Include passive cooling in emissions accounting with data

Define the boundary, service life and allocation method; document electricity, fuel, equipment and waste data by source.

18 November 2023Updated 23 September 2026

Short answer

First define the functional unit and boundary for comparison. Gather fuel, electricity, equipment manufacture and maintenance, returns, use count and product-waste data for the same route and load. Document emission-factor sources and allocation method; disclose missing data. Calculate both options under the same assumptions and explain uncertainties.

The emissions effect of passive cooling depends on the chosen boundary and usage pattern. Equipment features alone cannot establish savings.

Define the comparison

Set a functional unit, such as delivery of the same quantity of product on the same route. State the activities and period included.

Collect activity data. For both scenarios, record vehicle and unit fuel, electricity for plate charging, equipment manufacture and maintenance, number of uses and returns.

Include waste with evidence

Track product loss by lot and cause. Attributing emissions to waste requires product data and an accepted calculation method; do not count hypothetical reductions as a benefit.

Document factors and allocation. Explain the source, year and geography of each emission factor, and how equipment burden is allocated across uses.

Test the result. Report missing data and how assumptions affect the result. Compare using the same boundary and functional unit; recalculate if the method changes.