You can consult with the data source offered in this article-

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0141-x

It would be more comprehensive to calculate ecological footprint:

1. https://www.footprintnetwork.org/our-work/ecological-footprint

2. https://www.footprintcalculator.org

3. https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=WVNEAQAAQBAJ

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X15005269

5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800908003376

Dear Hulda Karlsson

The carbon footprint could be calculated via LCA tools and sustainability assessment from emission data.

Hey Hulda

My point of view is the one of an industry-consultant and university teacher.

I find most often scientists and consultants use LCA tools and emission data and base their considerations on the approach - which again is based on the GHP/ISO (rather than the EIO approach). Actually, when teaching but also when working with clients as consultant I do not prefer using software for the first 2-4 years. This is mainly due to two reasons

- software, very often, uses conversion factors which the user does not understand in terms of origin (where they have been generated), method (how generated), accuracy, and age (when have these factors been generated)

- when finding your way into the world of LCA as a user you could simply buy software or use internet-based tools - but neccessarily the inaccuracy of these tools is often significant and, as a user, you want to understand which data are needed, where your own sources are weak /strong, who is, in your business structure, involved in the related processes internally and externally. This takes time.

The latter is a painful experience but it helps to gain accuracy and internal awarenes. Over time the accuracy increases from starting at some 25% to some 5-7% at best for last years´ LCA. Due to measurement inaccuracy and aged conversion factors one will hardly get better than 5-7%, in my experience, in annual reports referring to the most previous year.

Only after going through the frustrating experience (and with the guidance of a motivating consultant) a customer knows enough you are knowledgeable enough to know what to buy.

That may be different for complex cascading proesses involving many intermediate processes and products like in the chemical industry ...

You should not forget that there is also a team-dimension in industry situations: you don´t do a carbon/ecological footprint for fun but rather as a management tool to reduce it. The team calculating it knows most about where the big numbers and inaccuracies are localized and, hence, are able to implement the strategy to be developed based on the LCA.

Regards

Michael