What is the BONSAI Climate Footprint Analyser?
The BONSAI Climate Footprint Analyser is a tool designed to explore product climate footprints using the BONSAI Climate Footprint Database. It’s an early release, so results might shift a bit as more checks are added and issues get ironed out. But the core idea is simple: a product footprint sums up all the impacts a product has—from the raw materials pulled from nature right through to when the product is finally disposed of and returned to nature. These results reflect the total impact caused by any change in demand for that product. It’s a comprehensive look at how products affect the planet.
Main Benefit of the BONSAI Climate Footprint Analyser
Here’s why this tool stands out:
- By-products are modeled using market substitution, ensuring realistic impact assessments.
- Market supply mixes only include unconstrained suppliers—those who can actually change their production volume.
- The resulting footprint is known as a consequential footprint, capturing real-world effects.
- Calculations follow Life Cycle Assessment methods standardized in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
- Open source calculation methods based on the latest scientific knowledge ensure transparency and reliability.
- Mass-balanced systems fully compliant with ISO norms provide comparable footprints per additional unit consumed.
- Data and methods are open for anyone to use and reuse, promoting collaboration and innovation.
How BONSAI Works Behind the Scenes
BONSAI stands for “Big Open Network for Sustainability Assessment Information.” It’s a not-for-profit association aiming to make sustainability data open source and accessible. The goal? To support decision-making across governments, industries, and charities. The work is powered by crowdfunding, memberships, and sponsors, which keeps the project independent and focused on transparency. The network is made up of industrial ecologists who develop an open source database for transparent product footprinting. This database is designed to back robust decision-making and help secure effective investments in innovative products and solutions.
Understanding Product Footprints with BONSAI
A product footprint isn’t just a number—it’s the sum of all environmental impacts from start to finish. This means looking at everything from raw material extraction to final disposal. BONSAI’s approach captures the full life cycle, giving a clear picture of what a product truly costs the environment. The consequential footprint method used here reflects the real-world changes in demand and supply, making the data practical and actionable. It’s about understanding how sustainable a product really is, what impacts it causes, and how clean innovations stack up against existing options.
Open Access and Transparency at the Core
BONSAI is committed to openness. The project uses open formats and technologies, providing data that’s free for others to use and reuse. This openness fosters transparency and trust, making it easier for anyone to access reliable, unbiased sustainability information. Whether it’s for comparing products or making informed decisions, BONSAI’s open source software and data empower users to dig into the details and understand the environmental impacts clearly. It’s a big step toward making sustainability data as accessible as possible.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – by promoting transparent product footprinting.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – through detailed climate footprint analysis supporting better decisions.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – by encouraging innovative, sustainable product development.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – via a collaborative, open network of experts and stakeholders.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – by assessing impacts from raw material extraction to disposal.
Looking Ahead with BONSAI
As an early release, BONSAI’s Climate Footprint Analyser is just getting started. The team behind it is continuously adding checks and fixing issues to improve accuracy and reliability. The vision is clear: to make reliable, unbiased sustainability information on products readily and freely available whenever and wherever it’s needed. This supports better product comparisons and smarter decisions, helping to drive effective and productive investments in clean innovations. With BONSAI, the future of transparent, open sustainability data looks promising—and it’s open for everyone to explore.
