What does the carbon footprint of a product tell about?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: What does the carbon footprint of a product tell about?
Option a: 'About the carbon dioxide emissions related to the product' — this is close but incomplete. It only references CO2 emissions and omits the broader scope of other greenhouse gases that are converted to CO2-equivalents in accounting frameworks. It also generally excludes the standard practice of aggregating across the product life cycle.
Option b: 'About the carbon content of the product' — this is a misunderstanding. Carbon footprint does not measure how much carbon is physically present in the material; it measures emissions generated in producing, using, and disposing of the product, not the intrinsic carbon fraction in the product itself.
Option c: 'About the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions related to the product' — this aligns with the standard definition used in life cycle assessment and environmental reporting. It captures not only CO2 but other greenhouse gases converted to CO2-equivalents, summed over the product’s life cycle stages, providing a holistic measure of climate impact.
In exploring the concepts, note that the carbon footprint is not simply the amount of CO2 emitted from a single stage but a cumulative figure across stages such as raw material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life. This cumulative CO2-equivalent approach is what differentiates a carbon footprint from a simple emissions count or a material carbon content figure. Understanding this helps distinguish option c from the other choices, which either oversimplify or misinterpret what is being measured in carbon accounting.

Climate Action - Sustainable design and production Progress Check 1

What does the carbon footprint of a product tell about?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

A carbon footprint can be reduced by:

Bonus question A higher carbon footprint corresponds to a greater environmental impact.

Bonus question A higher carbon footprint corresponds to a greater environmental impact.

Question at position 1 __ measures the indirect carbon dioxide emissions from the whole life cycle of products—from their manufacture to eventual breakdown.Primary footprintSecondary footprintTertiary footprintInternalized footprint

What factors will be considered for the calculation of carbon footprint?

The carbon footprint provides indicative information on

Which of the following statements are true?

The carbon footprint provides indicative information on

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler