions in heavy industries such as cement, steel, chemicals, and fertilizers. These emissions do not originate from combustion but from chemical reactions in production processes. Due to their potentially large scale and difficulty in reduction, proper reporting becomes the starting point for technological transformation.

Here’s why this type of emission should be reported:

• Identify the most dominant emission hot spots: Reporting helps companies pinpoint which parts of the process generate the highest emissions.
• Support the transition to low-carbon technologies: Without reporting process emissions, it's difficult to design alternatives such as low-carbon cement, green steel, or new catalysts (aids in industrial processes that accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed, making the process faster and more eco-friendly).
• Product-based regulations (CBAM & LCA): Industries (e.g., steel, aluminum, cement) are now required to report product carbon footprints, including process emissions, across global supply chains.
• Prerequisite for Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS): To effectively implement CCS, process emissions must be accurately measured and monitored.

Robust reporting enables deeper mapping of emission sources and supports long-term operational transformation.

How to Reduce It

Unlike combustion, emissions from chemical processes cannot be reduced through energy efficiency alone. Therefore, a technology-based approach and raw material substitution are required.

Here are several strategies that can be implemented:

• Raw material substitution: Use materials with lower carbon content (e.g., alternative materials instead of limestone in cement production).
• Low-carbon technology: Apply new process technologies that significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS): Capture and store emissions directly from industrial processes.
• Chemical process modification: Change reaction pathways or use catalysts that produce lower emissions.
• Real-time emission monitoring: Use platforms like CarbonIQ to identify emission spikes and evaluate processes.

With these strategies, industrial companies can maintain competitiveness while meeting climate targets.

Conclusion

Process emissions are a crucial yet often overlooked component of Scope 1, due to their technical nature and difficulty to monitor directly. However, emissions from chemical processes can contribute a significant portion to the total carbon footprint of manufacturing companies.

By accurately calculating and reporting them, and applying the right technologies and approaches, companies can reduce emissions while improving process efficiency.

Use platforms like CarbonIQ to support comprehensive planning, reporting, and decarbonization of industrial processes.