Certified model
This online calculator (Carton CO2 calculator version 9, 2023) has been certified by the Carbon Trust as capable of generating carbon footprints in conformity with PAS 2050, ISO 14044 and ISO 14067.
Annually updated
The results are based on version 9 of the calculator, published February 2023.
The calculator is periodically updated to ensure that the latest available emission factors and material specifications are applied.
The results of the calculator may not be directly comparable with those generated in earlier versions.
Not for public comparative claims
The results should not be used to support comparative claims made to the public. Any such use would fall outside of the requirements of the relevant ISO standards.
Indicative results
The calculated results are not exact; they are indicative and based on a number of simplifications. We have used a representative material specification for each package as the basis for the calculation of the results.
Scope of the Carton CO2 calculator
The results show the carbon footprint of the carton under European conditions up to the moment when the packaging material leaves our factories. An assessment across the full life cycle requires additional data that varies locally, and with each specific product. For example, distribution distances vary depending on where each package is filled and sold; some filled packages are stored chilled while others not; some packages will be recycled, others not.
Moulding of caps and tops in the filling machine is not included in the results. This is relevant for the Tetra Top packages, and any direct injection moulding concept (DIMC) closures.
Straws are not included in the results. There is a wide portfolio of straws to choose from with different lengths and diameters, and it is not practically possible to include all the available options in the calculator. In addition, the straw has a limited carbon footprint when compared to the full package. As an example, the carbon footprint of a 0.5 g straw is approximately 1 g CO2e, based on the same scope and data as in the calculator.
Calculations
The calculations are based on industry average data and for European conditions. For production of liquid packaging board average data as presented by The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment is used and for aluminium foil data as presented by European Aluminium Association is used. For production of plastics data as presented by Plastics Europe is used and for production of plant-based plastics data is from the Braskem 2017 'I'm greenTM PE Life Cycle Assessment'.
For the converting operations global average data from Tetra Pak's GHG reporting is used. The impact of the transport of raw materials to the converting factory is included in the converting result and based on European average data.
The terminology of ISO 14067 has been used, meaning that all relevant GHG emissions and removals are covered in the term ‘carbon footprint’. The carbon footprint results are expressed in ‘CO2 equivalents’ (CO2e).
Biogenic carbon in the packaging material
Plants capture and store carbon from the atmosphere. When wood fibre is processed into paperboard, or sugarcane into plant-based polymers, the finished packaging material contains biogenic carbon captured from the atmosphere. The estimated biogenic carbon content of the packaging material as it leaves the Tetra Pak factory gate – the biogenic carbon in the material - is presented separately and not included in the carbon footprint results, as required by ISO 14067:2018.