Desk Globe

Material Composition Assumptions

Desktop globes consist of multiple materials that contribute to their overall carbon footprint. The plastic sphere, typically made from polystyrene or acrylic, represents approximately 200-300 grams or 40-50% of the total product weight. The metal stand and meridian components, usually constructed from brass or steel alloys, account for roughly 150-200 grams or 30-35% of the weight. Printed paper maps applied to the sphere surface contribute about 50-75 grams or 10-15% of the total mass. Additional materials including adhesives and protective varnish coatings make up the remaining 5-10% of the product composition, typically weighing 25-50 grams.

Manufacturing Geography

Most desk globes are manufactured in China, where established supply chains for plastic molding, metal fabrication, and printing operations provide cost-effective production capabilities. Chinese manufacturing facilities typically operate on a national grid with carbon intensity of 555 gCO2e per kilowatt-hour, which significantly influences the product’s overall emissions profile. The concentration of component suppliers and assembly operations in industrial regions allows manufacturers to efficiently coordinate the complex multi-material production process required for these educational and decorative items.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2e/kWh	3.0	Baseline
Germany	366 gCO2e/kWh	2.3	-23%
United States	386 gCO2e/kWh	2.4	-20%
Costa Rica	65 gCO2e/kWh	1.8	-40%
India	708 gCO2e/kWh	3.4	+13%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Submit detailed material specifications including exact plastic resin types, metal alloy compositions, and quantities of adhesives or finishing materials used in production.

2. Provide manufacturing location data with specific facility addresses and regional electricity grid carbon intensity values for all major production steps.

3. Document transportation logistics including shipping distances, cargo vessel specifications, and distribution warehouse locations from factory to retail endpoints.

4. Supply verified energy consumption data from plastic molding, metal machining, printing, and assembly operations with corresponding renewable energy usage percentages.

5. Present end-of-life disposal or recycling data demonstrating actual material recovery rates and waste processing methods for returned or discarded products.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-grave emissions for a standard desk globe weighing approximately 500 grams including all component materials and packaging.
• Scope 3 emissions dominate the footprint at 85% due to upstream material production processes, particularly energy-intensive plastic manufacturing and metal processing operations.
• The functional unit is defined as one complete desk globe capable of educational or decorative use for a minimum five-year service life.
• Excluded from the assessment are retail display systems, promotional materials, and specialized packaging for gift presentation beyond standard protective packaging.
• Data gaps exist for specific manufacturing process emissions, requiring estimation based on comparable small manufactured goods and generic material production factors.