Introducing Arbor’s Product Carbon Footprint Index

Quick Summary

Understand, baseline & decarbonize

We’re excited to unveil the launch of Arbor’s Product Carbon Footprint Index, the first open library making it easy to access, compare, and act on the environmental impact of over 200 everyday products.

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What is the Product Carbon Footprint Index?

The Product Carbon Footprint Index is a comprehensive online database of estimated carbon footprints for a wide range of everyday products. Each entry in the index provides an average carbon footprint of a product, measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO₂e).

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With 248 products currently listed, the index gives you a snapshot of typical emissions associated with manufacturing, materials, and distribution. It’s a powerful tool for anyone curious about the environmental impact of physical goods or for companies looking for a starting point in their sustainability journey.

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Why product carbon footprints matter

Measuring the product carbon footprint (“PCF”) at the item level is fundamental to climate action. Every chair, shoe, or bag comes with a unique climate impact, shaped by its materials, design, manufacturing process, and transportation.

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The Product Carbon Footprint Index makes it easy for brands, manufacturers, and end-users alike to:

Benchmark their products against market averages
Identify high-impact “hotspots” for decarbonization and eco-design
Communicate transparent and credible climate data to customers

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Ready to explore?

Try Arbor now or explore every product carbon footprint.

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An example product's carbon footprint

Let’s look at an example from the index to see how it works. Take the carbon footprint of an accent chair.

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The index shows that an average accent chair emits approximately 15.00-45.00 kg CO₂e. The average is around 30.00 kg CO₂e. This figure includes emissions from materials like wood and fabric, manufacturing processes, and transportation.

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On each product page within the Product Carbon Footprint Index, you also find:

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Equivalent Comparisons: We use Arbor’s Carbon Equivalent Calculator to show what the average emissions are equivalent to in real-world terms (e.g., how many days of carbon consumption by one tree).
Reduction Insights: We provide practical advice on how to lower a product's carbon footprint. For an accent chair, this includes prioritizing sustainable materials, using modular design for easier recycling, and choosing lightweight frames.
FAQ Section: Common questions about the product's carbon footprint are answered, providing quick and useful information.

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This level of detail helps you not just see a number, but understand what drives it and how to take action.

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Measuring your own products with Arbor

The Product Carbon Footprint Index offers valuable insights, but to truly make a difference, your company needs to measure its own unique products. Arbor's platform is designed to make product-level carbon accounting simple, accurate, and scalable for businesses in industries like apparel, retail, sporting goods, and construction.

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With Arbor, you can:

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Quickly Calculate PCFs: Our automated platform rapidly computes carbon footprints across the full lifecycle of your products, reducing human error and saving time.
Pinpoint Hotspots: Get a clear breakdown of which materials, suppliers, components, or activities contribute most to your product's emissions.
Prototype for Impact: Test different product designs and material choices in our platform to see the real carbon impact before you manufacture. This helps you make smart investments for decarbonization.
Ensure Accuracy and Trust: Arbor provides audit-grade carbon data, adhering to globally recognized frameworks like ISO 14067, ensuring your numbers are reliable for compliance and marketing.

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Companies like Crocs use Arbor to measure their product carbon footprints, optimize designs, and accelerate their net-zero impact. The Product Carbon Footprint Index is a taste of the deep insights you can gain when you measure your specific products with Arbor.

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Request a demo

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Explore the Product Carbon Footprint Index today

The Product Carbon Footprint Index is a step towards greater transparency in product emissions. It’s a resource for anyone interested in making more sustainable choices, and a powerful starting point for companies on their decarbonization journey.

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Ready to see the carbon footprint of your favourite products?

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See the carbon footprint of 200+ products now!

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All product carbon footprints

Here's a full list of products included in the Product Carbon Footprint Index:

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Summary

The launch of the Product Carbon Footprint Index is a testament to Arbor’s commitment to making carbon management accessible, efficient, and effective for all companies. By providing readily available product carbon footprint data, we aim to equip businesses with the knowledge they need to make more sustainable decisions.

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This initiative helps companies understand the impact of consumer goods and provides a transparent starting point for their own decarbonization efforts. We believe that by simplifying access to this information, more companies can begin to measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact confidently.

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Start measuring your product’s carbon footprint today and supercharge your climate strategy with Arbor.

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Try Arbor's platform

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Product Carbon Footprint Index?

The Product Carbon Footprint Index is Arbor’s public library of verified, product-level carbon footprints (PCFs) for over 200 types of everyday items across key industries.

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How do you determine each product’s carbon footprint?

PCFs are calculated using industry-standard life cycle assessment (LCA) methods, accounting for materials, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life impact. Where available, primary data is used.

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Why is the Index important?

By making product carbon footprints accessible and comparable, we empower real climate action across supply chains and support data-driven decision making.

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