What emission factor sources are used in M2030?

Manufacture 2030's Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) tool utilizes emission factors from several authoritative sources. In the materials, processes, and services elements of the PCF builder, you will have the opportunity to define the emission factor that gets used within the PCF calculations.

These emission factors come from two main sources:

1. Ecoinvent
2. 2006 IPCC Guidelines

You can read more about the emission factor sources used in M2030 in this article.

Understanding the key principles of emission factors

Emission factors are values that represent the average emissions per unit of activity. When selecting emission factors, it is important to consider the following:

• Emission factors can vary depending on the processes and technology being used at different stages of production. For example, emissions from steel production differ significantly based on whether its produced blast furnaces or electric arc furnaces.

• Emission factors by region also vary, due to differences in local energy mixes, standard manufacturing technologies, and regulations.

• Emission factors for the same process may change through time as a result of shifts in technology and performance, reduced emissions from electricity, or even due to improvements in the performance of your own suppliers.

Why are primary emission factors important to collect?

Primary emission factors provided by your own suppliers’ Greenhouse Gas (GHG) calculations are tailored to specific materials that you purchase. As they are based on real-world data, the results of any emissions calculations will be more accurate. 

Not only that, but understanding the specific emissions associated with each part of the supply chain enables you to identify and target specific areas where you can decarbonise your products, and have the impact of any improvements shown in your PCF results.

By relying only on secondary emission factors it is not possible to demonstrate the impact of any decarbonisation actions you introduce, other than those achieved through improving efficiency at your own facility.

Searching the M2030 emission factor database

M2030 provides search bars which enable you to search through the various emission factors we have available. You can search for different materials, services, and processes on the basis of keywords. These might include:

• Names of raw materials
• Common synonyms
• Process names and key descriptions

Whilst M2030 does try to make the search function work, some materials that are commonly abbreviated may need to be searched for using their full name. For example, to find PVC it might be best to first try polyvinylchloride. 

👁 Make sure to read the description of the emission factors before you choose them: this can provide some key information on the underlying assumptions within those emission factors. All factors that appear are relevant for the time period you are calculating your PCF for.

Searching for proxies

If you’re unable to find a suitable emission factor in the M2030 database for the exact material, process, or service you need, it is a good idea to look for proxies.

A proxy is an emission factor from a similar material, process, or service that can serve as an approximation. For example, if you can’t find an emission factor for a specific type of plastic, it might be most suitable to use an emission factor for a different type of plastic that has similar properties or production processes.

If you are still struggling to find an appropriate emission factor, then please email us at emissionfactor@manufacture2030.com. We will try to assist you in identifying an appropriate emission factor that exists already, but note that whilst we do our best to make sure our database is as comprehensive as possible, this is not possible in all cases. We take a record of cases of where we are unable to find an appropriate emission factor and will continue to explore supplementary data from other sources or scientific literature which we can also use.