Microalgae
Astaxanthin oleoresin, 5%
Haematococcus pluvialis — Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
The default Run below is Galicia, Spain, 81.22 kgCO2e/kg gross, Category B. Published values for this ingredient span 55.00 to 220.00 kgCO2e/kg, which is why a number without its production parameters is not worth forwarding.
Species record
- Species
- Haematococcus pluvialis
- INCI name
- Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
- Group
- Microalgae
- Harvest methods
- Closed photobioreactor, two-stage. Cell disruption and supercritical CO2 extraction
- Conservation status
- Not assessed by IUCN. Cultivated in closed systems.
- Typical uses
- Supplements, cosmetic actives, aquaculture feed.
- Declared unit
- One kilogram of 5% astaxanthin oleoresin in vegetable oil.
- Typical gross range
- 55.00 to 220.00 kgCO2e/kg, Category B
- Default sourcing region
- Galicia, Spain, Route distance, Vigo to Rotterdam gate
- This is a high-intensity ingredient and the number will not favour it in a comparison. It is reported as it is.
- Photobioreactor electricity dominates. The default of 420 kWh per kg of 5% oleoresin covers two-stage cultivation, dewatering, cell disruption and extraction; a plant that meters these separately should enter its own figure.
- Dose matters commercially: a formula uses grams, not kilograms. The Report states the per-dose figure as well.
Calculator
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Line-item inventory
| Line | Scope | kgCO2e/kg |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest and vessel fuel480.0 kg wet biomass at 0.02 l diesel per tonne2.68 kgCO2e/litre · IPCC 2006 Guidelines Vol. 2 stationary and mobile combustion, AR6 GWP100 · Category B | 1 | 0.026 |
| Drying energy147.00 kWh/kg on the Spain grid0.1310 kgCO2e/kWh · IEA Emission Factors 2024, national average generation intensity · Category B | 2 | 19.257 |
| Extraction, milling and utilities273.00 kWh/kg on the Spain grid0.1310 kgCO2e/kWh · IEA Emission Factors 2024, national average generation intensity · Category B | 2 | 35.763 |
| Fuel supply chain, well-to-tank0.010 l diesel upstream0.64 kgCO2e/litre · UK DESNZ conversion factors 2024, WTT diesel · Category B | 3 | 0.006 |
| Cultivation inputs and nutrientsGear, seed and nutrients, amortised. Extraction reagents are itemised separately below18.500 kgCO2e/kg · Published photobioreactor astaxanthin LCA literature, gross cradle-to-gate. · Category B | 3 | 18.500 |
| Process chemicals, food-grade co22.000 kg per kg finished. Supercritical CO2 recirculation loss per kg of oleoresin0.83 kgCO2e/kg · Recovered and liquefied food-grade CO2 cradle-to-gate LCA. Recirculation loss only · Category C | 3 | 1.660 |
| Process chemicals, ethanol0.500 kg per kg finished. Co-solvent, make-up volume net of recovery1.60 kgCO2e/kg · Fermentation ethanol cradle-to-gate LCA. Only make-up volume is charged; recovery rate is plant-specific, so graded C · Category C | 3 | 0.800 |
| Process chemicals, vegetable carrier oil0.900 kg per kg finished. Vegetable oil the 5% oleoresin is standardised into2.60 kgCO2e/kg · Refined rapeseed oil cradle-to-gate LCA, European market average · Category B | 3 | 2.340 |
| Inbound haul, wet biomass480.0 kg over 55 km by road, Galicia, Spain0.096 kgCO2e/t-km · GLEC Framework v3.0 default, >32t diesel truck · Category B | 3 | 2.534 |
| Outbound freight, finished ingredient1 kg over 1,850 km, road freight, heavy goods0.096 kgCO2e/t-km · GLEC Framework v3.0 default, >32t diesel truck · Category B | 3 | 0.178 |
| Packaging0.080 kg hdpe drum or pail per kg1.90 kgCO2e/kg · Plastics Europe eco-profile, HDPE blow moulding grade · Category B | 3 | 0.152 |
| Gross footprint | 1+2+3 | 81.216 |
Every factor and its source is printed in the Report. The full factor set is on the Methodology page.
Gross footprint, cradle-to-gate
Species-specific secondary data with named sources, applied to your stated production parameters.
Scope 1
0.0%
Harvest and fuel
Scope 2
67.7%
Purchased electricity
Scope 3
32.2%
Upstream and freight
Largest lever: extraction, milling and utilities, 35.76 kgCO2e/kg of the total, Category B.
Batch total for 100 kg: 8,121.6 kgCO2e
Biogenic uptake
4.20 kgCO2e/kg
Reported separately. Non-permanent. Not subtracted.
Land-based comparison
Published dairy protein LCA range, mid-point. Category C.
Published livestock LCA range, mid-point. Category C.
Published bovine hide and bone processing LCA range, mid-point. Category C.
Bluecarbon Methodology 2026.2, Category B.
Blue Bioeconomy Score: 0.0th percentile within the peer set of 2 microalgae defaults in this database, Methodology 2026.2.
Get the Report
€390- Line-item inventory, every emission factor with its source
- Gross footprint with its Category grade, and the Scope 1/2/3 split
- Biogenic uptake reported separately, never subtracted
- Peer set and Blue Bioeconomy Score, with the peer set named
- Reduction section, quantified in kgCO2e/kg
- Methodology version, limitations, and the colophon
One ingredient, one Run, Haematococcus pluvialis, Category B. Nothing recurs.
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