Upwork

Upwork, a company operating in the "Other business services (74)" industry with its headquarters in the US, has reported its carbon emissions for recent years.

For 2024, Upwork's total emissions were approximately 9.45 million kg CO2e. This figure primarily comprises Scope 3 emissions, which amounted to about 9.44 million kg CO2e. Within Scope 3, purchased goods and services were the largest contributor, accounting for approximately 8.8 million kg CO2e. Scope 2 emissions, based on market-based calculations, were around 11,000 kg CO2e, with location-based figures at approximately 301,000 kg CO2e. The company has not reported Scope 1 emissions for this year.

In 2023, Upwork's total emissions were approximately 13.74 million kg CO2e. Scope 3 emissions constituted the vast majority, totalling about 13.39 million kg CO2e, with purchased goods and services representing approximately 12.8 million kg CO2e. Scope 1 and 2 emissions (market-based) were reported at about 18,000 kg CO2e, and location-based at approximately 349,000 kg CO2e.

For 2022, total emissions were approximately 7.67 million kg CO2e. Scope 3 emissions were reported at about 7.3 million kg CO2e, with purchased goods and services making up approximately 6.65 million kg CO2e. Scope 1 and 2 emissions (market-based) were around 15,000 kg CO2e, and location-based were approximately 369,000 kg CO2e.

In 2021, Upwork reported Scope 3 emissions of about 273,600 kg CO2e. Scope 1 and 2 emissions (market-based) were approximately 16,400 kg CO2e, with location-based figures at about 354,100 kg CO2e. Some Scope 3 data, specifically for purchased goods and services, was missing for this year.

For 2020, Upwork's total emissions were approximately 437,000 kg CO2e. This included Scope 1 emissions of about 22,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 (market-based) of approximately 177,800 kg CO2e and (location-based) of about 179,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions of about 259,000 kg CO2e.

In 2019, Scope 2 emissions (market-based) were approximately 33,000 kg CO2e, and (location-based) were about 317,000 kg CO2e. Scope 3 emissions for business travel, employee commute, purchased goods and services, and fuel and energy-related activities were reported. Scope 1 emissions were noted as missing for this year.

Climate Commitments and Reduction Targets:

Upwork has set a near-term intensity reduction target for Scope 2 market-based emissions related to electricity and natural gas used in leased offices. Using 2019 as a baseline, the company aims to reduce emissions intensity by 50 percent by 2030, targeting a reduction from 0.066 to 0.033 metric tons of CO2e per employee.

Remarkably, Upwork has already exceeded this target, achieving an intensity of 0.028 metric tons of CO2e per employee in 2025 by procuring renewable electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs).

Upwork's data reporting indicates a strong focus on Scope 3 emissions, particularly purchased goods and services, and has disclosed data for scopes 2 and 3 in recent years. The company's reporting is not cascaded from a parent organisation; Upwork Inc. is the source for its own data.