CO2impact

CO2impact is a standardized metric intended to express the net climate impact of an activity, product, or policy in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). The metric aims to reflect the full life cycle and, where possible, the net balance of emissions and removals over a defined time horizon. CO2impact is typically calculated using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, with clear boundary definitions such as cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-gate, and including Scope 1–3 emissions. Emissions are converted to CO2e using globally recognized global warming potentials (GWPs).

The calculation aggregates inputs from energy use, material production, manufacturing, transportation, use-phase energy consumption, maintenance, and end-of-life treatment. It also accounts for any measured or modeled carbon removals or stored carbon, such as forest sequestration credits or carbon capture, when these are applicable within the defined boundary and time horizon.

Applications of CO2impact include corporate sustainability reporting, product labeling, procurement criteria, and policy evaluation. The metric enables comparisons across products or services, supports design optimization, and informs supply chain decisions and investment choices. It serves as a tool for communicating climate performance to stakeholders and guiding strategic improvement efforts.

Limitations include data availability and quality, regional variation in emission factors, and the influence of chosen system boundaries and time horizons on results. There is also a risk of double counting if multiple entities report CO2impact without harmonized rules, and uncertainties in modeled removals. Regular updates and clear governance are needed to maintain comparability and usefulness.

CO2impact is related to, but distinct from, broader concepts like the carbon footprint and product carbon footprint. It may align with standards such as ISO 14067 or the GHG Protocol, depending on governance and implementation.