# How do I calculate the carbon footprint of a V-belt?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/v-belt-carbon-footprint-per-piece

Multiply the rubber compound, cord and fabric cover per belt by supplier figures, then add mixing, building, curing and grinding energy. Divide the plant's energy by belts passed, and report by section and length.

## Materials

- Rubber compound by weight.
- Polyester tension cord.
- Fabric cover for wrapped belts.

## Process

- Mixing and calendering.
- Building on drums and cutting.
- Curing in moulds or pots, then grinding.

## Per piece

Report per belt with its section (A, B, C) and length, since material scales with both.

## Worked example: v-belt unit per piece (one month)

- Electricity: 20,000 kWh x 0.710 = 14,200 kg CO2
- Coal: 10,000 kg x 2.42 = 24,200 kg CO2
- Belts passed: 200,000
- Plant total: 38,400 / 200,000 = 0.192 kg CO2 per piece
- Add rubber and cord for the full figure

Inputs are illustrative; use your own bills and production records.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads the plant's electricity bills (CEA grid factor 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh, CO2 Baseline Database version 21.0) and fuel invoices (IPCC 2006 defaults) into a fingerprinted Scope 1 and 2 record, the plant-level input to a per-unit figure. Bought-in materials go to the supplier evidence trail; product reports are self-declared drafts.

- [Product carbon footprint calculator](https://senseible.earth/calculators/product-carbon-footprint)
- [Rubber moulded part footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/rubber-moulded-part-carbon-footprint-per-kg)
- [Conveyor belt footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/conveyor-belt-carbon-footprint-per-metre)
- [Automobile industry](https://senseible.earth/industries/automobile)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Product Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/standards), [ISO 14067:2018, Carbon footprint of products (iso.org)](https://www.iso.org), [IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy (fuel defaults)](https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html), [CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0](https://cea.nic.in/cdm-co2-baseline-database/?lang=en)

Last reviewed 2026-10-20.