The Stage Comparator is a feature designed to compare the environmental impact of two different choices for a single stage of your product’s life cycle. For example, you could compare the impact of using organic cotton versus conventional cotton for the “raw material” stage.
To understand the result, it’s important to first know how the difference is calculated.
How the difference is calculated
The tool calculates the difference by subtracting the impact of your chosen scenario (Scenario 01) from the impact of the baseline scenario (Scenario 02).
The formula is: [Baseline Scenario Impact] - [Your Scenario Impact] = Impact Difference
Interpreting your results
Based on this calculation, the result can be interpreted as follows:
A positive result is a good outcome.
- It means “Your Scenario” has a lower environmental impact than the “Baseline Scenario”.
- You have achieved an environmental saving by making a more sustainable choice.
- Example:
- Baseline (Conventional cotton) Impact = 100 units
- Your Scenario (Organic cotton) Impact = 70 units
- Calculation:
100 - 70 = +30. This positive result indicates an environmental saving of 30 units.
A negative result indicates a higher impact.
- It means “Your Scenario” has a higher environmental impact than the “Baseline Scenario”.
- This represents an environmental “debt,” or a less sustainable choice compared to the baseline.
- Example:
- Baseline (Sea freight) Impact = 50 units
- Your Scenario (Air freight) Impact = 200 units
- Calculation:
50 - 200 = -150. This negative result indicates an environmental debt of 150 units.
In summary, when using the Stage Comparator, a positive result signifies an environmental improvement over the baseline, while a negative result signifies a higher environmental cost.