You may often hear about how important it is to reduce your carbon footprint, but not everyone is aware of what exactly that means. According to Earth.org, a carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. These include gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

It is important to note that every individual leaves a carbon footprint; this is measured by, for example, your daily activities, transport and purchases such as food and clothing.

It's not just about individuals; products, businesses and entire countries also leave a carbon footprint. ( Gaby Agbulos, more at republicasiamedia.com)

CO2 emissions from different types of fuels and vehicles are one of the key issues facing modern transport policy. With the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability, understanding the environmental impact of different fuels is essential for both consumers and producers.

Gasoline and diesel engines are among the most widespread sources of CO2 emissions in transport. Diesel engines, although more efficient and use less fuel per unit of power compared to petrol engines, produce more emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. Gasoline vehicles, on the other hand, have a slightly higher CO2 production per kilometer, which makes the choice between these two types of fuel a compromise between different types of emissions.

With increasing pressure to reduce emissions, alternatives such as hybrid and electric vehicles have become more popular. Hybrid vehicles combine a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric drive, which reduces CO2 emissions as part of the journey can be covered without using fossil fuels. Electric vehicles, which are powered solely by electricity, produce zero emissions during operation. However, it is important to consider the so-called the "emission footprint" of electricity - in countries where energy is primarily produced from coal or other fossil fuels, emissions from electric vehicles may also be indirectly higher.

Another perspective is biofuels and hydrogen technologies. Biofuels, such as bioethanol and biodiesel, are produced from renewable resources such as plants, which can contribute to their sustainability. CO2 emissions from biofuels are often lower, especially when the closed carbon cycle is taken into account. Hydrogen fuel cells, although still in development, represent a promising technology that, if properly developed, could lead to zero CO2 emissions.

Overall, CO2 emissions from transport are a complex topic that requires a balance between technological progress, political decisions and personal consumer preferences. Reducing CO2 emissions from different types of fuels and vehicles is an important step on the way to a more sustainable future, which requires cooperation at the international level as well as individual responsibility.

 

CO2 emissions from different fuels

Fuel type	Kg CO2 per unit of consumption
Mains electricity	43 per kWh
Natural gas	3142 per ton
Diesel fuel	2.68 per liter
Gasoline	2.31 per liter
Coal	2419 per ton
LPG	1.51 per liter

Carbon emissions from different means of transport

Vehicle type	Kg CO2 per liter
A small gasoline car with a volume of 1.4 liters	0.17/km
Medium car (1.4-2.1 liters)	0.22/km
Big car	0.27/km
Average petrol car	0.20/km
Small diesel car (>2 liters)	0.12/km
Big car	0.14/km
Average diesel car	0.12/km
Articulated truck, diesel engine	2.68/km (0.35 liters of fuel per km)
Railway	0.06 per person and km
Air, short distance (500 km)	0.18 per person per km
Air, a long way	0,11
transportation	0.01 per ton and km

(Co2AI)

Imagine a world where everyone accurately measures the carbon footprint of the richer and poorer segments of society. According to a recent study, such a world seems to be fantastic. A common miscalculation emerges: the carbon footprint of wealthier individuals is consistently underestimated, while that of less privileged groups is drastically overestimated.

This surprising pattern is observed across different socio-economic statuses and nationalities, pointing to a pervasive global misunderstanding of how wealth influences environmental impact. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)

IN MARCH The Information reported that Microsoft is in talks with OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, to spend a whopping $100 billion on a massive data center in Wisconsin dedicated to running artificial intelligence software. Codenamed "Stargate," the data center would consume five gigawatts of electricity at full operation, enough to power 3.7 million homes. By comparison, that's roughly the same amount of energy produced by Plant Vogtle, a large nuclear power plant in Georgia that cost $30 billion to build. (Andrew Leonard, more at sierraclub.org)

The personal carbon footprint of the richest people in society is grossly underestimated, both by the rich themselves and by middle and lower income people, regardless of which country they come from. At the same time, the rich and the poor drastically overestimate the carbon footprint of the poorest people.

An international team of researchers led by Copenhagen Business School, the University of Basel and the University of Cambridge surveyed 4,000 people from Denmark, India, Nigeria and the United States about inequality in personal carbon footprints – the total amount of greenhouse gases produced. activities of a person - within their own country.

Although it is well known that there is a large gap between the carbon footprint of the richest and poorest in society, it was not clear whether individuals were aware of this inequality. All four countries selected for the survey differ in terms of wealth, lifestyle and culture. Survey participants also varied in their personal incomes, with half of the participants being among the top 10 % earners in their country. (University of Cambridge, more at phys.org)

On June 28, 2024, the European Union published the regulation (EU) 2024/1781, which defines the framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, known as the Ecodesign Regulation. This regulation enters into force on 18 July 2024 and is part of the European Green Deal, which aims to transform the EU into a competitive and climate-neutral circular economy.

The Ecodesign Regulation sets minimum criteria that aim to improve the recyclability and energy efficiency of products, thereby contributing to the permanent reduction of the Union's carbon and environmental footprint. The Regulation joins other sustainability-oriented legislative rules such as the Battery Regulation and the Right to Repair Directive.

Scope:

The regulation applies to all physical products that are placed on the market in the Union, including components. Exceptions are food, medicines, living organisms and means of transport. Individually, the regulation applies to economic operators involved in the market, such as manufacturers, importers, distributors and online platforms.

Main changes:

The Regulation replaced the 2009 Ecodesign Directive, entering into force on 18 July 2024 and applying directly in EU Member States without the need for national transposition. The main provisions of the previous directive will apply during a transitional period of at least two and a half years.

Extension of scope:

The European Commission has extended the scope to a wide group of products, while the ecodesign requirements primarily concern products with a high environmental impact, such as metal products, textiles, furniture and electronics.

Ecodesign requirements:

The regulation covers the entire life cycle of products and introduces a framework for specific requirements to ensure the sustainability of products. These requirements will be specified in delegated acts adopted by the European Commission.

Information obligations:

Economic entities must provide information on product parameters, such as their composition, durability and environmental impact. A digital product passport will be introduced to facilitate access to this information.

Prohibition of destruction of unsold products:

The regulation prohibits the destruction of unsold consumer products such as clothing and footwear, while economic entities must take measures to prevent their destruction and report their number and weight.

Impacts on economic entities:

The main obligations concern the manufacturer, who must ensure that his products meet the requirements of ecodesign. Importers and distributors must also ensure compliance with these regulations.

Sanctions:

Member States are obliged to set penalties for breaching the regulation, and the fines can reach high amounts.

The Ecodesign Regulation is an important step towards a more sustainable product in the EU. Economic entities should prepare for its implementation, observe transitional periods and monitor new developments to avoid sanctions. (Co2AI)

The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is a clear indicator that the food and beverage packaging landscape will look very different in the coming years. The directive aims to reduce packaging waste, increase the use of recycled plastics and ensure that all packaging is recyclable by 2030 – a huge win for sustainability. The next decade is likely to see major changes in the types of materials used in packaging, but in this article we'll look at the carbon footprint of some of the packaging options available on the market today.

The need for sustainable food packaging is urgent

Packaging represents 5 % of energy consumed in the life cycle of a food product, making it a significant driver of food's carbon footprint. A typical person in the EU produces 189 kg of packaging waste. To make matters worse, 80 % food packaging is not suitable for recycling.

Most people know that plastic pollution is a serious problem. It tends to be at the center of conversations about waste reduction. However, our problems with packaging waste extend far beyond plastics – in fact, paper and cardboard account for almost 40 % of packaging waste in the EU.

There's no doubt that packaging is essential to feeding the world. Packaging helps protect food from harmful contaminants and allows for safe transportation. Extends the shelf life of food and helps reduce food waste. As the food and beverage industry moves forward, we need to incorporate life-cycle thinking into packaging design and decisions to minimize our carbon footprint and promote circularity. Check out some popular packaging options

The packaging landscape of the future could look radically different from today. Companies around the world are innovating with fully circular solutions, packaging materials based on biological materials and new ways of using recycled plastics.

As the world works to transition to a more sustainable future, every effort to achieve net zero counts. With the right data, you can make informed decisions today to reduce the carbon footprint of your products.

Let's look at some common packaging materials today.

Plastic (PET) cap

Plastic clamshells have a relatively high carbon footprint of 7.78 kg CO₂e/kg. On the plus side, PET plastic is highly recyclable… in theory. Just because an item can be recycled doesn't mean it will. Only 9 % plastics ever produced were recycled.

Plastic (PET) water bottle (1l)

A plastic water bottle has a fraction of the carbon footprint (0.31 kg CO₂e/kg) as a plastic cap. Plastic cap

The carbon footprint of the plastic cap is comparatively high (8.08 kg CO₂e/kg). When you realize that you cannot have plastic bottles without plastic caps, it is clear that the rampant production and use of plastic bottles is problematic.

Glass water bottle (0.5 l)

The footprint of a 0.5L glass water bottle is more than 3x that of a 1L plastic water bottle, partly due to its greater weight. It is worth noting that in some European countries the glass recycling rate exceeds 90 %. However, the total recycling rate of glass materials remains below 35 %.

Stainless steel

The carbon footprint of stainless steel at 6.15 kg CO₂e/kg is significantly higher than that of a plastic water bottle, but still below the carbon footprint of a plastic cap. It's a promising choice for those looking for more circular solutions, as most of its footprint comes from processing.

Paper/cardboard (direct contact with food)

Paper and cardboard have a low carbon footprint of 1.56 kg CO₂e/kg. It constitutes 40 % of waste in the EU and includes 31 % of the global packaging market segment. Paper and paper food packaging can be recycled a maximum of 6-7 times.

aluminum

There is a significant difference in footprint between clean and recycled aluminum, which is aptly commented on in this article on airline efforts to become more sustainable .

The carbon footprint of the original European aluminum sheet is 10 times greater than that of the recycled sheet: 6.63 kg CO₂e/kg, respectively 0.66 kg CO₂e/kg. 98 % of recycled aluminum cans are recycled into products that are recycled again compared to 60 % for glass and 20 % for PET, making recycled aluminum a promising choice for some use cases. (Co2AI)

The current IT sector consumes about 7 % of the world's electricity, and by 2030 this share will increase to 13 %. What does this mean in practice? Every Google search releases as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as brewing half a cup of coffee. 188 million emails are sent every minute and we forward over 40 million messages across the two most popular messaging apps. We also download almost 400,000 apps a day from app stores. Data centers have the fastest growing carbon footprint in the entire ICT sector, consuming an average of 13,684 MWh of electricity annually, which is enough to power more than 25,000 homes.

Digital carbon footprint

A few years ago, the British Medical Journal covered the story of St George's Hospital in London. When the new helipad was launched there, e-mails with photos of staff members involved in the project were sent daily for 30 days. These emails, which ranged in size from 40 KB to 115 KB, were received by more than 13,240 employees. It is common knowledge that a large email generates 50 grams of carbon dioxide. This British example shows that almost 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide were produced in one month, while the average Briton produces 15 tonnes a year. Research clearly shows that storing junk email in data centers contributes significantly to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Each email, even if not opened, requires storage and management resources, which increases the load on the energy infrastructure. Regularly removing unnecessary messages from our mailboxes can significantly reduce this impact, hence the whole initiative. It's a simple step each of us can take to help reduce our global carbon footprint and protect the environment.

Cleaning e-mail boxes will not only increase the efficiency of the server, but also reduce the negative impact of our daily activities on the environment. (CO2AI)

A carbon neutral activity is one that has a zero carbon footprint.

A carbon "footprint" is a way of describing how much greenhouse gas has been added to the atmosphere as a result of some activity, measured as an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ e). For example, the carbon footprint of someone who drives a petrol car to work will be greater than someone who uses a bus to travel the same distance, because the car driver is responsible for more CO emissions ₂ e as someone who commutes by bus.

A carbon neutral activity is one that has a zero carbon footprint. Some activities that produce a lot of greenhouse gases are sometimes combined with other activities that reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as converting land to grow trees. This is known as carbon offsetting and is one way that activities or products can be presented as 'carbon neutral'.

In some cases, the carbon footprint of an activity includes all emissions produced during its life cycle. This is known as life cycle analysis. (Co2AI)

The researchers estimate that 56.9 % of the world's population, which currently overconsumes, would save 32.4 % of global food emissions by changing their diet to the Planet Health Diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission.

An international group of researchers are publishing their findings in a journal today Nature Climate Change , notes that a dietary shift to a Planetary Healthy Diet would offset a 15.4 % increase in global dietary emissions from low-consumption populations (43.1 % of the global population) moving toward healthier diets. (University of Birmingham, more at phys.org)

When "Can I have a cheezburger?" became one of the first Internet memes to blow our minds, it's unlikely that anyone was concerned about how much energy it was consuming.

However, research has now found that the vast majority of data stored in the cloud is "dark data", meaning it is used once and then never revisited. That means all the memes, jokes, and movies we love to share with friends and family—from "All Your Base Belongs to Us" to Ryan Gosling saying "Hey Girl" to Tim Walz with a piggy bank—are out. it's sitting in a data center somewhere, consuming power. By 2030, National Grid predicts that data centers will account for almost 6 % of total UK electricity consumption, so tackling junk data is an important part of tackling the climate crisis. (Helena Hortonová, more at theguardian.com)

 

Our calculations revealed the impact our Easter celebrations could have on the environment; what other ways can we offset our carbon footprint (and energy bills) to be more energy efficient this Easter?

Co2AI has put together these tips for households looking to reduce the amount of energy they use, especially when preparing feasts in the kitchen over the Easter weekend.

• If you're roasting lamb on Easter Sunday, make sure the oven door seal keeps all the heat in. Not only will your roast cook more evenly, but you will also save energy.

• Keep the oven door closed while cooking as the temperature can drop as much as 25 degrees by looking at your delicious roast and it will take more energy to get back up to it.

• For perfect crispy baked potatoes, boil them in a pot before baking in the oven. You will not only reduce the cooking time and save energy, but you will also have a crispier side dish.

• If you are preparing large pieces of meat, it is worth cutting it into smaller pieces so that it cooks more evenly and faster.

• Use a double steamer for the vegetables so you can layer the vegetables on top of each other and still use one ring on the hob. This will reduce the amount of water you have to heat and the rings that need to be used.

• If you can use a microwave, do so. You can prepare frozen vegetables really quickly and easily, and it is by far the most energy-efficient appliance in the kitchen, costing only 21 cents per hour of use.

However much energy you use in the kitchen, it is important not to pay too much for it.

People are often surprised by the carbon footprint of the aviation industry, but what if we told you that our daily internet activities produce more carbon dioxide than the airlines?

Internet data accounts for 4 % of the global carbon footprint, compared to 2 % produced by the aerospace industry, and is projected to double by 2025. The Internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, with 96.9 % of Singapore online. However, along with the great power of the Internet comes great responsibility. So it is everyone's responsibility to ensure sustainability by rethinking our daily online habits and reducing our digital carbon footprint. (Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore, more at news.yahoo.com)

The new data was recorded in 2022 using fuel consumption monitors installed on on-board vehicles first registered in the EU in 2021 and 2022 and reported to the Commission in 2023. Compared to the previous publication, the car data now comes from a wider sample of 2, 2 million vehicles registered in 2021 and 740,000 vehicles registered in 2022.

The analysis confirms that the actual emissions of CO ₂ and fuel consumption of diesel and gasoline cars on the road are on average 20 % higher than the official values from the standardized WLTP type approval test used for regulatory purposes. This discrepancy is in line with what the European Commission expected. The analysis also showed that the difference observed for cars is similar over the two registration years tracked so far. (More on climate.ec.europa.eu)

The Paris Olympics are set to be the most sustainable games ever. Even before the mega event started, however, there was criticism. A maximum of 1.75 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents are expected to be generated in connection with the Games. Organizers have taken a lot to achieve this ambitious goal.

In today's digital age, websites play a key role for companies. They serve as the primary platform for customer engagement, product sales and brand visibility. However, many people overlook the impact of website operation on the environment. Unfortunately, some of the world's largest websites come with a significant amount of carbon emissions. Websites consume a significant amount of energy to operate. Servers, data centers and user interactions contribute to their carbon footprint.

For high-traffic companies, these emissions can be overwhelming. A recent report by Utility Bidder focuses on this often neglected environmental aspect, examining emissions from large company websites. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

Meat lasagna for vegetarians isn't just healthier for you – it's healthier for the planet too. And a new study shows how much each swap, such as swapping beef for chicken, saves greenhouse gas emissions. Switching food and drink purchases to very similar but greener alternatives could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household food by almost a quarter, according to a new study by the George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London. (Paulina Smolinska, more at msn.com)

"The transport sector accounts for 30 % of global energy consumption and 37 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. Despite its large share of national emissions, transport is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise," the study's authors wrote. “For example, between 1990 and 2019, emissions from other end-use sectors in the UK fell by 44 %, while emissions from transport fell by less than 5 %, making transport an increasingly large share of emissions over time. (Rodielon Putol, more at earth.com)

Reducing our carbon footprint is becoming a necessity for individuals, communities and nations in response to growing evidence of the climate crisis. The carbon footprint represents total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – including CO₂, CH₄, N₂O – which are caused by human activity. This has a direct impact on global warming, extreme weather and rising sea levels, which affect the lives of billions of people.

In this context, carbon footprint calculators are becoming a practical tool enabling people and organizations understand, monitor and reduce its emissions.

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How does the carbon footprint calculator work?

1. Definition of scope – calculators usually include Scope 1 (direct emissions, e.g. fuel combustion), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity, heat) and often also Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions, including transport, production of goods, waste). This distribution is in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards and the Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) method.

2. Data collection – the user enters data on energy consumption, fuel, food, waste, travel, production processes or goods they use.

3. Use of emission factors (GHG emission factors) – these transform raw data (e.g. litres of fuel, kWh of electricity, kilometres driven by car) into amounts of CO₂e. These factors vary by country, production technology and type of energy.

4. Calculation of the resulting carbon footprint – sum of emissions for all categories and all relevant gases, converted per unit CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).

5. Analysis and recommendations – calculators often offer areas for improvement (e.g., transportation change, green energy, food consumption change), from tracking progress to goals.

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Why is it important and what impact does it have?

• Increasing environmental awareness – the calculator helps users see which activities dominate in terms of emissions. It helps to project everyday decisions into a broader context (energy, transport, consumption).

• Direction of specific measures – if the calculator identifies a high proportion of emissions from travel or energy-inefficient households, the user can focus their efforts on these areas.

• Setting goals and tracking progress – regular measurement (for example, monthly or quarterly) allows you to measure progress, evaluate the impact of changes, and maintain motivation.

• Community and societal effects – calculators can help spread values among friends, family, colleagues – community commitment can support collective actions (e.g. shared transportation, green initiatives).

• Regulatory and policy support – data from calculators (especially if well documented and transparent) can contribute to policy discussions (e.g. carbon taxes, subsidies for renewables).

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Methodological criteria and good practice

To make the calculator reliable:

• Transparency of methodology – it must be clear which Scopes are included, which emission factors and which boundaries (time, geographical) are used.

• Updated or local emission factors – e.g. country's electrical grid, fuel type, mode of transport.

• Inclusion of multiple growing GHGs (not just CO₂) – methane, nitrous oxide, etc., calculated using GWP (Global Warming Potential) according to the IPCC.

• Comparison option – the result should be comparable over time (annual/trend view) and between users or communities.

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News and trends

• Calculators are becoming more and more common integrate into applications with automatic data acquisition from households (smart meters), transport (GPS) or appliances.

• Gamification as a motivation tool: badges, competitions between communities, rewards for achieving a goal.

• Cooperation with environmental organizations or certification entities (e.g. GHG Protocol, ISO 14064) increases credibility.

• Development of digital platforms that also enable offset emissions or purchase certified carbon credits for those emissions that cannot be completely reduced. JRi

Did you know? Transport is responsible for one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, and road transport accounts for 70 % of this amount. These emissions come primarily from gasoline and diesel cars. Already in 2023, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were the most popular alternative to petrol and diesel cars, representing more than 14.6 % of all new cars sold in the EU. Plug-in hybrid electric cars accounted for another 7.7 %. So more than 1 in 5 new cars sold in Europe can now be charged electrically. (More on climate.ec.europa.eu)