Upwork Sustainability Profile
Upwork Inc., headquartered in the United States, is a leading platform in the freelance marketplace industry, connecting businesses with skilled professionals across various sectors. Founded in 2015 through the merger of Elance and oDesk, Upwork has since established itself as a pivotal player in remote work solutions, facilitating millions of projects globally. With a focus on technology, creative services, and professional consulting, Upwork offers a unique blend of talent sourcing and project management tools. Its user-friendly interface and robust vetting processes set it apart, ensuring clients access top-tier freelancers. Notable achievements include a vast network of over 18 million registered freelancers and a strong market position as one of the largest platforms for remote work, making it an essential resource for businesses seeking flexible staffing solutions.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Upwork's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Business Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Upwork's score of 58 is higher than 76% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Upwork's reported carbon emissions
In 2024, Upwork reported total carbon emissions of approximately 9,443,000 kg CO2e, with all emissions classified under Scope 3. This includes significant contributions from purchased goods and services (about 8,800,000 kg CO2e), business travel (about 508,000 kg CO2e), and employee commuting (about 120,000 kg CO2e). The company's Scope 1 and 2 emissions were reported at about 11,000 kg CO2e (market-based) and approximately 301,000 kg CO2e (location-based). In 2023, Upwork's total emissions were approximately 13,390,000 kg CO2e, again primarily from Scope 3 sources. The breakdown included about 12,797,000 kg CO2e from purchased goods and services, 385,000 kg CO2e from business travel, and 190,000 kg CO2e from employee commuting. The Scope 1 and 2 emissions for that year were about 18,000 kg CO2e (market-based) and approximately 349,000 kg CO2e (location-based). Comparatively, in 2022, Upwork's total emissions were about 7,301,000 kg CO2e, with similar patterns in Scope 3 emissions. The company has not set specific reduction targets or initiatives, as indicated by the absence of documented reduction targets or climate pledges. Upwork's emissions data is sourced directly from Upwork Inc. and does not cascade from any parent organisation. The company continues to monitor its carbon footprint, focusing on transparency in its reporting.
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| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scope 2 | 32,960 | 00,000 | - | - | - | - |
| Scope 3 | 860,100 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 0,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 0,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is Upwork's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is Upwork's Location?
Upwork's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
Upwork's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 29% last year and increased by approximately 998% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Their carbon footprint includes supplier sustainability and value chain emissions data across Scope 3 categories, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 93% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
Upwork's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Upwork has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
