Methodology
Emission factor databases where every number comes from.
Xain calculates with physical life-cycle factors taken from recognised databases such as Ecoinvent, DEFRA/BEIS, worldsteel, AGRIBALYSE (ADEME) and ICE, from third-party EPDs and PCRs and from its own physical library. Each node of the calculation points to its factor, and the customer’s primary data replaces generic data.
Precision levels
How precisely is it calculated?
The level depends on the documentation available. You can start at one and move up when there is more data.
Xain Insight
The purchases spreadsheet from the ERP, in less than 10 minutes of work.
Xain Precision
Technical sheets or drawings, only on the purchase lines with the most impact.
Primary data
Measurements from the customer or supplier that replace generic ones.
A footprint calculation is only as good as its factors. An emission factor turns a physical quantity (a kilo of a material, a kilowatt hour, a kilometre of transport) into emissions, and there is no single factor valid for everything: each database has its coverage, assumptions and reference year. That is why we explain where ours come from.
Which databases does Xain use?
Those widely used in life-cycle analysis and emissions reporting: Ecoinvent (life-cycle inventories of many materials and processes), DEFRA/BEIS (UK Government conversion factors for company reporting), worldsteel (steel industry data), AGRIBALYSE from ADEME (agricultural and food products) and ICE (construction materials). On top of these come third-party EPDs and product category rules (PCR), where they exist, and an own physical library.
How is the factor for each step chosen?
The calculation follows a process tree and each node carries a physical factor: material, weight, process (including its energy) and transport. The factor that best represents what is bought or made is chosen from the documentation available. When there is ambiguity the most conservative factor is applied and noted, so the result is defensible. We explain it in physical factors versus spend.
What changes when you provide your data?
Primary data (your own measurements or your supplier’s) replaces generic data, and the result is recalculated. The primary data a supplier uploads is reused for all its customers in Xain.
How is it checked?
Each certificate has a unique registration number and traceability down to the factor of each node. The methodology follows ISO 14067 and is verified by LRQA.
Frequently asked questions
What companies usually ask before getting started.
Which databases does Xain use?
Ecoinvent, DEFRA/BEIS, worldsteel, AGRIBALYSE (ADEME) and ICE, third-party environmental product declarations (EPD) and product category rules (PCR), and its own physical library.
What happens when there is no exact factor?
The most conservative available factor is applied and noted. If a primary data point becomes available later, it replaces the generic one and the result is recalculated.
Can I see which factor was used at each step?
Yes. The certificate has traceability down to the factor of each node in the process tree.
Why does the chosen database matter?
Because each database has its coverage, reference year and assumptions. A calculation must therefore state which factors it uses, so it can be explained and repeated.
Keep reading
ISO 14067
ISO 14067 is the standard that sets how to quantify and communicate a product carbon footprint. What it requires, what cradle-to-gate is and how Xain uses it.
Physical vs spend factors
Differences between spend-based and physical emission factors: how they are calculated, what errors they cause and when each fits for products and Scope 3.
Emission factor
An emission factor is the coefficient that converts activity data, such as a kilo of material, a kWh or a tonne-kilometre, into greenhouse gas emissions, usually in kgCO2e.
Product footprint
Certify your product’s carbon footprint with an ISO 14067 method verified by LRQA, from your technical documentation, with registration and traceability.
Tell us what you want to measure
One product, a catalogue or your purchases. We reply with the next steps.
Contact Xain