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How to review and update Emission Factors

Updated this week

Once your BOM is uploaded successfully, the system automatically assigns Emission Factors (EFs) to each line item and displays a confidence level to help you prioritize review.

Confidence levels (AI mapping)

Each BOM line shows an assigned EF and a confidence rating:

  • High — AI is strongly confident the EF is correct

  • Medium — AI is less confident; review is recommended

  • Low — review is highly recommended (likely mismatch)
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Review AI suggestions and search for a better match

In the Emission Factor dropdown for each line item, you’ll see:

  • The top three AI suggestions

  • A search bar to find a better EF if the suggested ones aren’t correct

You can search directly from the BOM grid across:

  • ecoinvent emission factors

  • Constructed EFs based on research (pre-populated EF labelled as custom)

How it works

  1. In the BOM grid for the product you’re footprinting, go to the line item you want to map.

  2. Open the Emission Factor dropdown.

  3. Start typing a keyword (3+ letters) (e.g., material, form,size).
    ​Tip: to search only Ecoinvent EFs type “market for” + material

  4. Review the ranked results.

  5. Click an EF to apply it to that BOM line item.

  6. (Optional) Scroll to load more results (infinite scroll).

  7. Move to the next item and repeat—no extra navigation required.

Add a custom Emission Factor (if you can’t find the right match)

If you don’t see the correct EF in search results, you can create your own:

  1. Click + Add Custom Emission Factor

  2. Fill the required fields:
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    • Name

    • Year (of the emission factor)

    • Emission Factor value

    • Source
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  3. If the EF comes directly from the supplier, check This is primary data.

After you create a custom EF, you can:

  • Search for it and reuse it on other BOM items

  • Delete incorrect or duplicate custom EFs (to keep your list clean and auditable)
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Best practices for faster, consistent EF mapping

1) Map “anchor” items first

Start with high-volume or high-impact lines (core materials, major components). Once you have the right EF, reuse it across similar items.

2) Filter or group similar items before mapping

Use filters to work through similar line items in a batch, such as:

  • Supplier

  • Country of origin

  • Part no.

This reduces context switching and keeps EF application consistent.

3) Copy/paste EF names to reassign faster

When you find a good EF:

  • Copy the EF name (or a distinctive keyword from it)

  • Paste it into the EF dropdown search for the next line item

This is the fastest way to apply the same EF repeatedly.

4) Use a consistent keyword strategy

Start broad, then narrow:

  • Try material + form (e.g., “steel sheet”, “PET granulate”)

  • If results are too narrow, shorten the term

  • If results are too broad, add one qualifier (process, region, etc.)
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5) Clean up custom EFs as you go

Delete custom EFs that are incorrect, outdated, or duplicated to prevent accidental reuse and make audits easier.

6) Sanity-check AI mismatches quickly

If an AI-mapped EF looks off:

  • Run a quick keyword search for the expected material/process

  • Replace it with the best match from the ranked results
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FAQ

Why can’t I find the EF I want right away?

Try broader keywords first (e.g., “steel” instead of “stainless 304”), then narrow down. Also scroll—results load beyond the first 20 via infinite scroll.

Does this replace AI EF suggestions?

No. This complements AI suggestions by letting you quickly find and apply the correct EF when suggestions aren’t accurate.

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