ISKU’s goal for 2021 was to make product-specific carbon footprint calculations to help customers make the most climate-friendly choices. An important criterion was to find an external, impartial expert who would carry out the study according to a reliable standard.

Third party product-specific carbon footprint calculation

We selected Green Carbon as our partner. The calculation has been carried out according to SFS-EN ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products – Requirements and guidelines for Quantification.

The calculation of the carbon footprint of a product covers the emissions during the whole life cycle of the product. The calculation can be done in two different ways. In Cradle-to-Gate the emissions are taken into account only from the production of raw materials to production of products. Cradle-to-Grave takes into account life cycle emissions, including emissions from distribution and sale, use and disposal, thus providing a more realistic picture of total product emissions. Product-specific calculation should therefore be done with the Cradle-to-Grave delimitation, unless there are grounds for a narrower
delimitation.

Product-specific carbon footprint calculation challenges you to think about material choices

The carbon footprint of ISKU’s furniture is most significantly influenced by the materials used: quantity and their carbon footprint coefficient. Here is an example of the carbon footprint distribution of the Monkey sofa:

The calculation of the carbon footprint of a product covers the emissions during the whole life cycle of the product. The calculation can be done in two different ways. In Cradle-to-Gate the emissions are taken into account only from the production of raw materials to production of products. Cradle-to-Grave takes into account life cycle emissions, including emissions from distribution and sale, use and disposal, thus providing a more realistic picture of total product emissions. Product-specific calculation should therefore be done with the Cradle-to-Grave delimitation, unless there are grounds for a narrower
delimitation.

Product-specific carbon footprint calculation challenges you to think about material choices

The carbon footprint of ISKU’s furniture is most significantly influenced by the materials used: quantity and their carbon footprint coefficient. Here is an example of the carbon footprint distribution of the Monkey sofa:

Below are examples of the impact of the choices. It should be noted that only the environmental impact of the carbon footprint of the choices has been taken into account in the calculations.

Example 1) A customer buys a Monkey 3-person sofa for their home:

– When the customer chooses to use leather as a by-product of meat production for upholstery, the product’s carbon footprint is 173.5 kg CO2e
– When the customer chooses 100% wool fabric, the carbon footprint is 418.7 kg CO2e
– The carbon footprint effect of the choices is 245.2 kg CO2e. With a climate-friendly fabric selection, 59% of the entire product’s carbon footprint can be saved. Below is an even more detailed comparison of the carbon footprint of the fabrics in the product in question:
– 100% wool 258.37 kg CO2e
– 100% wool 38.72 kg CO2e
– 98% recycled polyester, 2% polyester 28.22 kg CO2e
– leather 13.17 kg CO2e

Example 2) The customer buys 40 Tutto chairs for the break room:

– When the customer chooses Tutto chairs with wooden legs without upholstery, the carbon foot print of 1,256 kg CO2e
– When the customer chooses the Tutto chairs with metal legs fully upholstered (90% wool and 10% nylon), the carbon footprint is 2,116 kg CO2e
– There is a difference of 860 kg CO2e in terms of carbon footprint. With a climate-friendly selection, 41 % of the carbon footprint of the products can be saved. On average, the carbon footprint of a Finn per month is 858* kg CO2e. This means in practice that a climate-friendly choice can save one person’s one-month carbon footprint. The effect multiplies the larger the amounts involved.

*Source: https://www.sitra.fi/artikkelit/keskivertsuomalaisen-hiilijalanjalki/

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