GRAFE's customer portal now offers a CO₂ calculator to verify the life cycle assessment

Increasing sustainability requirements demand information on the emission content of products

„Our customers are increasingly demanding sustainability. We therefore feel obliged to be able to show them the emissions content of our products“, explains Manuel Klemm, Head of Internal Sales. „The certificate created contains the necessary data on the carbon footprint of our products and gives our customers the opportunity to calculate the environmental performance of their own products in the next step of the value chain. The values are based on the cradle-to-gate system limits in accordance with ISO 14040/44“, says Klemm.

cradle-to-gate: From raw material extraction to the factory gate

Cradle-to-gate is a concept in the field of environmental assessment and life cycle analysis (LCA). It refers to the systematic analysis of the potential environmental impact and energy balance of products from raw material extraction (cradle) to the factory gate - typically for intermediate products in the value chain. All phases of the product life cycle in between are considered. In contrast, cradle-to-grave refers to end products and includes their environmental impact up to disposal.

All environmentally relevant extractions from the environment (e.g. crude oil) and emissions into the environment (e.g. greenhouse gases) are counted, from the energy required to manufacture the product to internal transport and the raw materials and supplies used. „We receive this information from our electricity and gas suppliers as well as the raw material suppliers and include it in the calculation“, reports the expert, pointing out that it is not just about carbon dioxide. „All greenhouse gases emitted are included in the calculation, but they are stated as CO₂ equivalent per kilogram to ensure comparability.“

A step towards better comparability

Comparability is a good keyword, because thanks to the CO₂ calculator, GRAFE's customers benefit not only from added value in terms of information and an improved image in terms of environmental friendliness, but also from better comparability with competitors' products. However, Klemm cautions: „There are currently no standardized regulations and many suppliers work with flat-rate values, which impairs comparability. This is because the CO₂ footprint is not yet a legal requirement for medium-sized companies. But we are acting with foresight and making our products future-proof.“

A life cycle assessment typically comprises four phases: the definition of objectives and scope, the preparation of a life cycle inventory (an inventory of inputs and outputs), the impact assessment and finally the evaluation. „We at GRAFE are committed to these standards and, with the CO₂ calculator, we want to provide our customers with a tool that they can also use to optimize their carbon footprint“, says the Head of Internal Sales. The customer portal also offers a wealth of other valuable information on current and previously developed products.