Custom Carbon Data Research: Closing CO₂e Data Gaps for Accurate PCF and Scope 3 Calculations

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Custom carbon data research is the process of developing verified CO₂e emission factors for specific materials, production processes, supply chain activities, or product components that are not adequately covered by existing LCA databases or standard emission factor libraries. It closes the data gaps that would otherwise prevent companies from producing accurate, complete Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) and Scope 3 emissions calculations — and block them from meeting regulatory and customer reporting requirements.

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Why data gaps are a critical problem in carbon accounting

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In standard PCF and LCA workflows, emission factors for common materials — steel, aluminium, standard polymers, electricity — are well-covered by established databases. But for many industrial companies, a significant share of their Bill of Materials (BoM) consists of highly specific materials, proprietary alloys, specialized chemicals, custom electronic components, or non-standard production processes for which no reliable, publicly available emission factor exists.

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When key BoM positions lack emission factor coverage, the resulting PCF is incomplete, potentially unreliable, and may not satisfy the data quality standards of ISO 14067 or the GHG Protocol. For regulatory submissions — whether for CBAM, the EU Battery Regulation, or CSRD ESRS E1 — missing or generic data introduces uncertainty that auditors will flag.

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Without reliable emission factors, teams face a range of consequences: PCF calculations remain incomplete; sustainability reporting cannot be finalized; design and sourcing decisions lack CO₂ transparency; and regulatory reporting becomes difficult to defend.

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How custom carbon data research works

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A custom data research project typically involves:

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1. Gap identification — systematically reviewing a company's BoM or material master data to identify which positions lack reliable emission factor coverage in standard databases
2. Process and supply chain analysis — gathering technical data on the production process, energy inputs, raw material composition, and geographic origin of the material or component in question
3. Emission factor development — applying LCA methodology and GHG Protocol/ISO 14067-aligned data modeling to develop a verified emission factor from available process and supply chain data
4. Validation and documentation — documenting sources, assumptions, and methodology in a way that supports external verification and enables transparent disclosure
5. Database integration — integrating the new emission factors into the company's PCF calculation environment, making them available for ongoing calculations across all relevant products

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The sustamize Data Research service

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The sustamize Data Research service develops custom CO₂e emission factors for materials and processes not yet available in the sustamize CO₂e database. Every dataset created follows a structured methodology aligned with ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol Product Standard, and is integrated directly into the sustamize database — making the new factors immediately available in the sustamizer® for PCF calculations and Scope 3 reporting.

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This is particularly valuable for companies in sectors with highly specialized material portfolios — advanced manufacturing, specialty chemicals, aerospace, automotive, or electronics — where standard databases simply do not cover enough of the BoM to produce a credible, complete carbon footprint. For procurement teams working with unique supplier materials or custom-developed components, custom data research unlocks carbon transparency at the exact points in the supply chain where it matters most.

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Have CO₂e data gaps blocking your PCF or Scope 3 calculations?

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Learn more about the sustamize Data Research service or contact our team to discuss which emission factors you need and how we can develop them for your specific product portfolio.

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