How to calculate packaging data for a carbon report

Material mass alone is not an emissions result. Define the period and boundary, then pair activity data with a sourced emissions factor.

4 November 2021Updated 23 September 2026

Short answer

Record packaging quantity by material and kilograms for the reporting period, then multiply activity data by an emissions factor with a stated boundary and version. For reusable containers, show the rotation-life assumption, washing and empty-return data separately. Classify items under your reporting standard's boundary and prevent double counting.

Packaging mass is activity data, not an emissions result by itself. Define period, reporting boundary, included life-cycle stages and method first.

Use purchase or weighing records for kilograms by material. Record factor source, unit, year and boundary; match units before multiplying. Label estimates.

When allocating reusable-container production impact over rotations, disclose the service-life assumption and update it with return and loss records. Treat washing and empty returns consistently; do not count an activity twice.

For each row, state quantity, factor source/version, period, boundary and data type. Eurostat waste statistics give context, not your packaging's emissions factor.