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Methodology

Sustifi calculates CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emissions using activity data multiplied by emission factors. This page documents the sources and approach.

Emission Factors

Emission factors convert a unit of activity (e.g., 1 kWh of electricity) into a mass of CO₂ equivalent.

Electricity

  • Finland: Fingrid's annual grid emission factor (gCO₂/kWh), updated annually
  • Sweden, Norway, Denmark: National grid factors from respective TSOs
  • Other countries: IEA country-level factors

Transport

  • Road (car): LIPASTO database (Finland) and HBEFA for other Nordic countries
  • Flights: ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator methodology, including radiative forcing multiplier (2×) for high-altitude effects
  • Train: Operator-published or national rail average factors
  • Ferry: VTT LIPASTO maritime factors

Energy

  • District heating: Finnish Energy / Energiateollisuus heat production mix
  • Natural gas: IPCC AR6 factor (0.202 kgCO₂e/kWh)

Food

  • Product-level factors: Open Food Facts database, which includes Agribalyse LCA data (ADEME) for thousands of food products — covering production, processing, packaging, and transport

Purchases & Services

  • Spend-based factors: Exiobase MRIO database (EU-level supply chain emission intensities per € spent by sector)
  • Item-based factors: Product-specific LCA data where available

CO₂ Equivalent

All emissions are expressed in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent), combining CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and other greenhouse gases weighted by their 100-year global warming potential (GWP100) per IPCC AR6.

Conservative Estimates

Where multiple factor sources are available, Sustifi prefers the more conservative (higher) estimate to avoid under-reporting.

Limitations

  • Scope 3 upstream emissions are estimated using spend-based factors, which carry higher uncertainty than direct measurements
  • Electricity factors represent annual grid averages, not time-of-use marginal factors
  • Transport factors assume average vehicle/occupancy unless the user provides specific data

Updates

Emission factors are reviewed and updated annually, typically in Q1. Historical calculations use the factor that was current at the time of the transaction.