Embodied Carbon of Materials Calculator

Embodied carbon is the greenhouse gas released in producing a material, including raw material extraction, processing, and manufacture, expressed as kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. It is distinct from operational carbon, which comes from using a building. This calculator multiplies a material's mass by its embodied carbon factor.

An embodied carbon factor (or carbon coefficient) is the carbon released per unit mass of a material, typically in kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram. It comes from environmental product declarations and life-cycle databases. Because it varies by material and source, it is a user-editable input you fill from a declared value.

The basic product-stage factor covers cradle-to-gate emissions, from raw materials to the factory gate. Full life-cycle assessment also includes transport, construction, use, and end of life. Use a factor whose boundary matches your needs and note that boundary when reporting.

Embodied carbon factors differ greatly between materials, so substituting a lower-carbon product for the same function can cut a project's upfront emissions substantially. Comparing the mass times factor for alternatives reveals where the largest reductions are available.

Multiply the volume of the material by its density, or take the mass directly from a quantity takeoff or product specification. Enter that mass in kilograms here. Keep mass and the embodied carbon factor in matching mass units.