Whiteboard Marker

Material Composition Assumptions

A typical dry-erase whiteboard marker weighs approximately 20 grams and consists of several key components. The plastic casing represents the largest material portion at roughly 12 grams or 60 percent of total weight, manufactured from either polypropylene or polystyrene depending on the brand. The polyester marker tip and internal ink reservoir system accounts for approximately 4 grams or 20 percent of the product mass. The remaining 4 grams comprise the ink formulation itself, which contains volatile organic compounds, xylene-based solvents, color pigments, and various chemical fragrances. This material breakdown forms the foundation for calculating upstream emissions from raw material extraction and processing activities.

Manufacturing Geography

Whiteboard markers are predominantly manufactured in China, where the majority of global plastic writing instrument production occurs. Chinese manufacturing facilities benefit from established supply chains for petrochemical feedstocks and specialized polymer processing equipment. The carbon intensity of the Chinese electrical grid averages 555 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour, which significantly influences the emissions profile during energy-intensive polymerization and molding processes. This relatively high grid intensity compared to regions with cleaner electricity sources contributes to elevated Scope 2 emissions in the overall product footprint.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	42	Baseline
European Union	275 gCO2/kWh	38	-9.5%
United States	386 gCO2/kWh	40	-4.8%
India	708 gCO2/kWh	45	+7.1%
Japan	324 gCO2/kWh	39	-7.1%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Supplier-specific electricity consumption data and renewable energy procurement percentages for manufacturing facilities
2. Material composition specifications including exact plastic resin types, recycled content percentages, and ink formulation details
3. Transportation mode and distance documentation from raw material suppliers to manufacturing sites and from factories to distribution centers
4. End-of-life management programs including take-back initiatives, recycling partnerships, or refillable marker system implementations
5. Volatile organic compound emission measurements from production processes and finished product testing protocols

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-grave lifecycle emissions including material extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use phase, and end-of-life disposal for a single whiteboard marker unit
• Scope 3 emissions dominate the profile due to carbon-intensive polyester and plastic production processes, accounting for 80 percent of total emissions
• The functional unit assumes a standard dry-erase marker with average two-week lifespan under typical office usage conditions
• Excludes packaging materials, retail infrastructure, and consumer transportation to purchase locations
• Limited data availability for regional recycling programs and take-back initiatives creates uncertainty in end-of-life emission estimates
• Use phase emissions are considered negligible compared to production and disposal impacts