Carbon Footprint - TX

Carbon Footprint is the LCA indicator related to Global Warming caused by greenhouse gasses. Carbon Footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted directly or indirectly, expressed as a net total (or gross total??) emission value. These emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2eq). In the Carbon Footprint calculation all GHGs are converted into CO2 equivalents using a standardized Global Warming Potential (GWP) table based on a 20-year time horizon.

Application

The Carbon Footprint can be applied to multiple entities:

• Legal Entity: Such as corporations or organizations. The Carbon Footprint is measured over a specified period, typically per year.
• Location: Specific geographical sites or operational areas within the organization.
• Item: Products or goods (e.g. raw materials, components, finished goods, shipping units)

Specific Details for Items

For items, the Carbon Footprint is specified per Material Use Category:

• The Product: (consumable, disposable, and durable). The default measurement unit is per kilogram (kg) of the product, but alternative units may be used depending on the product's nature (e.g., per consumer unit, per portion, per liter, per piece, per meter, per m2 etc.).
• The Packaging: Measured per Trade Unit, which can be a Consumer Unit, Handling Unit, Shipping Unit, or Transport Unit.

And is accompanied by a LCAterm and Geographic Location info:

When reporting the Carbon Footprint value for individual items, it is essential to associate each value with a specific LCAterm (Life Cycle Assessment Term) and the related geographic location. This practice is analogous to how pricing is tied to an Incoterm in commercial transactions. The LCAterm provides crucial context by defining the scope and boundaries of the lifecycle assessment for that item. It includes details such as the stages of the product lifecycle covered (e.g., from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal), the geographical scope, and any specific processes or stages that are included or excluded in the calculation.

Providing a Carbon Footprint value without an accompanying LCAterm would be similar to stating a price without specifying the associated Incoterm; it lacks the necessary context for interpretation and comparison. Just as Incoterms clarify terms of trade, LCAterms ensure that the reported Carbon Footprint values are clear, consistent, and meaningful, facilitating accurate comparisons and informed decision-making. It is therefore imperative that each Carbon Footprint value reported is accompanied by a clearly defined LCAterm to ensure transparency and reliability in sustainability reporting.

Carbon Footprint sample DataPoint

• LCAIndicator = CarbonFootPrint
  • EntityType = Item
  • IndentifierType = GTIN
  • ID = 875645678987
  • MaterialUseCategory = Consumable (or Product??)
  • Value = 3,2
  • ValueUnit = kgCO2eq
  • MeasurementUnit = per Kg product
  • LCAterm = EXW
  • Location
    • Location Identifier Type = GPS
    • Location ID = 52.3105, 4.768

Why not use Scope 1,2,3 in LCA data exchange?

Scope 1, 2, and 3 is a perspective concept, and the values are therefore dependent on the perspective. The direct emissions of one company (Scope 1) can be the indirect emissions of another company (Scope 3) within the lifecycle of a single product. And Scope 3 is split into upstream (emissions by others before me in the life cycle) and downstream Emissions by other companies or consumers after my operations in the life cycle) in every perspective. So, there isn't something like a Scope 3 value per product.