Fishing Rod (fiberglass)

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard fiberglass fishing rod consists primarily of continuous filament glass fibers that provide structural reinforcement, accounting for approximately 120 grams or 50% of the total weight. The thermosetting polyester resin matrix binds these fibers together and represents roughly 80 grams or 33% of the product mass. Metal components including guides and reel seats contribute about 25 grams or 10% of the weight, while cork or foam handle materials make up the remaining 15 grams or 7% of a typical 240-gram fishing rod.

Manufacturing Geography

Fiberglass fishing rods are predominantly manufactured in China, which serves as the global hub for sporting goods production due to established supply chains and specialized manufacturing capabilities. The Chinese national electricity grid operates at an intensity of 555 gCO2/kWh, significantly influencing the carbon footprint of energy-intensive processes like fiber forming and resin curing. This manufacturing concentration exists because China has developed extensive expertise in composite materials production and maintains proximity to both raw material suppliers and major consumer markets.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	30.0 kg CO2e	Baseline
European Union	295 gCO2/kWh	26.2 kg CO2e	-12.7%
United States	405 gCO2/kWh	28.1 kg CO2e	-6.3%
Japan	518 gCO2/kWh	29.4 kg CO2e	-2.0%
India	632 gCO2/kWh	31.4 kg CO2e	+4.7%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Supplier-specific lifecycle assessment data covering material extraction through manufacturing gate, including energy consumption and emission factors for glass fiber and resin production processes.

2. Detailed material composition breakdown with exact weights and specifications for fiberglass content, resin type, metal components, and handle materials used in the specific product variant.

3. Manufacturing facility energy consumption data including electricity usage per unit produced, renewable energy percentage, and actual grid emission factors for the production location.

4. Transportation records documenting shipping distances and modes from raw material suppliers to manufacturing facility and from facility to distribution centers.

5. Waste and recycling data showing material recovery rates, manufacturing efficiency metrics, and end-of-life disposal or recycling programs implemented by the supplier.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for a complete fiberglass fishing rod including all materials, manufacturing processes, and transportation to distribution centers but excluding retail operations and end-of-life disposal.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate the footprint at 65% due to upstream material production impacts, particularly energy-intensive glass fiber manufacturing and petrochemical-derived resin systems.

• The functional unit is one complete fishing rod suitable for recreational angling, excluding reels or additional accessories that may be sold separately.

• Packaging materials and retail operations are excluded from the assessment boundary, as are maintenance activities and eventual disposal or recycling of the product.

• Data gaps exist around specific resin formulations and curing processes, with industry average values applied where manufacturer-specific information is unavailable.

• Regional manufacturing improvements in energy efficiency and waste reduction are incorporated based on European industry benchmarks but may not reflect practices in all production facilities globally.