Step 1 – Understand the Data Expected
The first step is to understand what data is typically reported by Swedish direct suppliers. This data reflects the activities that importers commonly manage, such as product information and transportation.
Overview of expected data
Below we have listed the data typically expected by your role. Following a step-by-step approach, you identify key data sources to later on be able to explore practical methods for managing allocation and data conversion to ensure compatibility with the CarbonCloud platform. This will help you simplify and streamline calculations.
Your datasets as a direct supplier are typically:
| Data* | Data fields | Description |
| GENERAL |
|
**Country of production - Where the last substantial transformation of the final product took place. Bottling, Labeling, Packaging is not considered as such. ***Processing and storage Country - Where your organization process, handles, or interact with the product in any way.Leave blank if not applicable. |
| TRANSPORT |
|
By default, the PCF from transport is calculated based on country of production and ship-to. If you know the specific transportation routes for this product, add them. This will replace the default estimations. If you have multiple ship-to countries, provide primary data for each individually. |
| VOLUMES |
|
Table 1: Overview of all data anticipated from Direct Suppliers. *Data are organized by the tabs in the CarbonCloud platform.
Step 2 – Join PCF Training and Webinars
You will have several opportunities to learn more about PCF reporting. Webinars are offered, each focusing on different parts of the reporting process. These sessions will help you understand how PCF reporting work, what data is needed and how to use the CarbonCloud platform
See upcoming training sessions and register here
Step 3 – Identify Possible Data Sources
To report Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data, you will usually need to collect information from several internal and external sources. Below are some common places where relevant information can be found.
ERP Systems
Your ERP system may contain useful information about the products you import to Sweden, such as product quantities, transportation costs, transport distances and fuel types used for transport. This information can help you report product details and transport activities.
PIM Systems
A Product Information Management (PIM) system stores product-related information in a structured way. It may include information such as product specifications, packaging information and product composition. This information can support PCF reporting, particularly for packaging and product characteristics.
Logistics and Transport Data
Transport and logistics partners may provide reports that include important transport information, for example distance traveled (km), fuel type (diesel, HVO, etc, mode of transport (truck, rail, sea, etc) and vehicle type or emissions class. This information is useful when reporting transportation emissions.
Sustainability Reports
Supplier sustainability reports usually do not contain a ready-made product carbon footprint. However, they often include valuable information that can support PCF calculations. Examples include data about packaging materials, energy use in production, manufacturing emissions, transport emissions and energy mix (for example share of renewable energy). To calculate a product-level carbon footprint, impacts from shared processes often need to be allocated between products.
When using information from reports (or suppliers), it can be helpful to check reporting standards, such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ISO 14064 and ISO 14067. Also check whether the information has been verified by a third party. Other useful ind.icators are year of the data and geographic scope (where the data applies)
Speak Directly with Suppliers: Direct dialogue with suppliers is often one of the most reliable ways to obtain accurate PCF data. When discussing data with suppliers, it can be helpful to clarify:
Type of data: Whether the information is primary data (measured directly from operations) or based on averages or industry estimates.
System boundaries: Which activities the data covers — for example farming, production, packaging, or transport.
Allocation methods: How emissions are distributed between products when processes are shared, for example co-products, shared production facilities and transport activities.
Energy information: The level of detail in the energy data, for example heat (gas) versus electricity and on-site energy versus purchased energy.
Step 4 – Prepare Your Data for the CarbonCloud Platform
The CarbonCloud platform is designed for many different product categories, not only beverages. Because of this, some information may need to be converted or adapted before reporting.
Converting Liters to Kilograms
CarbonCloud uses kilograms (kg) as the functional unit for products. A functional unit is the standard unit used to measure the climate impact of a product. In this case, emissions are calculated per kilogram of product.
For beverages, this may require converting volume data (liters) into weight (kilograms) before entering it into the platform.
Converting Volume units to kilograms
CarbonCloud uses kilograms (kg) as the standard unit for all calculations.
For beverage products, this means:
- Ingredients: Your batch size must be entered in kg.
- Packaging: The product’s net content must be entered in kg.
- Energy Use: The final product output must also be entered in kg.
How to convert liters to kilograms
If you have an amount in liters (L) and need to convert it to kilograms (kg), you must know the density of the product.
Conversion formula: kg = liters × density
Do you want to know more?
Transport Data
Transport data may require calculations depending on transport mode, fuel type, and distance.
See example:
Do you want to know more?
Read more in Transport scenario: Different Modes and Fuels (pdf)
If exact transport distances are not available, estimation tools such as NTM can be used.
Step 5 – Understand Your PCF Results
After entering your data in the CarbonCloud platform, you can review and interpret your PCF results.
Your PCF result shows (1) the total climate impact of your product and (2) how different life cycle stages contribute to the footprint.
When values are adjusted in the platform, the PCF calculation updates automatically. This allows you to see how changes affect the overall result and helps identify key emission drivers. Understanding these results makes it easier to focus improvement efforts where they have the greatest impact. The PCF received through Systembolagets services with CarbonCloud can be used for suppliers internal processes.