For every layer or component in Pickler, you can add the primary, energy mix data that was used during processing.
This means specifying the actual electricity and heat sources used at the processing site, making your footprint calculations more accurate and transparent.
By adding this data, you bring in more primary data closer to the source, which improves the accuracy of your results.
What kind of energy data should I add for accurate calculations?
Use: Location-Based Energy Data
When calculating the footprint of your packaging, always use the energy that was physically consumed at the processing location. This is called the location-based approach.
If you have access to on-site or nearby energy sources, for example:
Solar panels on the factory roof
A hydroelectric dam in the same valley
A local biomass heat network
You can include these too, as long as they physically supply the facility.
Do not use: Market-Based Energy Data
You should not include energy contracts or certificates, such as Guarantees of Origin (GOs) or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). These only shift ownership on paper and do not change the actual energy delivered to the site.
Using them can make your results look greener than reality, which is why they are excluded under LCA best practices.
Examples of what sources not to use
Energy data from green electricity contracts or GOs — these only shift ownership on paper.
Claiming “100% renewable” electricity based on certificates while the local grid still uses coal, gas, or oil.
Electricity from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that are not physically connected to your site.
Offset credits or virtual power agreements that do not change the real electricity supply.