👣Carbon Footprint
Last updated
Last updated
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The Carbon Footprint module in Green Line is based on the “Cradle to Gate” model, which assesses the carbon footprint of a product from the extraction of raw materials (the cradle) to the point when the product leaves the manufacturing facility (the gate). Additionally, this module includes the processing of the material post-gate and transportation, providing a more comprehensive view of the product’s environmental impact.
Step 1: What is being assessed?
To create a list of materials for Carbon Footprint Calculation, select the desired materials by checking the boxes next to them, then choose "ADD TO GREEN LINE" and select "Carbon Footprint" from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Adding Calculation parameters
Three types of parameters can be added for calculating CO2 for each material. If no parameters are selected, the global average data for the manufacturing route will be used by default.
Manufacturing: Choose the country/region of manufacturing and the manufacturing route. Depending on the route selected, you can also add the percentage of scrap content to the calculation.
Processing: Select the processing method and the country/region of processing. Depending on the method, additional input can be provided (e.g., kg of removed material per kg of material processed).
Transport: Choose the transportation type (e.g., aircraft, train, sea) and input the distance in kilometers for the transportation route.
Multiple Processing and Transportation parameters can be added.
Transparency is ensured for all parameters included in the CO₂ calculation. For manufacturing, users can review the calculation methods by accessing an article detailing these methods. Meanwhile, for processing and transportation parameters, each dataset includes a description and reference, providing detailed explanations of the selected process and the source of each dataset.
Step 3: Browse the results
Once calculated, results are displayed in kg of CO2-eq per kg of material, with a breakdown showing the contribution from each parameter selected. If no parameters were set, the result is based on global average manufacturing data.
All Carbon Footprint calculations can be saved and exported as an Excel file, making it easy to share the data and track the environmental impact of various materials.
To streamline the list of materials on the Carbon Footprint page, users can filter by Material Group and Standard through drop-down menus. This allows for easier management and selection of materials when performing carbon footprint assessments.
A visual representation of the contributions from selected parameters in the carbon footprint calculation can be accessed by clicking the chart button next to the calculations.
This generates a pie chart that vividly illustrates the distribution of the different parameters (such as manufacturing, processing, and transport) contributing to the overall carbon footprint. In addition to the chart, a tabular view is displayed below, showing each parameter’s carbon footprint calculation and its total contribution. The parameters in the chart are color-coded and clickable, providing a detailed breakdown of each segment's contribution to the total calculation.
It is possible to add a pie chart to the material report builder. Currently, the data types available for inclusion from the pie chart section are the chart itself and a table showing the contributions of each parameter. This feature allows the contribution chart and table to be saved, shared, and downloaded as a PDF directly through the report.
The Duplicate Material feature allows users to replicate a material to explore different scenarios by adjusting processes, transportation methods, and manufacturing routes.
After clicking the "Duplicate Material" icon, the duplicated material will appear under the original, carrying the same parameters. Users can then individually edit the duplicated material to assess different environmental impacts and make comparisons.
Changing a material’s chemical condition or reference will alter its composition, which can lead to a difference in CO2 calculations. This is because the carbon footprint calculations are heavily dependent on the material's composition, and any changes in the chemical condition will influence the final results.
All carbon footprint calculations performed within the Carbon Footprint tool can be saved for future reference. After clicking the Save button, users can provide a name and description for the assessment, helping to organize and manage saved data. If no name is set, a generic title with the save date will be automatically assigned.
The saved Carbon Footprint can be accessed under Material Console -> My Console -> Saved Carbon Footprints.
All saved carbon footprint calculations can be found in Material Console -> My Console -> Saved Carbon Footprints. If a loaded carbon footprint contains materials with updated CO2 values, warning icons will appear next to the material designation and the affected values, showing the updated value in a tooltip. To reflect the latest data, users must click the button to recalculate and obtain the updated carbon footprint values.
Export Carbon Footprints
All calculated carbon footprints can be exported as an Excel file, ensuring that the data can be easily shared, analyzed, or integrated into other reporting systems.
