Finding the right emission factors is crucial for accurate Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs). In this section, you'll learn:

• How to search and select emission factors in M2030
• The difference between primary and secondary emission factors
• How to find alternatives when exact matches aren't available

Why this is relevant: Using appropriate emission factors ensures your PCFs represent the environmental impact of your products accurately. Understanding how to choose them helps you create more reliable calculations.

Understanding emission factor sources in M2030

As touched on in Lesson 3, M2030’s PCF Module uses emissions from trusted sources:

• Ecoinvent: Comprehensive lifecycle assessment database
• 2006 IPCC Guidelines: International standard for emissions

When building PCFs in M2030, you’ll select emission factors for materials, processes, and services.

Key principles for selecting emission factors 

• As emission factors are averages, they vary based on the process and technology used at different stages of production. For example, emissions from steel production differ significantly between steel made in blast furnaces or electric arc furnaces.

• Emission factors can also vary between different regions. This is largely down to differences in local energy, manufacturing technologies, and regulations.

• Emission factors for the same process can change over time due to shifts in technology, reduced emissions from electricity, or even improved performance of your own suppliers.

Why are primary emission factors important to collect? 

Primary emission factors come directly from your suppliers and are based on real-world data. As such, they are more accurate. Understanding real emissions enables you to identify and prioritize where to decarbonize. Any improvements made will be shown in your PCF results. 

In contrast, relying only on secondary emission factors won’t show the impact of any decarbonization actions taken by you or your suppliers. They are based on industry averages and standard values, so they are less specific to your supply chain.

Using M2030’s emission factor database

Search tips:

1. Try different search terms:
   
   1. Material names
   2. Common synonyms
   3. Process names and description
   4. Product names and description
   5. Service names and description
2. Spell out abbreviations
   1. Example: Try searching polyvinylchloride instead of PVC
3. Make sure you read the descriptions before selecting relevant emission factors
   1. Check underlying assumptions
   2. Verify time relevance

Finding alternatives (proxies)

Can’t find a good match on the database? Here’s what to do:

1. Look for similar materials, processes, products, or services
   1. Example: Use a similar plastic type with comparable properties
2. Consider these factors when choosing proxies:
   1. Similar production methods
   2. Comparable material properties (for materials
   3. Related chemical compositions (for materials)

Still need help? Drop a message to emissionfactor@manufacture2030.com if you can't find a suitable factor; need guidance on choosing between options; or want to suggest new factors for the database.