Why track environmental impact?
Environmental data is becoming essential:- Regulatory requirements: EU regulations increasingly mandate environmental disclosure
- Consumer demand: Customers want to understand the environmental cost of their purchases
- Sustainability goals: Track progress toward your environmental commitments
- Competitive advantage: Differentiate your brand through measurable sustainability
Supported metrics
Avelero tracks environmental impact through standardized metrics:Carbon emissions
Measure the carbon footprint of your products:- Unit: Kilograms of CO2 equivalent (kg CO2e)
- Scope: Can include raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, or full lifecycle
- Display: Shows on passport with clear units
- Comparison: Enables benchmarking across products
Water usage
Track water consumption during production:- Unit: Liters of water
- Scope: Manufacturing process water usage
- Display: Appears in environmental impact section of passport
- Context: Helps consumers understand water intensity
Extensible structure
The environmental data model supports additional metrics:- Custom environmental metrics can be stored
- Each metric includes value and unit
- Future metrics can be added as regulations evolve
- Data structure is EU ESPR-aligned
Environmental metrics are stored at the product level and can be overridden at the variant level if needed for products with different environmental profiles across variants.
Adding environmental data
You can input environmental metrics through several methods:Manual entry
Add environmental data when creating or editing products:Enter carbon emissions
Input the carbon footprint value in kg CO2e. Include methodology notes if desired.
Enter water usage
Add water consumption in liters. Specify whether this is manufacturing-only or lifecycle.
Bulk import
Include environmental metrics in your bulk import files:- Add columns for carbon emissions and water usage
- Specify units in column headers or use default units
- Import validates that values are numeric
- Metrics are applied to all products in the batch
Integration sync
If your PLM or sustainability platform tracks environmental data:- Configure field mappings to sync environmental metrics
- Map external metric names to Avelero’s standard fields
- Units are normalized during import
- Data syncs automatically with product updates
Data sources and methodology
Environmental data accuracy depends on your measurement approach:Lifecycle assessment (LCA)
Most accurate but resource-intensive:- Comprehensive analysis of all lifecycle stages
- Includes raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life
- Conducted by specialized LCA consultants
- Results can be directly entered into Avelero
Calculator tools
Balance accuracy with practicality:- Use industry-specific calculators or databases
- Input product specifications to estimate impact
- Examples: Higg Index, Worldly, or custom tools
- Transfer calculated values to product records
Supplier data
Leverage data from your supply chain:- Request environmental data from manufacturers
- Aggregate metrics from material suppliers
- Combine facility-level data for total product impact
- Document assumptions and boundaries
Industry averages
Starting point when specific data isn’t available:- Use category averages or benchmarks
- Clearly note that values are estimates
- Plan to replace with measured data over time
Start with the data you have and improve accuracy over time. Estimated data is better than no data, as long as it’s clearly labeled.
Displaying environmental data
Environmental metrics appear on published passports:Impact section
The passport includes a dedicated environmental impact section:- Large, clear display of key metrics
- Visual indicators to make numbers meaningful
- Units are always shown to prevent confusion
- Contextualized with comparisons when possible
Section visibility
Control whether environmental data is displayed:- Section is automatically shown if any metrics exist
- Can be hidden in theme configuration if desired
- Useful during data collection phase
- Enable when you’re ready to communicate impact
Visual presentation
The impact section uses visual design to communicate:- Icons representing different metric types
- Color coding if thresholds are met
- Comparative context (e.g., “equivalent to X” statements)
- Clear, consumer-friendly language
Product-level vs variant-level data
Environmental metrics can be set at different levels:Product-level environmental data
Store metrics on the product:- Applies to all variants by default
- Useful when all variants have similar environmental profiles
- Simpler data management
- Single source of truth
Variant-level environmental data
Override at the variant level when needed:- Different sizes may have different material quantities
- Different colors may use different dyeing processes
- Variant-specific metrics override product-level defaults
- Enables precise disclosure per SKU
When to use variant-level data
When to use variant-level data
Use variant-level environmental metrics when:
- Variants have significantly different material quantities (e.g., XS vs XXL)
- Different color options use different chemicals or processes
- Specific variants are made at different facilities with different energy sources
- You need precise per-SKU carbon accounting
Data validation
The system validates environmental data for quality:- Values must be numeric
- Negative values are rejected
- Units are required for clarity
- Extreme outliers may trigger warnings
Environmental certifications
While environmental metrics show measured impact, certifications validate practices:Linking certifications to materials
Certifications are primarily associated with materials:- Add certifications to your materials catalog
- Materials inherit certification details
- Certifications appear in the materials section of passports
Certification types
Common environmental certifications:- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Bluesign
- Cradle to Cradle
- FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
- Recycled content certifications
Certification display
Certification details appear on passports:- Certification name and type
- Certification code or ID
- Testing institute information
- Issue and expiry dates
Certifications validate your environmental claims and build consumer trust. Combine metrics (what) with certifications (verified by whom) for comprehensive transparency.
Compliance and standards
EU ESPR alignment
Environmental metrics follow EU requirements:- Structured data in JSON-LD format
- Standardized units of measurement
- Clear attribution and methodology
- Version history for audit trails
Carbon footprint standards
Align with recognized standards:- PAS 2050 for product carbon footprints
- GHG Protocol Product Standard
- ISO 14067 for carbon footprint of products
Water footprint standards
Follow water accounting best practices:- ISO 14046 for water footprint assessment
- Water Footprint Network standards
- Distinguish between blue, green, and grey water where applicable
Reporting and analysis
Use environmental data for insights:Portfolio analysis
Understand your product range:- Export environmental data across all products
- Identify high-impact products for improvement
- Track average impact by category or season
- Set reduction targets based on baselines
Progress tracking
Measure improvement over time:- Compare environmental metrics year-over-year
- Monitor impact of process changes
- Validate that sustainability initiatives reduce impact
- Report progress toward goals
Sustainability reporting
Feed corporate sustainability reports:- Aggregate product-level data for company-level reporting
- Support GRI, SASB, or TCFD disclosures
- Provide evidence for sustainability claims
- Demonstrate transparency to stakeholders
Best practices
Start simple
Begin with one or two key metrics. Add more data as your measurement capabilities grow.
Document methodology
Keep internal records of how metrics were calculated, even if not displayed publicly.
Update regularly
Review and update environmental data as processes improve or new data becomes available.
Be transparent
Clearly indicate whether metrics are measured, calculated, or estimated. Honesty builds trust.