At Benchmark, our aim is to help businesses make profitable and sustainable decisions through our accurate and independent calculations on packaging cost and CO2e transparency. In this blog we walk you through our trusted services.
By providing commercial and CO2e software solutions for packaging materials, we enable LCI and LCIA decisions on economic and environmental grounds, which are defined by ISO14040 – 14044 and 14067. The results from our system can be exclusively commercial, exclusively CO2e or both, subject to customer agreement.
Previously the CO2e calculation would have been completed by a life cycle analyst, which is highly time-consuming and expensive! However, our system can return many thousands of unique SKU data in a matter of minutes (subject to broadband speeds…).
Our algorithms ensure all packaging items are calculated to a standard: each material code has its own generated CO2e value. We also provide a colour-coded system for on pack labelling, making it easier for the end consumer to understand and make choices according to the CO2e data.
The data which we use at Benchmark is accurate and reliable, coming from EcoInvent and IEA. We also use reliable data from some of our large packaging convertor clients.
We have ‘global should-cost analyses’ of most types of machinery which are used to make the most popular formats of packaging. We also have energy production data per source and per country; this can be overwritten with actual data, should a customer have it.
The value chain which we analyse covers raw material through to delivery of packaging to a packer / filler and includes using Cut Off data that represents recycled materials. The system can also include additional CO2e data for example, the packer / filler CO2e and a retailer’s carbon footprint as defined by a LCA analyst.
Our new CO2e calculator is first-to-market in the packaging industry and is great progress towards carbon transparency
The software includes many other useful features, which are controlled by access switches.
- Unique Unit of Measure Converter – This does what it says on the tin and is able to convert any area to or from any weight used in the packaging industry and compare unit prices.
- Full financial measure breakdown of costs (EBITDA, EBIT, CM0, CM1, CM2, etc) along with a range of bespoke measures if required.
- Workflows: Estimating can begin with an enquiry (Sales), or with an estimator. This is subject to approval levels which are sent on for additional information / approval.
- Bespoke customer quotations can be produced once the estimate has been approved.
- All estimates include a breakdown of financial measures, commercial costs and CO2e, or both subject to access.
- All activities are recorded so users can see key performance criteria, who did what, when, and the time taken. A full summary of activity can be downloaded in Excel which can subsequently be edited to a period.
At Benchmark, we provide standard templates for the customer to provide their own data which are then uploaded into our software, making the process easy! The input data and process can also be audited by a Life Cycle Analyst to ensure objectivity, if required. From the results a consultant can then focus their true value with recommendations.
We understand the need for your data to be secure, so we have a high level of security. All customer data is held securely behind fire walls and uniquely labelled with usernames, passwords, and the use of captcha phrases.
Although our new CO2e calculator is first-to-market in the packaging industry and is great progress towards carbon transparency, we intend to expand the software in subsequent development phases. We are working on modelling recycling and end of life, with the aim to reach a calculated circular economy. In future releases, we also aim for the customer to upload their own data via an excel file.
Our goal is to remain an independent business, working with other businesses to create a more sustainable packaging industry. Our software can save you time and money when conducting a life cycle analysis and the results can be assessed which allow for informed cost and carbon decisions, helping businesses profit whilst meeting the consumer demand for better CO2e transparency.
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