1.5 Degrees

Refers to the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Activity-based PCF Calculation

A complex carbon footprint calculation method using activity data rather than spend-based data. It includes average-data, supplier-specific, and hybrid approaches for granularity.

Allocation

In LCA, the process of assigning the environmental impact in multi-output processes where multiple products are interconnected or share common processes.

Attributional LCA

A life cycle assessment approach focusing on the direct environmental impacts of producing a product over its life cycle, such as raw materials, production, etc.

Average-data Approach

An activity-based PCF calculation method using industry-specific default data for a defined product category.

Background data

Environmental impact or emission factor data connected with product data to calculate PCFs. Can be primary (supplier-specific information, e.g., an EPD) or secondary (e.g., EFs from databases like ecoinvent).

CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)

A standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. It expresses the impact of different greenhouse gases in terms of the amount of CO2 that would create the same amount of warming.

Carbon Footprint (CF)

A measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions directly and indirectly caused by an activity or accumulated over the life stages of a product.

Carbon Intensity of Electricity

A measure of how much CO2e is emitted per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. It varies based on the energy mix of a region or manufacturer (e.g., renewables vs. fossil fuels).

Carbon Neutral

A state where an organization, product, or activity has net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, achieved by balancing emissions with carbon removal or offsetting.

Carbon Offset

A reduction in emissions of CO2 or other greenhouse gases made to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere. These can include renewable energy projects, reforestation, and energy efficiency projects.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2. This can be done naturally, such as through forests, or artificially, such as with carbon capture and storage technology.

Circular Economy

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources through principles like reuse, sharing, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling.

Circular Footprint Formula (CFF)

A formula by the European Commission as part of the PEF methodology to allocate environmental burdens and credits for recycling, reusing, or recovering energy between supplier and user of recycled materials.

Consequential LCA

An LCA approach that considers broader consequences beyond immediate impacts, such as market shifts and changes in behavior resulting from a measure. Provides a holistic view of environmental consequences including indirect effects.

Cradle-to-Gate

An assessment approach including all upstream and core activities in the life cycle of a product but excludes downstream activities.

Cradle-to-Grave

A comprehensive assessment approach considering the entire lifecycle of a product from raw material extraction (cradle) to disposal (grave).

Cut-Off Allocation

An allocation method where burdens or credits associated with material from previous or subsequent life cycles are not considered, focusing instead on the use of recycled content.

Downstream Emissions

Refers to the GHG emissions that occur after the product has left the company, including its use and disposal. These emissions are crucial for a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) as they represent the end-of-life impact of the product.

Ecoinvent

A comprehensive database for life cycle inventory data, widely used in LCA studies.

Emission Factor (EF)

A coefficient that quantifies the emissions per unit of activity, most often given in kg CO2e / kg.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, considering inter-related socio-economic, cultural, and human-health impacts.

Environmental Impact Categories

Divisions in LCA used to categorize and quantify impacts on different aspects of the environment, such as air, water, soil, etc.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

A standardized document providing information about a product's environmental impact, based on an LCA.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

Criteria used to evaluate a company's operations and sustainability performance, including its environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices.

Foreground data

Specific, detailed information directly related to the product being assessed. Primary, foreground data is supplier-specific whereas secondary data refers to industry-specific default values.

Functional Unit (FU)

In LCA, the quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit in a life cycle assessment study. It can be 1 kg, 1 m3 or 1 product.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure used to compare the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere. It represents the total warming effect of one unit of a gas over a fixed period, often 100 years, compared to one unit of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Emissions of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol

A widely used international accounting tool and standard for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenwashing

A deceptive practice where a company falsely claims to be environmentally friendly. It involves misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of a product or service.

ISO 14040/44

International standards providing guidelines and principles for conducting and reporting life cycle assessment studies.

Idemat Database

A database providing information on the environmental impact of materials, often used in LCA.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A systematic analysis of the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product throughout its life cycle.

Life Cycle Costing (LCC)

An approach for assessing the total cost of ownership, considering all costs associated with the life cycle of a product.

Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)

A phase in LCA where potential environmental impacts are assessed using inventory data.

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)

A phase in LCA involving the compilation of detailed inputs and outputs across various stages of a product's life cycle.

Material Circularity Index (MCI)

An index developed by the McArthur Foundation to evaluate the circularity aspects of material flows of a product, from raw materials to end-of-life.

Material Loss Rate

In manufacturing, the percentage of material that is wasted during the production process.

Paris Agreement

An international treaty adopted in 2015 to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Primary data

Supplier- or company-specific foreground or background data. Examples include primary information about a product's weight or a PCF for a certain material.

Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

An EU initiative that quantifies the environmental performance of a product or service throughout its life cycle.

Product Life Cycle

The stages a product goes through from raw material extraction to disposal or recycling.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

A strategic approach to managing the lifecycle of a product from inception, through engineering design and manufacture, to service and disposal.

Raw Material Acquisition

The initial stage of a product's life cycle involving the extraction or harvesting of natural resources.

Recycling Process Allocation

The assignment of environmental impacts in the recycling process, typically between the recycled material and the virgin material.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

Tradable, non-tangible energy commodities that certify the bearer owns one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable energy resource.

Science-Based Targets

Emission reduction targets set by companies to align with the level of decarbonization required to keep global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Scope 1 and 2 Emissions

Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy (Scope 2).

Scope 3 Emissions

Indirect emissions from a company’s value chain, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

Secondary Data

Default or average data for foreground or background information. Examples include an average weight for a product where primary information is missing or a general material emission factor from a database like ecoinvent.

Spend-based PCF Calculation

A carbon footprint calculation method using general emission factors and considering a product's price and category.

Streamlined LCA

A simplified approach to LCA, often software-based, used for analyzing a wide range of product categories in a less complex manner.

Substitution Approach

An allocation method where the impact of recycled materials is equated to the impact of virgin materials, focusing on end-of-life recycling.

Supplier-specific Approach

An activity-based PCF calculation method requiring detailed data from the supply chain of a product for a life-cycle assessment.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations to address urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges by 2030. These goals include climate action, affordable and clean energy, and responsible consumption and production.

Upstream Emissions

Refers to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur during the initial stages of a product's life cycle, such as the extraction and processing of raw materials. These emissions are critical for understanding the full environmental impact of a product.

Virtual Bill of Materials (BOM)

A digital representation of a product flow including components and materials as well as production and transport steps used in LCA to assess the environmental impact.

Klima-Glossar