Which B2B Promotional Wholesalers Provide a CO2 Calculation per Item?
What a CO2 calculation per item for promotional products includes, the methods behind it (ISO 14067, GHG Protocol, PAS 2050) and how to compare suppliers' figures.
By Zintora Team
A B2B promotional wholesaler that provides a CO2 calculation per item states a figure in kg CO2e for each product, with the method and the life cycle stages it covers. Zintora states an estimated carbon footprint per product in every quote. Before comparing figures between suppliers, always ask how each one was calculated.
This guide explains what a per-item carbon figure is, which methods are used to calculate one, what it should include, and how to compare figures from different suppliers without being misled by numbers that look precise but measure different things.
What a CO2 calculation per item actually is
A product carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions linked to one unit of a product, expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2e). "Equivalent" means other gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are converted into the amount of CO2 that would have the same warming effect.
For a branded bottle, tote or T-shirt, the figure typically adds up:
- Raw materials: producing the steel, cotton, polyester, glass or bamboo.
- Manufacturing: forming, weaving, sewing, moulding and finishing.
- Decoration: printing, engraving or embroidering your logo.
- Packaging: the box, bag or wrap the item is shipped in.
- Transport: moving materials and the finished item to you.
- Use and end of life: washing, refilling, and what happens when the item is thrown away, if the boundary goes that far.
The methods behind the numbers
Three references come up again and again.
ISO 14067
ISO 14067 is the international standard for the carbon footprint of products. It sets out principles, requirements and guidelines for quantifying a product carbon footprint and communicating it, building on the ISO life cycle assessment standards. A figure calculated "in line with ISO 14067" should come with a stated functional unit, a system boundary and data sources.
GHG Protocol Product Standard
The GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard covers emissions across a product's full life cycle, from raw materials through manufacturing, transport, storage and use to disposal. It is designed to find the hot spots where reductions matter most, and it allows product rules for specific categories, which help comparisons. The GHG Protocol has announced work with ISO on an updated product standard.
PAS 2050
PAS 2050 is a publicly available specification from BSI for assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services. It was developed in the UK with the support of the Carbon Trust and Defra, and it is still referred to by some UK businesses, although many calculations now cite ISO 14067.
Cradle to gate or cradle to grave
The single most important detail is the boundary:
- Cradle to gate: from raw materials to the moment the product leaves the factory. It excludes delivery to you, use and disposal.
- Cradle to grave: the whole life cycle, including use and end of life.
A cradle-to-gate figure for one bottle will be lower than a cradle-to-grave figure for the same bottle, because it covers less. Neither is wrong, but they cannot be compared directly.
How to compare per-item figures between suppliers
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which method: ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard, PAS 2050, or none stated? | A named method sets rules for boundaries, data and allocation |
| Cradle to gate or cradle to grave? | Different boundaries give different totals for the same item |
| Does it include decoration and packaging? | Printing and packaging can be left out of a "product" figure |
| Primary or secondary data? | Measured supplier data versus average emission factors from a database |
| What is the functional unit? | "Per bottle" versus "per litre carried over its life" tells a different story |
| Is the figure labelled as an estimate? | Most per-item figures in merchandise rely on averages and should say so |
| Is any offsetting or credit netted off? | A footprint should be gross emissions, with any credits shown separately |
If two suppliers answer these questions differently, compare only what overlaps, or ask both to state the same boundary.
What to put in your quote request
Suppliers answer the question they are asked. If your brief says only "eco products", you will get a list of materials. If it asks for numbers, you are more likely to get numbers you can use. A short paragraph in your request is enough:
- Ask for an estimated carbon footprint per item, in kg CO2e, for every product in the quote.
- Ask for the method and the boundary in one line next to the figure.
- Ask whether the figure includes your logo decoration and the packaging you have chosen.
- Ask for the same basis for every alternative the supplier proposes, so the options can be compared.
- Ask for a summary for the whole order that you can use in your Scope 3 reporting.
If the supplier cannot provide figures, that is useful information too. Record it, and weigh the materials, durability and certificates instead.
What a per-item figure will not tell you
A per-item number is a snapshot of one unit. It does not show how long the item will be used, and that changes the picture more than almost anything else. A steel bottle with a higher footprint than a thin plastic one can still be the better choice if it is used every day for years. Divide the footprint by realistic uses when you compare.
It also does not make a product "carbon neutral". Zintora does not describe any product as carbon neutral and does not claim it. Buying credits does not remove a product's emissions, so if a supplier presents an item as neutral on the basis of offsets, keep that claim out of your own communications. The CMA's Green Claims Code is a useful reference on how to word environmental claims.
How per-item figures feed your Scope 3 reporting
For most companies, merchandise falls under Scope 3, Category 1 (purchased goods and services) in the GHG Protocol corporate value chain approach. Multiplying a per-item footprint by the quantity bought gives a product-based estimate for the order, which is usually more specific than a spend-based estimate from the invoice value. Keep the supplier's method note with the figure so your auditors can see where it came from.
What Zintora provides
Our sustainability page sets out what we do. Every quote states an estimated carbon footprint per product. For the merchandise you buy from us, we prepare a sustainability report with Scope 3 emissions data. The figures are estimates and are labelled as such. We do not buy carbon credits or offset emissions.
The only certificate we name is the GRS of The Tenth House, checked per lot; certificates for other products are available on request.
Two products where a per-item comparison is easy to make:
- The High-Grade Steel Bottle: a reusable stainless steel bottle for laser engraving, UV printing or screen printing. Minimum 25 units.
- The Borosilicate Glass Bottle with Bamboo Lid: borosilicate glass with a silicone sleeve and a bamboo lid. Minimum 25 units.
Ask for both in one quote and you can compare their estimated footprints side by side. More options are on our branded water bottles and sustainable branded merchandise pages and in the catalogue. For the wider picture on labels, read our guide to eco-friendly merchandise certifications.
Pricing is confirmed in your quote, ex VAT; printing and delivery are extra, UK import VAT and duties are paid on delivery. Production takes 10 to 20 working days after proof approval, confirmed in the quote. You approve a digital proof before production.
CO2 per item checklist
- Per-item figure requested in kg CO2e for each product in the quote
- Method named (ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard, PAS 2050 or other)
- Boundary stated: cradle to gate or cradle to grave
- Decoration, packaging and transport inclusion confirmed
- Figure labelled as an estimate where it uses average data
- No offsets or credits netted off the footprint
- Footprint compared against realistic years of use
- Method note filed with the figure for Scope 3 reporting
- Public wording limited to what the figure and method support
Frequently asked questions
Which B2B promotional wholesaler provides a CO2 calculation per item?
Any supplier that states a kg CO2e figure per product with its method and boundary. Zintora states an estimated carbon footprint per product in every quote and prepares a Scope 3 report for the merchandise you buy. Ask any supplier for the method before you compare.
Is a per-item figure the same as a life cycle assessment?
A product carbon footprint is a life cycle assessment limited to greenhouse gases. A full life cycle assessment also looks at other impacts such as water and land use.
Why do two suppliers give different figures for similar bottles?
Usually because of different boundaries, data sources or functional units. Ask both for the same boundary before comparing.
Should the figure include delivery to each person's home?
If you send items to individual addresses rather than one office, delivery becomes a larger share of the total. Ask whether transport is inside the boundary, and whether it assumes one bulk delivery or many individual parcels, so the figure matches how you will actually ship.
Does Zintora offset the emissions of its products?
No. We do not buy carbon credits or offset emissions, and we do not describe products as carbon neutral.
How do I get the estimated footprint for my order?
Request a quote with the products and quantities; the estimated footprint per product is stated in the quote.
