The manufacturing process for most products requires energy-intensive processes, which traditionally rely on burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. This releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere which trap more heat than normal in the atmosphere, which accelerates global climate change. Understanding and reducing a product’s carbon footprint means you can then do something about climate change.

CO2e is the standard measure for carbon footprints. It includes carbon dioxide as well as the other most important greenhouse gases created by human activities that contribute to climate change. These are converted to a much simpler to understand ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’, or CO2e.

We want to help you make more informed decisions to reduce the environmental impact of your packaging. For every variable of secondary and tertiary packaging variable that can be adjusted in the system, we can present alternatives on the carbon footprint for eco-design and supply chain decision-making.

If you can adjust it in Cape Pack Prime, it is included in the carbon footprint. That covers the raw materials and manufacturing of the secondary and tertiary packaging, including ancillary materials such as shrinkwrap, strapping and pallets. The calculations include the manufacturing of the packaging including die-cutting, glueing and folding. We also include delivery to the customer if truck analysis is included by the user.

The following aspects are not covered within Cape Pack Prime software, so they are not included from the carbon footprint calculations: any printing on the secondary or tertiary packaging, the product itself, primary packaging, any impact of using the packaging, and disposal at the end-of-life.

This includes all raw materials, production and upstream transport before the product leaves the factory. It excludes any further distribution, the impact of using the product, and disposal at end-of-life.

This includes all raw materials, production and transport before the product is distributed to the end user or consumer. It excludes any further distribution, the impact of using the product, and disposal at end-of-life.

The substrate itself like cardboard or plastic is usually the dominant contributor to a carbon footprint, accounting on average for approximately 70% of its impact.

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There is no “good” or “bad” carbon footprint. By providing you with different carbon footprints for different options, you can make informed choices to reduce your environmental impact.

Within Cape Pack Prime, there are many ways you can make significant reductions to your carbon footprints. These include investigating a range of specifications and materials, pallet and truck loading patterns, and reducing transport distances.

Carbon footprints are coming soon to all Esko products! In the meantime, please speak to your account manager or support@carbonquota.co.uk if you want help on anything else.

Outside of Cape Pack Prime, your suppliers can help by reducing their use of fossil fuels in the manufacturing process, minimising waste, reducing transport, as well as using alternative materials produced by lower-carbon providers. Carefully check that any sustainability claims they are making are backed up by science.

Product carbon footprints from CarbonQuota are calculated by accessing the widest possible range of databases and studies from across the world, which is constantly updated and refreshed as new information becomes available. This combines sector specialist data, paid for data, publicly available data, opensource data, and CarbonQuota’s expertise. This is always subject to data licensing permissions.

We use as much information as possible that is provided by the user, and run all variables through our model to calculate the carbon footprint in the most granular way possible. CarbonQuota’s experts make assumptions where information is not available.

Carbon footprints are independently calculated and verified by CarbonQuota, and externally assured against relevant international standards. As specialists in the environmental impact of packaging, CarbonQuota has developed a unique database. CarbonQuota uses industry standard tools as well as its own algorithm for the calculations.

How it can be used for reporting will depend on individual circumstances. Please discuss this with the relevant carbon management partner or auditor.

Please speak to your account manager or support@carbonquota.co.uk

CarbonQuota is a specialist in carbon management for the print, packaging, marketing and media sectors, helping businesses to comply with regulatory requirements, meet customer demands and reduce environmental impact through accurate, automated carbon footprints and customised carbon reduction strategies.