Carbon Minds' data
The "global average" myth that's hiding reduction potentials
Average reduction potential
When moving from global average to best available sourcing option
Maximum reduction potential
Across all technology-country combinations globally
Certified data points
In our database for the chemical propylene alone
See how real pathways compare — and what it means for chemical carbon footprints.
When people ask for carbon footprints of chemicals they are often thinking of a single value which may be a global or regional average but here's the truth: there's no single carbon footprint for a chemical.
Real pathways vs. global average
vs. 100% global average
Global average
Global average production mix
Carbon footprints of chemicals heavily depend on how and where the chemicals are produced. Production chains are long and there are typically different technologies available for each production step — and different technologies have different climate impacts. Understanding the variability in emissions to produce the same chemical is crucial for building more sustainable supply chains and making informed investment decisions. When companies rely on global averages, they risk missing opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint where it matters most and remain unaware of potential emission hotspots.
"Whenever a manager uses a single carbon footprint value, they imply that all producers and technologies are the same. This makes it literally impossible to make meaningful decisions on emission reductions."
— Oskar Vögler, Senior Project & Team Lead, Carbon Minds
In the following, we'll use propylene as an example to explore the variability of country averages and individual production pathways. Our analysis is based on 493 certified data points from our cm.chemicals database, giving you the most comprehensive view of propylene production pathways available.
Let's zoom in to see how country-specific production mixes affect emissions.
Within a single country, the variation can be much larger.
Granular data unlocks real reduction opportunities.
Unlock Certified Carbon Footprint Data for 130,000+ Chemical Datasets.
If we accept the complexity of current chemical productions, we can use information on differences in emissions to optimize our sourcing regions and make strategic reduction decisions.
The interactive map below shows the differences between the carbon footprints of average production in each country (weighted average carbon footprint of all propylene plants) and average consumption (which also considers imports in addition to local production).
We've seen how emissions vary drastically between countries, and even more so between different technologies within a country.
Now, zooming back out: We used the example of China, but large variability exists nearly everywhere in the market. Here's what it means for your business.
Production Mix reduction potential through granular data
This level of granular data can be provided for many different chemicals. Carbon Minds leverages deep industry expertise to deliver certified, ISO-compliant data for:
Granular data supports your key business needs:
Identify & benchmark low-carbon suppliers
Understand which technologies your suppliers use to reveal their actual carbon impact. Use information on the climate performance of suppliers and their impact on your climate targets to make more informed procurement decisions.
Credible reporting and compliance
No matter if you calculate Product Carbon Footprints, Life Cycle Assessments, or Scope 3 emissions, our data can represent your actual supply chain emissions. Our ISO-compliant methodology ensures your data withstands external scrutiny and reduces the risk of failed audits.
Pinpoint emission hotspots & prioritize
Identify which materials, suppliers, or technologies drive the most emissions in your supply chain. See exactly where switching technologies could reduce your footprint. Prioritize high-impact changes and create realistic roadmaps for achieving your 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
Collaborate based on solid data
Supplier Engagement programs are a common way to promote supply chain reductions in collaboration with your suppliers. However, discussions can be difficult if they are not based on solid data.
Knowing how different technology choices can impact the emissions of your suppliers will give you solid data for more successful supply chain collaborations.
Avoid surprises during audits
Reduce audit risks with high-quality, technology-specific footprints. Avoid reputational damage and time-consuming corrections from using outdated or low quality data. Maintain consistent methodology that auditors trust year after year.
Make informed decisions early in R&D
Compare the environmental impact of different raw materials and production processes during the design phase. Run what-if scenarios before committing to material choices.
Choose materials and processes that minimize your product's carbon footprint from the start, avoiding costly redesigns later to meet sustainability requirements.
You identified the challenge: industry averages hide massive variability in carbon footprints.
You explored the data and saw how granular information reveals reduction opportunities up to 92%.
You understand the impact. Now choose your next step:
Talk to our chemical data experts about your supply chain and Scope 3 reduction
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