Methods and sources are the standards, data sources and calculation models used to make social impact concrete and traceable. New Economy combines public standards, open data sources, recognised methods and project-specific calculation models. The aim is not to reduce complex choices to a single number, but to show where impact occurs, which assumptions have been used and which choices have stronger social substantiation.
Which standards and sources are used?
Depending on the question, New Economy combines the following standards, data sources and methods:
- GHG Protocol and GHGP databases — for emissions calculations, with a distinction between scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3.
- Public emission factors — for consistent and traceable CO2 calculations.
- Eco-cost analysis and Idemat — for the environmental costs of materials, products and design variants.
- Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations — for impact across the full product life cycle.
- CE Delft environmental prices and social cost-benefit analysis (MKBA) shadow prices — for valuing effects in euros.
- CO2 prices and the social cost of emissions — for climate effects in policy and investment assessment.
- Client project data — for calculations that match the actual situation.
- Proprietary calculation models — with scenario analyses, sensitivity analyses and ranges.
The transparency principle
New Economy publishes public source references, assumptions, calculation steps, model versions and ranges where possible. Licensed source data, confidential client data and privacy-sensitive information are not republished.
Not all source data can be made public. Some data sources are licensed, client data can be confidential and some information contains privacy-sensitive data. In those cases, the source or method used is stated as transparently as possible, without republishing the underlying data.
From calculation to decision
The outcome of a calculation is usually not an absolute number, but a substantiated indication or range. This shows where the largest effects occur and which choices have a stronger social basis. A calculation therefore serves as a decision instrument and as a basis for comparing alternatives.
More context on practical application: What is a fair price?, Open calculation models and New Economy services.
Frequently asked questions about methods and sources
Depending on the question, sources include the GHG Protocol, public emission factors, eco-cost analysis, Idemat, life-cycle assessment (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations, CE Delft environmental prices, social cost-benefit analysis (MKBA) shadow prices, CO₂ prices and proprietary calculation models.
The GHG Protocol is an international standard for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, with a distinction between scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3. It forms the basis for consistent and traceable CO₂ calculations.
Public source references, assumptions, calculation steps, model versions and ranges are published where possible. Licensed source data, confidential client data and privacy-sensitive information are not republished.