A simplified machine learning product carbon footprint evaluation tool

Abstract

On the way to climate neutrality manufacturing companies need to assess the Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of their products as a basis for emission reduction measures. The evaluate this so-called Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) life cycle analysis as a comprehensive method is applicable, but means great effort and requires interdisciplinary knowledge. Nevertheless, assumptions must still be made to assess the entire supply chain. To lower these burdens and provide a digital tool to estimate the PCF with less input parameter and data, we make use of machine learning techniques and develop an editorial framework called MINDFUL. This contribution shows its realization by providing the software architecture, underlying CO₂ factors, calculations and Machine Learning approach as well as the principles of its user experience. Our tool is validated within an industrial case study.