How do I calculate the carbon footprint of a pesticide formulation per tonne?

Question

Senseible · Accepted Answer

Add the technical active ingredient, solvents, emulsifiers and carriers from supplier or database factors, the formulation plant's electricity and fuel, and the packaging, then divide by tonnes of formulation packed. The active ingredient bought from a technical manufacturer is usually the largest part, so supplier data matters most. Technical active ingredient: made in a multi-step chemical synthesis by the technical manufacturer. Solvents and emulsifiers for emulsifiable concentrates, and wetting agents and dispersants for powders. Carriers such as bentonite, talc or silica for wettable powders and granules. Formulation energy: mixing, milling, air-jet mills, granulation and drying. Packaging: HDPE and PET bottles, aluminium laminate pouches, cartons. Active ingredient footprints vary widely by molecule and process. A database average can be far from the real figure. Ask the technical manufacturer for kg CO2e per kg of technical, with its boundary, and use the assay strength to work out how much technical each tonne of formulation contains. Most formulation plants use electricity for mixing and milling, plus diesel or PNG for dryers and generators. Keep separate meters or logs for the granulation line if you have one, because drying uses much more energy than liquid blending. Buyers and farmers compare products by dose. Give kg CO2e per tonne or per litre of formulation, and if asked, per hectare treated at the label dose.

How do I calculate the carbon footprint of a pesticide formulation per tonne?

The parts of a formulation's footprint

Ask the technical supplier first

Plant emissions

Per tonne or per hectare

Worked example: plant energy per tonne of formulation (one month)

What Senseible does here