Universal Carbon Footprint of Shipping Estimator

WHAT IT DOES

Universal Carbon Footprint of Shipping Estimator helps you make environmentally conscious shipping decisions by calculating the estimated carbon footprint of shipping options on any webpage. The script detects shipping methods, delivery times, and shipping distances, then calculates estimated CO2 emissions based on transport mode, weight, and distance. A visible badge shows the estimated emissions for the selected shipping option with color-coded impact indicators: green for low impact, yellow for moderate, orange for high, and red for very high. The dashboard compares carbon footprint across all available shipping options, showing emissions side-by-side. Equivalent emissions are shown in everyday terms—miles driven, trees planted, smartphone charges, or incandescent bulb hours—making the impact more tangible. The script tracks carbon footprint across multiple purchases and suggests eco-friendly shipping alternatives.

WHERE IT RUNS

This script runs on every website (matching all URLs), detecting shipping information across the entire web. It works on e-commerce checkout pages, shipping selection screens, product detail pages with shipping options, and any page displaying shipping methods. The script automatically adapts to each page and handles both static and dynamically loaded content.

HOW TO USE

After installing through the BotGentz extension, simply browse to any page with shipping options. The script automatically detects shipping methods and displays a CO2 badge. Use the configuration panel to customize your experience: toggle the CO2 badge on or off, show or hide the shipping comparison, show or hide equivalents, set the estimated package weight in kg, select your default transport mode, and enable or disable auto-detection. The panel displays real-time statistics including total estimated CO2 across all tracked shipments, number of shipping options, and history count. Use the "Detect Shipping Options" button to manually scan the page, or "Clear History" to remove all tracked data.

EMISSION FACTOR-BASED CARBON CALCULATION WITH MULTI-MODE COMPARISON

This script implements a carbon footprint calculator using transport-specific emission factors (kg CO2 per kg-km) for air freight (1.5), truck (0.2), ocean freight (0.02), and rail (0.03). The detection engine scans page text for shipping keywords ("expedited", "standard", "economy", "overnight", etc.) and delivery time estimates to infer the transport mode. Distance estimation uses domestic (1600 km) or international (8000 km) defaults based on page context. The comparison engine calculates emissions for all detected options and sorts them by environmental impact, identifying the lowest-emission choice. Equivalent emissions are derived from standard conversion factors and presented in relatable terms. The history tracking stores each estimate with timestamp, URL, and emissions breakdown, enabling cumulative carbon footprint tracking across online shopping.

THE PANEL

The configuration panel is fully draggable and remembers its position per-site using GM_setValue. It snaps to screen edges when dragged near them, collapses to a compact bubble when minimized, and supports Escape key for quick collapse. All settings—including badge visibility, comparison display, equivalents display, weight, default transport mode, and auto-detection—are persisted across sessions.

PLEASE NOTE

This script requires the free BotGentz extension to run. The script runs on all websites and reads shipping information from page content. It does not capture, store, or transmit any personal information. All calculations are estimates based on typical emission factors and may not reflect actual emissions for specific shipping routes or carriers. The carbon footprint estimates are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Actual emissions vary based on many factors including vehicle efficiency, routing, and load consolidation. Use this tool as a general guide for comparing shipping options, not as precise environmental data.