Carbon footprints* of products are expressed in CO2-eq (sometimes referred to as CO2-e).
*Also named Global warming or Climate change.
A summary of Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq) is used to express the amount of each greenhouse gas that would have the same warming effect as a given amount of CO2.
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat from the sun and cause the Earth's temperature to rise. CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas, but others also contribute to global warming.
To assess Global Warming the IPCC 2013 100-year method is used. This means that all the released emissions within a time frame of 100 years are taken into account.
The carbon footprint of a product is simply the sum of its CO2 equivalent emissions. Click here for more information if you encountered a negative CO2-eq.
Carbon footprints in Pickler
In the eco-costs model used by Pickler, the carbon footprint is one of the midpoint categories used to measure the environmental impact of a product (see also eco-costs).
By taking into account the warming potential of different greenhouse gases, the tool helps identify ways to reduce the carbon footprint and move towards more sustainable practices. For more information on the carbon footprint and its role in the eco-costs model, visit https://www.ecocostsvalue.com/footprint/.