When submitting product data in SupplierConnect, you may have an option enabled to provide custom manufacturing information. If this is the case, you can either use SupplierConnect's default manufacturing settings or enter your own custom facility data for a more accurate emissions profile.
Option 1: Use Default Manufacturing Settings
If you don't have facility-specific data, you can rely on SupplierConnect's defaults. You'll need to specify:
Manufacturing type — the category of manufacturing process (e.g., chocolate)
Production location — the country or region where the product is made (e.g., Ireland)
SupplierConnect will use industry-average data for that manufacturing type and location to estimate your product's footprint.
Option 2: Enter Custom Facility Data
If you have data from your own facility, you can enter it for a more precise calculation. You’ll see this option below your product list in SupplierConnect.
Here's how to enter custom facility data:
Step 1: Set up your facility
Provide the following details for the facility that manufactures this product:
Facility name: a label to identify it (e.g., Facility 1)
Location: the country or region where the facility operates (e.g., Ireland)
Total production volume: the facility's overall annual output in kilograms (e.g., 20 kg). Note: this is the total for the whole facility, not just this specific product.
Step 2: Add facility activity data
Once your facility is set up, enter the energy and resource inputs used in production. For each activity, specify the type and amount. For example:
Energy type: Solar
Amount: 20 kWh
You can add as many activities as needed. Common examples include electricity (grid or renewable), natural gas, and water use.
Step 3: Submit
Once you've added all relevant activities, click Submit. You can always come back and add more activities later.
Updating your Grid Mix
When you enter grid electricity as a facility activity, Supplier Connect calculates emissions using the grid mix for your facility's location. This is the regional blend of energy sources (such as coal, natural gas, wind, and solar) that make up the local electricity supply. Regions with cleaner grids will have a lower emissions factor; regions that rely more heavily on fossil fuels will have a higher one.
If your facility uses on-site renewable energy (such as rooftop solar), enter it as a separate activity rather than as grid electricity. This ensures your submission reflects your actual energy sources rather than the regional average.
Not sure which option to use?
If you don't have detailed facility data on hand, the default manufacturing settings are a reasonable starting point. You can update your submission with custom facility data later if more information becomes available.