GLOSSARY OF TERMS
tCO2e = tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
This is a common measure of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) which standardises methane and nitrous oxide in to units equivalent to carbon dioxide
Carbon neutral
This term describes a product, service, or set of operations with no net carbon footprint, which is accomplished either by eliminating emissions or by offsetting them through carbon removal practices (i.e. planting trees)
Carbon intensity factor
GHG emissions per certain metric (employees, product, revenue, kg, etc.)
Cradle to grave
Removals and emissions of a studied product from material acquisition through to end-of-life.
Material acquisition and pre-processing
Starts when resources are extracted from nature and ends when they enter the production facility.
Production
Starts when the product components enter the production site and ends when the finished product leaves the production gate.
Distribution and storage
Starts when the finished product leaves the gate of the production facility and ends when the consumer takes possession of the product.
Use
Begins when the consumer takes possession of the product and ends when the product is discarded for transport to a waste treatment location.
End-of-life
Begins when the used product is discarded by the consumer and ends when the product is returned to nature (e.g., incinerated) or allocated to another product’s life cycle (e.g., recycled).
Electricity losses
Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses associated with electricity consumption from the grid.
Ecoinvent database
The ecoinvent database provides well documented process data for thousands of products, helping make truly informed choices about their environmental impact. The latest version, ecoinvent 3.7.1, builds on all previous versions of the database.
Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard
This standard provides requirements and guidance for companies and other organisations to quantify and publicly report an inventory of GHG emissions and removals associated with a specific product. The primary goal of this standard is to provide a general framework for companies to make informed choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the products (goods or services) they design, manufacture, sell, purchase, or use. In the context of this standard, public reporting refers to product GHG-related information reported publicly in accordance with the requirements specified in the standard. (https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/Product-Life-Cycle-Accounting-Reporting-Standard_041613.pdf)
