Variable tracks environmental impacts using the EN 15804+A2 standard, which defines a comprehensive set of indicators beyond just carbon emissions. These indicators provide a complete picture of a product’s environmental profile.
GWP-fossil: Variable’s default indicator
Variable’s default headline indicator is GWP-fossil - Global Warming Potential from fossil-fuel-derived emissions, measured over a 100-year time horizon and expressed in kilograms of CO2 equivalent (kg CO2e). When you open a product, the impact column you see and the “carbon footprint” number quoted in the UI both refer to GWP-fossil unless you’ve selected a different indicator.
EN 15804+A2 splits GWP100 into four climate-change categories. Variable defaults to GWP-fossil so biogenic uptake/release and land-use-change effects don’t mask the fossil-fuel signal - but you can switch to any of them in the indicator dropdown.
| Indicator | Description |
|---|
| GWP-fossil | Default. Emissions from fossil-fuel combustion and fossil-derived processes |
| GWP-total | Sum of all GWP contributions (fossil + biogenic + luluc) |
| GWP-biogenic | Net emissions from biogenic carbon (uptake and release) |
| GWP-luluc | Emissions from land use and land-use change |
Core environmental indicators
These 13 indicators cover the fundamental environmental impact categories:
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| GWP-total | kg CO2e | Total climate change impact |
| GWP-fossil | kg CO2e | Fossil fuel-related climate impact |
| GWP-biogenic | kg CO2e | Biogenic climate impact |
| GWP-luluc | kg CO2e | Land use change climate impact |
| AP | mol H+ eq | Acidification potential (acid rain) |
| EP-freshwater | kg P eq | Freshwater eutrophication |
| EP-marine | kg N eq | Marine eutrophication |
| EP-terrestrial | mol N eq | Terrestrial eutrophication |
| ODP | kg CFC-11 eq | Ozone depletion potential |
| POCP | kg NMVOC eq | Photochemical ozone creation (smog) |
| ADPE | kg Sb eq | Abiotic depletion - minerals and metals |
| ADPF | MJ | Abiotic depletion - fossil resources |
| WDP | m3 world eq | Water deprivation potential |
Resource use indicators
These 10 indicators track energy and material consumption:
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| PERE | MJ | Renewable primary energy (excluding raw materials) |
| PERM | MJ | Renewable primary energy used as raw materials |
| PERT | MJ | Total renewable primary energy |
| PENRE | MJ | Non-renewable primary energy (excluding raw materials) |
| PENRM | MJ | Non-renewable primary energy used as raw materials |
| PENRT | MJ | Total non-renewable primary energy |
| SM | kg | Secondary material use |
| RSF | MJ | Renewable secondary fuels |
| NRSF | MJ | Non-renewable secondary fuels |
| FW | m3 | Net use of fresh water |
The PERM/PENRM indicators track energy content in materials (like the energy stored in plastics or wood). Variable applies special rules to track this energy as it enters and exits the product system. See Life-cycle stages explained for details on material energy accounting. Waste indicators
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| HWD | kg | Hazardous waste disposed |
| NHWD | kg | Non-hazardous waste disposed |
| RWD | kg | Radioactive waste disposed |
| HLRW | kg | High-level radioactive waste disposed |
Biogenic carbon indicators
These indicators track the carbon content stored in products and packaging:
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| BCCP | kg C | Biogenic carbon content in product |
| BCCAP | kg C | Biogenic carbon content in packaging |
BCCP and BCCAP represent carbon storage, not emissions. They only apply to the A1-A3 (product stage) and follow special rules based on whether an input is classified as product, packaging, or ancillary material.
Output flow indicators
These indicators track materials and energy leaving the product system:
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| CRU | kg | Components for reuse |
| MFR | kg | Materials for recycling |
| MER | kg | Materials for energy recovery |
| EEE | MJ | Exported electrical energy |
| EET | MJ | Exported thermal energy |
| EE | MJ | Total exported energy |
Additional indicators
Seven additional indicators for human and ecosystem toxicity:
| Indicator | Unit | Description |
|---|
| GWP-GHG | kg CO2e | Climate change (excluding biogenic uptake/release) |
| PM | disease incidence | Particulate matter formation |
| HTP-c | CTUh | Human toxicity - carcinogenic |
| HTP-nc | CTUh | Human toxicity - non-carcinogenic |
| IRP | kBq U-235 eq | Ionising radiation |
| SQP | dimensionless | Land use / soil quality |
| ETP-fw | CTUe | Freshwater ecotoxicity |
