
A carbon footprint calculator for printing can help you to determine the carbon emissions generated when you print documents.
Since different types of paper also have different carbon footprints, this can impact the total emissions generated by printing.
With this carbon footprint calculator for printing, you can assess the energy and resources used to print a document, and also find ways to eliminate those emissions using a carbon offset.
This complete guide examines the carbon footprint of paper (27 types), as well as many office and home-based activities, which each have their own carbon footprint, including the footprint of paper production, neutral toilet paper, and paper products that are used in most businesses for normal operations.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Business (Includes Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing)
As the globe participates in decarbonization, businesses are looking for practical methods to calculate their carbon emissions and establish net-zero targets.
Thus, each business needs to comprehend its environmental impact by determining its carbon footprint. Later, it can take the essential steps to reduce it.1
Therefore, reducing the greenhouse effect is becoming essential but not a regulatory requirement to determine the net-zero target set by each business to minimize carbon emissions within its locality collectively.1
There are differing requirements across various industries, organizations, and countries. This results in various free carbon footprint calculator for business available online.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Products
Each product you purchase and use comes with its unique carbon footprint. This implies the products directly or indirectly affect our environment. Luckily, there are various carbon footprint calculators for products available online.1
For instance, nature.org has a personal carbon footprint calculator that allows you to determine the carbon emission rate. Similarly, there is the 2030 calculator that works by summing up the average emission factors for energy consumption, materials, and transportation.
This calculator is effective since it determines all the carbon emissions for a product from production to the store. The 2030 calculator breaks down the carbon footprint of a product in the form of production and materials, packaging, shipping, and unknown variables.
For instance, the following is a carbon emission breakdown of denim pants A2 product from this calculator:
You can therefore use this calculator to effectively determine the carbon footprint of any product from its production until it reaches the shelf.
Alternatively, you can use a carbon footprint calculator to determine the emission from any product, although it won’t measure its emission from the production stage.
Industrial Carbon Footprint Calculator
As each industry works to meet the demand of its customers, it emits carbon in several ways. From using coal, petroleum, and vehicles to LPG, each industry significantly affects the environment through the carbon effect.
However, various regulatory authorities and states have come up with several measures to minimize the rate of carbon emission.2 Therefore, each industry needs to determine its carbon footprint to determine its effect on the environment and the possible ways of going green.
Thus, an industrial carbon footprint calculator can help any industry to determine its actual carbon emission in tonnes and pay the required tax. Carbon Solutions has this unique calculator that allows any industry to measure its carbon emission to find possible ways of managing and reducing them.2
Carbon Footprint of Paper (27 Types)
According to a study done in the US in 2018, pulp and paper industries emitted about 79.5 million tonnes of CO2. Half of these total emissions resulted from the combustion and production of fuels. Thus, various paper and paper products have a significant carbon emission level.2
The infographic below shows the level of carbon emission from various paper products annually:
From the graph above, we can determine the carbon emission level from various paper products in the production process. Thus, we have papers that have a considerable effect on our environment and must be addressed.2
Carbon Footprint of Paper Bags
Paper bags contribute to a significant amount of carbon emissions to the environment. Typically, producing a paper bag emits 5.52kg CO2. This is equivalent to driving a fuel vehicle for 28km.3
On the other hand, a single use of a paper bag emits 1.58kg of CO2. This is equivalent to driving a vehicle for 8km. Thus, paper usage and production produce a significant amount of carbon in the environment.3
Carbon Footprint of Paper Towels (Includes Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing)
Paper towels are manufactured similarly to other paper products, such as writing paper, cardboard, and tissues. These products are manufactured from pulp and contain a mixture of water and wood. The pulp industry contributes to about 0.5% of total CO2 emissions within the US.4
Typically, using two common cotton paper towels to dry your hands has a CO2 emission of 15 grams. By evaluating the national carbon emission in America, citizens use about 13 billion pounds of paper towels annually. This is equivalent to throwing away about 270 million trees every year.4
Carbon Footprint of Paper Production: Carbon Footprint of Paper (27 Types)
Paper production involves using fuel, trees, coal, and natural gas. This process contributes to a significant amount of carbon emissions. Generally, the paper and pulp industry contributed 0.5% of CO2 emissions in the US and Canada in 2018.5
The graph below summarizes the carbon footprint of paper production in different years across the globe:
Carbon Neutral Toilet Paper Carbon Footprint
Recyclable carbon-neutral toilet paper is a suitable alternative to going green. This toilet paper is generally manufactured using environmental-friendly materials. However, their shipping, production, distribution, and packaging processes account for significant carbon emissions.6
You can use a carbon footprint calculator free or a carbon footprint calculator for products to determine how much CO2 these toilet papers, such as bamboo toilet paper, account for in our environment. This will be based on their production process and other carbon-emitting processes to make them reach the shop shelves.6
Company Carbon Footprint Calculator
A company’s carbon footprint is essential as it determines its environmental impact. Typically, this represents the consumption of products, energy, and services and determines the carbon emission corresponding to the company’s products or activities.
There are three practical steps for determining the carbon footprint of companies. They include:
- Determine the direct greenhouse emissions: This includes the emissions directly released into the environment from the activities owned and controlled by an organization.
- Determine the indirect greenhouse emissions from energy: This involves the emissions linked to the company’s utilization of purchased energy/
- Determine other indirect greenhouse emissions: These are the operations beyond the company’s ownership and control.
The formula below summarizes the empirical formula for establishing the total carbon emission from a company:
Company Carbon Emission= Direct CO2 emission + Indirect CO2 emission+ Other Indirect CO2 emissions
Nonetheless, you can use a general carbon calculator to determine the carbon emission for each variable in the formula above.
And, you can purchase shipping carbon offset programs and others to erase those business emissions.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Students
A carbon footprint calculator for students is a suitable way to enable them to understand how their habits affect the environment. Although their preferences for choices appear small, every small effort results in a better relationship in improving the globe and encouraging others to appreciate and respect the surroundings.
That is generally the primary use of a carbon emission calculator. It demonstrates the individual responsibility to conserve the environment and how they can create a difference within their surrounding.
Further, it provides more discussion ideas that students can use to gather and be part of fruitful solutions. The topics of discussion may include how the production of electric cars may not be a solution for reducing the total carbon emission, the income disparity effect on carbon emissions, and how trees are effective solutions for minimizing carbon emissions.
Therefore, the carbon calculator for students is an effective way of helping them determine how they affect the environment and the possible ways to minimize these effects. Also, they can help them come up with more advanced research and studies to determine possible ways of making the planet safe.
Best Carbon Footprint Calculator Comparisons
Climate change should not seem like a significant problem as it has possible ways of controlling it. This begins by determining the number of greenhouse emissions and coming up with possible ways of going green, and that’s where the carbon footprint calculator comes in.
The following carbon footprint calculators are all ranked well, but each has its own drawbacks.
Conservation.Org
Conservation.org is a powerful tool you can use to determine your carbon footprint. It lets you key in details such as transport, travel, and household.
Later, it generates the number of trees you require to equalize your annual footprint, which better indicates a proper perspective. Also, it gives you various tips you can use to decrease your carbon footprint.
Carbon Footprint
Carbonfootprint.com site has various calculators for small businesses, individuals, and more. The good thing about this carbon footprint calculator is that it provides various control measures, but the thing about it is that it doesn’t account for some of the activities that can generate emissions.
Also, it allows you to select your country and compare your carbon footprint with an average colleague living in your country. It also allows you to define the period before starting the computation.
UN Carbon Footprint Calculator
The UN carbon footprint calculator is a great tool you can consider using that works incredibly irrespective of your location.
It allows you to key in details across various categories, including transport, household, and lifestyle. This calculator later shows you the results based on the national and global averages.
CarbonWatch
If you are an Indian resident looking for a great carbon footprint calculator, look no further than the CarbonWatch app.
This software is well-engineered to allow you successfully answer your carbon footprint quiz. However, this app is currently available for Android devices but can be made possible for iOS gadgets.
Terrapass Carbon Calculator
You can also use the Terrapass calculator to establish your carbon footprint. Unlike other carbon footprint calculators discussed above, you don’t have to spend time keying in your details here. It prompts you to add your use for flights, vehicles, and home energy.
This tool is generally user-friendly as it generates outcomes within a few minutes. However, there are some things that this calculator misses.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Kids
You may think that kids have little to do to reduce carbon emissions, but you might be wrong. Kids significantly affect the planet, and it is essential to measure their carbon footprint to come up with possible changes.
Research shows that kids contribute to CO2 emissions almost ten times more than their grandparents.
The graph below shows the average CO2 emission per capita in various decades in advanced economies:
Thus, kids have a considerable contribution to the greenhouse effect. Luckily, a carbon footprint calculator for kids allows you to establish their effect on the planet and compose suitable solutions.
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint Worksheet (Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing)
At times in life, you may ask, what is my carbon footprint? However, you can comfortably determine your carbon footprint and personal impact. Typically, this is the amount of carbon dioxide you release to the environment.
This involves your daily activities and lifestyle, such as electrical use, travel, consumption of services and products, and foods you eat alongside others.
Here is a straightforward way of composing your carbon footprint worksheet:
Variable | Multiply By X | Total |
Monthly electric bill | 105 | XX |
Monthly gas bill | 105 | XX |
Monthly oil bill | 113 | XX |
Annual vehicle mileage | 79 | XX |
The annual flights you have taken lasting less than 4 hours | 1,100 | XX |
The annual flights you have taken lasting more than 4 hours | 4,400 | XX |
Gross Total Carbon Footprint | XXX | |
If you do not recycle newspaper | +184 | |
If you do not recycle tin and aluminum | +166 | |
Total Carbon Footprint | XXXX + (1—8) |
Email Carbon Footprint
From day to day, we receive emails from work and relatives and compose and send replies where applicable. However, although this act may seem environmentally friendly, it has some carbon footprint that you need to determine. To determine the environmental effect of an email, you should first determine its greenhouse emission.7
Anytime you press the “send” icon on your mail, your internet connection relies on electricity to transfer the information to the intended recipient. So how can you determine the email carbon footprint? You can use the email CO2 calculator to determine their emission.
Nonetheless, sending an email contributes to 0.03g CO2 to 26g CO2. This range gives you various ways of using emails, either with good or bad intentions. After considering other variables, the spam folder emits 0.03g of CO2.
How Many Pieces of Paper in a Tree?
It can be challenging to determine how many pieces of paper in the tree are since trees come in unique sizes. Also, other factors, such as the process used in pulping, the type of wood, the weight of wood, and the type of paper being manufactured, affect the number of papers produced.
However, the typical standard incorporates that 128 cubic feet of wood measuring about 2 tons can produce 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of paper. To determine the weight of a tree, you need to assume that it has a height of 45 feet and measures 8 inches in diameter.
Later, determine its cross-sectional area using the formula πr2 and multiplying by height. You will discover that it measures about ten cubic feet. Thus, eight trees are needed to produce a pound of paper.
This is because a 500-sheet of paper averagely weighs 5 pounds, and a tree produces about 10,000 to 20,000 sheets of paper. This may sound less significant, but the largest amount is not recycled during this process.
How Many Trees Are Cut Down Each Year for Paper?
Many people wonder how many trees are cut down each year for paper and other products. Most industries highly depend on trees for manufacturing papers. This results in cutting down about three billion trees annually for paper manufacture. From this vast number, about 250,000,000 trees are cut down monthly.
Carbon Footprint of Paper vs Plastic
By considering that paper production involves cutting down essential trees that absorb carbon dioxide in our environment, the paper manufacturing process contributes to 80% excess greenhouse gases and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic.
But, when considering the carbon footprint of paper vs plastic, the emissions generated by plastic waste (along with the other harmful contaminants) makes paper more environmentally friendly.8
Carbon Footprint Calculator WWF
The carbon footprint calculator WWF aids organizations based in Finland to acquire access to the essential features of a simple carbon footprint calculator. In addition to determining the office carbon emission calculation, this calculator allows you to keep track of the development of climate change, use communication skills externally and internally, and compare the results.
Later, it generates measurable and goal-oriented action to reduce the workplace’s carbon footprint.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Students Worksheet
In addition to a carbon footprint calculator for students, various sites provide the carbon footprint calculator for students’ worksheets, allowing learners to initiate environmental conversation discussions, participate in social and environmental issues, and create environmental awareness. These worksheets have practical results in minimizing the rate of carbon emission.
Best Carbon Footprint Calculator for Students
The best carbon footprint calculator for students should reliably communicate how to achieve sustainability efforts. Since such calculators are available online today, it becomes quite a hassle for learners to select their best ecological footprint calculator.
Therefore, we have carefully selected 5 best carbon footprint calculators students can use to measure their carbon footprint and come up with feasible solutions:
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Students and Teachers Only
This tool is well-engineered to be used in hand with any curriculum and is free to use. Before using it, you must source it on your school’s resources page or website.
This allows us to spread awareness to enable it to become accessible to underprivileged schools and teachers in various parts of the globe.
International, Student-Oriented Footprint Calculator
The Inquiry to Student Environmental action has helped learners in various parts of the world to learn and discuss their carbon emission challenges.
Thus, it has prepared a unique carbon footprint calculator to help learners quickly determine their carbon footprint and generates possible ways of minimizing these emissions.
The Footprint Calculator
The footprint calculator is an interactive carbon footprint calculator that any learner can use to determine the carbon emission from cars, flights, building, cutting down trees for paper, and others. It later gives them a blueprint of the practical ways they can create an impact on the planet by making it a greener place.
EPA Carbon Calculator
The EPA carbon calculator is suitable for elementary and middle school learners who don’t drive vehicles but can make significantly greener decisions, such as turning off water and lights.
Zero Footprint
The Zero footprint is an excellent option for students to offset their carbon footprint through cash donations and explains their actions to offset carbon emissions. Examples of offset projects may include financing a tire recycling program, forest restoration, and landfill gas recovery. Most of these items are mainly available to senior students rather than kids.
Like other activities with a possible greenhouse effect, printing also has a considerable amount of carbon emission that needs to be addressed. Each action significantly affects our planet, from cutting down trees to preparing these papers to use carbon ink to print on printing papers.
Thankfully, we have a well-composed carbon footprint calculator for printing that includes the carbon footprint of paper which you can conveniently use to determine the rate of carbon emission from paper and printing and determine a suitable approach to offsetting it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing
Will the Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing Determine the Actual Carbon Footprint of Paper?
Yes, it will carefully calculate the carbon footprint of any of the 27 types of paper and give you the extent of environmental effect these papers have on our environment. Thus, you can conveniently use this carbon calculator to determine the accurate value of carbon emission from paper and devise feasible solutions to offset it.
How Can I Use the Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing?
To use this calculator, you need to arrive at its webpage, key in the required information such as the type of paper, number of papers used, and your location, and press the “Calculate” button. This calculator will automatically generate your value for carbon emission, and you can later come up with a suitable approach to control it.
Is the Carbon Footprint Calculator for Printing a Suitable Way of Minimizing Environmental Impact?
Yes, printing on paper has a significant amount of carbon emission and needs to be offset. Fortunately, the carbon footprint calculator establishes the actual value of these emissions, making it easy for you to find possible ways of offsetting them.
References
1Sustainable Travel International. (2021, September 29). How to calculate your company’s carbon footprint. Sustainable Travel International. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://sustainabletravel.org/how-to-calculate-your-companys-carbon-footprint/>
2NC State University. (2022). Life cycle carbon footprint analysis of pulp and paper grades in the United States using production-line-based data and integration. BioResources. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/life-cycle-carbon-footprint-analysis-of-pulp-and-paper-grades-in-the-united-states-using-production-line-based-data-and-integration/>
3CO2 Everything. (2022). Paper Bag Carbon Footprint | 5.52kg CO2e. CO2 Everything. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://www.co2everything.com/co2e-of/paper-bag>
4Terrapass. (2019, December 30). How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Paper Towels? Terrapass. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://terrapass.com/blog/how-reduce-carbon-footprint-paper-towels>
5Cepi. (2020, November 24). Pulp and Paper Industry (PPI) – carbon emission graphs. Cepi. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://www.cepi.org/ppi-carbon-emission-graphs/>
6Metsa. (2021, November 25). Metsä Tissue investigated the carbon footprint of toilet paper: high-quality and soft tissue paper is also environmentally friendly. Metsa. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://news.cision.com/metsa-tissue/r/metsa-tissue-investigated-the-carbon-footprint-of-toilet-paper--high-quality-and-soft-tissue-paper-i,c3525807>
7World Economic Forum. (2022, May 6). Today’s children will emit 10 times less CO2 than their grandparents. World Economic Forum. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/children-grandparents-carbon-footprint-iea/>
8Sancell. (2021, May 4). The Unexpected Truth: Paper vs Plastic. Sancell. Retrieved December 12, 2022, from <https://sancell.com.au/the-unexpected-truth-paper-vs-plastic/>