General description:

The PCF Simulator Dashboard enables users to model the impact of raw material substitutions on a product’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF). By selecting sustainable alternatives to current raw materials and adjusting substitution ratios, users can simulate and compare projected PCF values — both with and without biogenic carbon content — to support data-driven sustainability decisions and business case development.


Filters :

At the top of the dashboard, users can refine their analysis using the following filters:

  • Year: Select the fiscal or calendar year for which you wish to analyse the product carbon footprint data.
  • Site Name: Choose the production site or plant location. The data displayed will reflect only the materials used at that site.
  • Raw Material: Filter to a specific raw material ingredient, or leave as (All) to view all raw materials associated with the selected product.
  • Material Name: Select the finished product whose PCF you wish to evaluate and optimise.

Two Side Panels:

Upper Panel (PCF Recalculation View)

  • Displays four filters at the top (Year, Site Name, Raw Material, Material Name) to focus the analysis on the relevant product and site.
  • Includes a checkbox panel on the left where users can select one alternative raw material per ingredient. Ticking a checkbox and clicking Apply triggers an automatic PCF recalculation.
  • The Alternative Ratio field in the Upper Panel defines the substitution percentage — the share of the current raw material to be replaced by the selected alternative in the PCF calculation. This can be adjusted using the ratio slider.
  • Displays the Validated Material Name PCF table showing current and projected PCF values, both excluding and including biogenic carbon content.

Lower Panel (Alternative Material Details)

Provides a granular breakdown of each alternative raw material, including:

  • Emission Factor (EF): kg CO₂e emitted per kg of raw material.
  • Usage Factor (UF): quantity of the material used per kg of finished product.
  • Current Contribution (CC): the material’s share of the total PCF before substitution.
  • New Contribution (NC): the projected share after switching to the alternative.
  • Premium EUR/kg (PR / AP): the additional cost associated with adopting the sustainable alternative.
  • A horizontal bar chart provides a visual comparison of current versus alternative material quantities.


Key Features:

Comprehensive Filtering Options

  • Refine your analysis using four filters: Year, Site Name, Raw Material, and Material Name to focus on the most relevant product and site data.
  • All filtered results are reflected immediately across both panels upon selection.

Alternative Material Selection

  • The checkbox panel in the Upper Panel lists all available sustainable alternatives for each raw material ingredient in the product formula.
  • Only one alternative per raw material may be selected at a time. If no sustainable substitute is available, the entry will display “No alternative”.
  • Once selections are made, click Apply to trigger the PCF recalculation. Click Cancel to restore the previous selection without applying changes.

Alternative Ratio Configuration

  • The Alt. Ratio field defines the proportion of the current raw material to be replaced by the selected alternative, from a partial replacement up to a full 100% substitution.
  • The ratio can be adjusted using the slider in the Upper Panel. A value of 1 (100%) indicates that the alternative fully replaces the current raw material in the PCF calculation.

PCF Recalculation and Comparison

  • The Validated Material Name PCF table displays four key metrics for each material: PCF without change (excl. biogenic), PCF without change (incl. biogenic), PCF with alternative (excl. biogenic), and PCF with alternative (incl. biogenic).
  • A negative PCF value including biogenic content indicates that the product sequesters more CO₂ than it emits — a highly favourable result for bio-based materials.
  • Compare the current and projected PCF figures side by side to quantify the environmental benefit of each substitution scenario.

Cost Premium Analysis

  • The Lower Panel displays the Premium EUR/kg for each alternative, representing the additional sourcing cost of the sustainable substitute.
  • Use this information alongside the PCF improvement figures to build a complete environmental and financial business case for raw material substitution.

Important Notes and Best Practices

  • Data displayed in this dashboard is intended for internal analysis only. PCF figures must not be used for external reporting without formal validation.
  • Always ensure the “No alternative – Bio-based” option in the Upper Panel remains selected at all times. Deselecting it will exclude bio-based carbon contributions from the PCF calculation, resulting in inaccurate figures.
  • Only modify checkboxes for raw materials where a genuine sustainable alternative is being evaluated. Leave all other options unchanged.
  • Any sourcing change arising from this analysis must follow the organisation’s standard procurement, quality assurance, and sustainability approval processes before implementation.

KPIs

Name

Definition

Alt. Ratio

The proportion of the current raw material to be replaced by the selected sustainable alternative. A value of 1 (100%) indicates full substitution.

PCF without change (excl. biog.)

The current PCF of the product calculated without applying any substitution and excluding biogenic CO₂ content. Unit: kg CO₂e / kg of finished product.

PCF without change (incl. biog.)

The current PCF including biogenic CO₂ — relevant for materials of biological origin where CO₂ absorbed during plant growth is taken into account.

PCF with alternative (excl. biog.)

The projected PCF if the selected alternative is used, excluding biogenic content. Compare to PCF without change (excl. biog.) to assess improvement.

PCF with alternative (incl. biog.)

The projected PCF including biogenic content when using the alternative. A negative value means the product sequesters more CO₂ than it emits.

Emission Factor (EF)

The carbon intensity of a raw material: kg CO₂e emitted per kg of material produced. A lower emission factor indicates a more sustainable material.

Usage Factor (UF)

The quantity (in kg) of a raw material used per kg of finished product. A higher usage factor amplifies the material’s impact on the overall PCF.

Current Contribution (CC)

The contribution of this raw material to the overall product PCF before any substitution is applied. Unit: kg CO₂e / kg of finished product.

New Contribution (NC)

The projected contribution of this raw material to the overall PCF after switching to the selected alternative. Compare to Current Contribution to quantify the improvement.

Premium EUR/kg (PR / AP)

Additional cost per kilogram for switching to the sustainable alternative. Weigh against the PCF improvement to build the sourcing business case.

Renewable Carbon Index (RCI)

A measure of the renewable carbon content of a raw material, on a scale from 0 to 1. A value of 1.00 indicates a fully renewable material; 0.00 indicates fossil-based.


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