The CO2-Label
The CO2-Label «approved by climatop» labels
climate-friendly products
A product or a service approved with this carbon label has to cause clearly lower CO2 emissions during its life cycle compared to relevant products or services of the same category.
From the exploitation of the raw material to the fabrication and transportation to the consumption and finally the waste disposal, every product causes a specific amount of climate-relevant emissions. Independent centres of competence calculate the amounts of climate-relevant emissions of each product or service applying for the certification. Those calculations are based on the CO2 balancing data of ecoinvent. However, crucial to the awarding of the label is not the absolute value of CO2, but the economisation of CO2 that can be achieved by the purchase of such a product compared to a relevant group of substitutes. The balance is reviewed by another independent centre of competence regarding its accuracy and completeness.
CO2 Equivalents (CO2e)
The emission of greenhouse gases is measured in CO2 equivalents (CO2e). CO2e is an unit to merge and compare the greenhouse gases with each other. The contribution of a certain greenhouse gas to the greehouse effect is compared with the contribution of carbon dioxide (CO2). The conversion factors for the relevant greenhouse gases are:
| Carbon Dioxide: | 1 kg CO2 | = | 1 kg CO2e |
| Methane: | 1 kg CH4 | = | 25 kg CO2e |
| Nitrous Oxide: | 1 kg N2O | = | 310 kg CO2e |
In the interest of simplification, the term CO2 emission is used. But the total emission of all greenhouse gases is assumed.