About Ectracc

Making carbon footprint tracking accessible, accurate, and actionable for everyone. Learn how we calculate product emissions, track environmental impact, and help you make sustainable choices across Ireland, UK, and Europe.

Our Mission

Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. While the problem seems overwhelming, individual action matters. Ectracc was created to empower people to understand and reduce their carbon footprint through everyday choices—what we buy, how we travel, and how we live.

We believe that making sustainable choices shouldn't require a PhD in environmental science. That's why we've built a free, easy-to-use carbon footprint tracker that provides instant insights through barcode scanning, travel planning, and lifestyle monitoring. Our goal is to make climate action accessible and actionable for everyone, from students in Dublin to professionals in London to families across Europe.

Every product scanned, every trip planned, and every sustainable choice made through Ectracc contributes to a global movement toward environmental responsibility. Together, we can make a measurable difference in fighting climate change—one purchase, one journey, one decision at a time.

Understanding Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions (measured in CO2 equivalent) generated by our actions and choices. This includes:

  • Product Carbon Footprint

    Emissions from production, packaging, transportation, and disposal of goods we buy. Food products typically range from 0.5-30 kg CO2e per kg, with meat and dairy having the highest impact.

  • Transportation Emissions

    Carbon generated by our travel choices. Flying emits ~250g CO2 per passenger-km, driving ~170g, while trains emit only ~40g and cycling produces zero direct emissions.

  • Lifestyle Impact

    Energy use in homes, water consumption, waste generation, and daily activities. The average European generates about 8-10 tons of CO2e annually.

Understanding these emissions is the first step toward reducing them. Ectracc makes this complex data accessible through simple barcode scanning and intuitive visualizations.

Calculation Methodology

Our carbon footprint calculations are based on scientific research and international standards including ISO 14040/14044 for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We use a comprehensive approach that considers:

Product Carbon Footprint Calculation

We calculate product emissions using lifecycle assessment data covering:

  • Agricultural production and farming methods (organic vs conventional, greenhouse vs field-grown)
  • Processing and manufacturing energy requirements
  • Packaging materials (plastic, cardboard, glass, etc.)
  • Transportation distances (local vs imported goods)
  • Refrigeration and storage requirements
  • End-of-life disposal and recycling
Travel Carbon Calculation

Transportation emissions are calculated based on:

  • Distance traveled (using mapping APIs for accuracy)
  • Vehicle type and fuel efficiency
  • Passenger load factors (public transport occupancy)
  • Energy source (electric grid mix vs fossil fuels)
  • Regional factors (Irish Rail vs UK trains vs European systems)
Trusted Data Sources

We source our carbon data from authoritative scientific and governmental sources:

  • Open Food Facts

    Collaborative database with 2M+ products worldwide

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

    UN climate science body providing emissions guidelines

  • UK DEFRA

    Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs conversion factors

  • Irish EPA

    Environmental Protection Agency Ireland

  • European Environment Agency (EEA)

    Official EU environmental data

  • Academic Research

    Peer-reviewed studies from universities and climate institutes

Data Accuracy & Updates

While no carbon calculation is perfect, we strive for the highest accuracy possible. Our data is:

  • Updated quarterly with latest research
  • Validated against multiple sources
  • Refined based on user feedback and corrections
  • Transparent about assumptions and limitations

Geographic Coverage

Ectracc is optimized for users across Europe with enhanced support for:

🇮🇪 Ireland

Full integration with Irish Rail, Transport for Ireland (TFI), Dublin Bus, Irish Ferries, and local transport systems. Carbon calculations use Irish EPA data and Irish electricity grid carbon intensity (approx. 295g CO2/kWh). Coverage includes Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and all major Irish cities.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Integration with UK National Rail, Transport for London, and regional transport authorities. Uses UK DEFRA conversion factors for accurate emissions. Coverage across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and all UK regions.

🇪🇺 European Union

General EU support with country-specific electricity grid data, Eurostar routes, and major European transport networks. Product database covers brands available across Europe.

Privacy & Security

Your privacy is paramount. Ectracc is committed to protecting your data:

  • GDPR Compliant

    Full compliance with European data protection regulations

  • Data Encryption

    All personal data encrypted in transit and at rest

  • No Data Selling

    We never sell or share your personal data with third parties

  • Your Data, Your Control

    Export or delete your data anytime

Get in Touch

Questions about our methodology? Want to partner with us? Have feedback to share? We'd love to hear from you.

📧 support@ectracc.com


Ectracc • Making sustainable living accessible • Ireland, UK & Europe