United Utilities Group PLC
United Utilities Group's GHG Emissions Data Preview
In 2024, United Utilities Group completed a corporate carbon footprint assessment and publicly disclosed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the GHG Protocol, covering Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the value chain).
United Utilities Group has also provided a category-level breakdown for 7 out of 15 Scope 3 emissions categories, offering greater transparency into its value chain emissions.
| Metric (tCO2e) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Scope 1 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 2 | ||||
Market-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Location-Based | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 3 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  b | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
Total Scope 1 Revenue Intensity (tCO2e/$M) | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  a | 0000000 |
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aVerified Sources Behind United Utilities Group’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Data
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Insights into United Utilities Group's Operational Emissions
In 2024, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of United Utilities Group amounted to 156,377.8 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure includes both direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2). a
Compared to 2023, the total operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of United Utilities Group increased by 5.67%, suggesting that the company faced challenges in reducing its emissions from its core operations. a
United Utilities Group's Scope 1 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 1
- Year-over-Year Change
What are United Utilities Group's Scope 1 emissions?
In 2024, the total Scope 1 emissions of United Utilities Group were 20,188 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Has United Utilities Group reduced its Scope 1 emissions over time?
Since 2020, United Utilities Group's Scope 1 emissions have increased by 32.41%, reflecting a rising long-term trend in Scope 1 emissions over time. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), United Utilities Group's Scope 1 emissions decreased by 4.62%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower direct emissions from assets it owns or controls. a
What are United Utilities Group's Scope 2 emissions?
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 39.7 tCO₂e using the market-based method and 136,189.8 tCO₂e using the location-based method. a
Has United Utilities Group reduced its Scope 2 emissions over time?
Since 2020, United Utilities Group's Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ( Location-Based) have decreased by 17.22%, reflecting a declining long-term trend in Scope 2 emissions over time. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), United Utilities Group's Scope 2 emissions (Location-Based) have remained relatively stable, indicating that United Utilities Group 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its energy consumption footprint. a
What methodology does United Utilities Group use for Scope 2 reporting?
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported its Scope 2 emissions using the market-based method and using the location-based method. a
United Utilities Group's Scope 2 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 2 Location-Based
- Total Scope 2 Market-Based
Insights into United Utilities Group's Value Chain Emissions
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported 419,372 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, representing indirect emissions across its upstream and downstream value chain. a
The 2024 disclosure of United Utilities Group includes a breakdown across 7 of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol, matching the level of disclosure in 2023, demonstrating consistent Scope 3 emissions reporting coverage year over year. a
United Utilities Group's Scope 3 Emissions Over Time
- Total Scope 3
- Year-over-Year Change
What are United Utilities Group's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported total Scope 3 emissions of 419,372 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). a
Approximately 100% of these emissions originated from upstream activities such as purchased goods and capital goods, while 0% came from downstream activities like product use, distribution, and end-of-life treatment. a
Has United Utilities Group reduced its Scope 3 emissions over time?
Since 2020, United Utilities Group's Scope 3 emissions have remained relatively stable, indicating that United Utilities Group 's emissions have plateaued with no significant change in its value chain footprint. a
Compared to the previous year (2023), United Utilities Group's Scope 3 emissions decreased by 11.81%, highlighting the company's efforts to lower indirect emissions from its value chain. a b
What categories of Scope 3 emissions does United Utilities Group disclose?
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported emissions for 7 out of the 15 Scope 3 categories defined by the GHG Protocol. a
This partial disclosure allows for some insight into the company's indirect impacts.
What are the main sources of United Utilities Group's Scope 3 emissions?
In 2024, the largest contributors to United Utilities Group's Scope 3 emissions were: a
- Purchased Goods and Services (Cat. 1): 233,480 tCO₂e (55.67%)
- Capital Goods (Cat. 2): 99,962 tCO₂e (23.84%)
- Fuel- and Energy-Related Services (Cat. 3): 53,189 tCO₂e (12.68%)
United Utilities Group's Scope 3 Emissions by Categories
Insights into United Utilities Group’s GHG Emissions Intensity Compared to Industry Peers
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 20,188 tCO₂e and total revenues of USD 2,462 millions. This translates into an emissions intensity of 8.2 tCO₂e per millions USD. a
United Utilities Group's Scope 1 Emissions Intensity Compared to Peers
How does United Utilities Group's GHG emissions intensity compare to its peers?
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported a Scope 1 emissions intensity of 8.2 tCO₂e per millions USD. Compared to the peer group median of 36.09 , this places the company below its industry benchmark, indicating it is more carbon-efficient than most competitors. a
Where does United Utilities Group rank on GHG emissions intensity within its industry?
In 2024, United Utilities Group ranked 7 out of 22 companies in its industry peer group, based on Scope 1 emissions intensity (measured in tCO₂e per millions USD). a
United Utilities Group is therefore positioned in the mid-range of its industry, neither a clear leader nor a laggard in carbon efficiency. a
Insights into United Utilities Group's Total Carbon Footprint
In 2024, United Utilities Group reported a total carbon footprint of 575,749.8 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. This represents a 7.66% decrease compared to 2023, indicating progress in reducing its overall greenhouse gas output. a b
The largest contributor to United Utilities Group's total carbon footprint was Scope 3 emissions, accounting for 72.84% of the company's total carbon footprint, followed by Scope 2 emissions at 23.65%. a