> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.variable.global/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Impacts

Every product, material, dataset, switch, and database search result can return its full set of
**EN 15804+A2 environmental impact indicators** — not just carbon. Impacts come back under a
top-level `impacts` field, keyed by the indicator's canonical code (for example `GWP-fossil`,
`ODP`, `AP`). You choose which indicators to include with the `impacts` query parameter.

<Info>
  For the full list of indicators and what each one measures, see
  [Environmental impact indicators](/docs/help/impact-indicators).
</Info>

## The `impacts` field

`impacts` is an object keyed by indicator code. Each value carries the indicator's `unit` and
`method`, plus its values for the individual life-cycle stages (`A1`, `A2`, `A3`, …) and the
aggregated totals (`totalCarbonFootprint`, `A1_A3`, …) the indicator covers.

```json theme={"system"}
{
  "uuid": "123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000",
  "name": "Steel billet, hot rolled",
  "impacts": {
    "GWP-fossil": {
      "unit": "kgCO2e",
      "method": "Mixed",
      "totalCarbonFootprint": "10",
      "A1_A3": "10"
    },
    "ODP": {
      "unit": "kgCFC11e",
      "method": "EN15804+A2 - Core impact categories and indicators",
      "A1_A3": "0.0000012"
    },
    "AP": {
      "unit": "molH+e",
      "method": "EN15804+A2 - Core impact categories and indicators",
      "A1_A3": "2"
    }
  }
}
```

Values are strings. One that is genuinely zero is `"0"`; one with no value is absent.
The aggregated stage `A1_A3` is returned alongside the individual `A1`, `A2`, and `A3` stages, so
you can read either the combined product stage or its parts. `method` is `Mixed` when the total
aggregates two or more components from different methods — common for the headline `GWP-fossil` total.

## The `impacts` query parameter

Add `?impacts=` to any `GET` that returns these resources to control which indicators come back.

| `?impacts=` value   | Returns                                            |
| :------------------ | :------------------------------------------------- |
| absent or empty     | Only `GWP-fossil`                                  |
| `all`               | Every indicator                                    |
| `gwp-fossil,odp,ap` | Just those indicators (codes are case-insensitive) |

An unrecognized code returns `400` with the list of valid codes. `all` is only honored on its own —
`?impacts=all,gwp-fossil` is treated as a request for an unknown code and returns `400`.

```bash theme={"system"}
curl https://app.variable.global/v1/dataset/{uuid}?impacts=all \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN"
```

<Note>
  `GWP-fossil` is always available. Access to the full indicator set may depend on your account.
</Note>

## Deprecation: `footprint.CO2e`

The existing `footprint.CO2e` object is unchanged and keeps working, but it is **deprecated** in
favor of `impacts["GWP-fossil"]`, which carries the same GWP-fossil values. Migrate to `impacts`
when you can; `footprint.CO2e` has no removal date yet.

<Info>
  Endpoints: [Product](/api-reference/v1/product/get), [Material](/api-reference/v1/material/get),
  [Dataset](/api-reference/v1/dataset/get), [Switch](/api-reference/v1/switch/get), and
  [Database search](/api-reference/v1/search/list).
</Info>