👣Copy of Carbon Footprint
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.
Quick guide
Step 1: What is being assessed?
Add materials to a Carbon Footprint in either of these ways:
In any material list, select the materials using the checkbox on the right. Then select "ADD TO GREEN LINE" and choose "Carbon Footprint".
On a material page, add the material directly to "Carbon Footprint" from the Carbon Footprint calculator.
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.
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.
Advanced options
1. Filtering
Users can quickly narrow down the materials list on the Carbon Footprint page by searching for a specific Material Designation. Materials can also be filtered using the Material Group and Standard drop-down menus.
In addition, advanced filters allow users to search by carbon footprint range, either based on the total carbon footprint or on any of the three individual parameter types. These filtering options make it easier to find, manage, and select the relevant materials when performing carbon footprint assessments.
2. Impact visualization
A visual representation of the contributions from selected parameters in the carbon footprint calculation can be accessed by clicking the "View Details" button below the parameter contributoins.
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.
3. Duplicate Material
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.
4. Change chemical condition/reference
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.
5. Pin materials
The Pin option allows users to move frequently used or important materials to the top of the materials list, regardless of their original position. There is no limit to the number of materials that can be pinned, making it easier to quickly access the materials most relevant to your carbon footprint assessments and improving efficiency when working with large material lists.
Copy bulk options
This feature allows you to copy parameters from one material to one or more other materials. Parameters can be copied either by clicking "Copy" button next to the calculation or directly from the Parameters window while configuring the material parameters.
After clicking the Copy button, a menu opens with three tabs: Manufacturing, Processing, and Transport. Selecting a tab displays the relevant parameters for that category, along with a list of available materials. Using the list select one or multiple materials to which the parameters should be copied to. This allows efficient copy of the selected parameters in bulk - to several materials at the same time.
When copying parameters, there is an option to Add or Overwrite the existing parameters using the corresponding slider. Select Add to add the copied parameters without replacing existing values, or select Overwrite to replace the existing parameters with the copied values.
Save, Load, Share and Export Carbon Footprints
Save Carbon Footprints
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 analysis can be loaded directly from the module by clicking on the 'Open' button.
Loading 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.
Share Carbon Footprint
Once the assessment is saved, sharing option becomes available. Click on the 'Share' button and copy the generated URL and send it to your colleagues. This allows them to access the saved Carbon Footprint analysis and its results without any editing possibilities.
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.
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