Microalgae
Spirulina, spray-dried
Arthrospira platensis — Spirulina Platensis Powder
The default Run below is Tamil Nadu, India, 12.96 kgCO2e/kg gross, Category B. Published values for this ingredient span 5.50 to 22.00 kgCO2e/kg, which is why a number without its production parameters is not worth forwarding.
Species record
- Species
- Arthrospira platensis
- INCI name
- Spirulina Platensis Powder
- Group
- Microalgae
- Harvest methods
- Open raceway pond cultivation. Filtration and spray drying
- Conservation status
- Not assessed by IUCN. Cultivated in managed ponds.
- Typical uses
- Food colour, supplements, cosmetic actives.
- Declared unit
- One kilogram of spray-dried spirulina powder at 5% residual moisture.
- Typical gross range
- 5.50 to 22.00 kgCO2e/kg, Category B
- Default sourcing region
- Tamil Nadu, India, Route distance, Tuticorin to Rotterdam
- Nutrient supply, chiefly nitrogen, is the largest Scope 3 line and is carried in cultivation inputs.
- Freshwater cultivation. Included because buyers compare it directly against marine actives.
Calculator
Seven inputs, every one already filled with a regional default. Change the two or three you know. Nothing is submitted and nothing is saved.
Line-item inventory
| Line | Scope | kgCO2e/kg |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest and vessel fuel55.0 kg wet biomass at 0.05 l diesel per tonne2.68 kgCO2e/litre · IPCC 2006 Guidelines Vol. 2 stationary and mobile combustion, AR6 GWP100 · Category B | 1 | 0.007 |
| Drying energy8.99 kWh/kg on the India grid0.7130 kgCO2e/kWh · IEA Emission Factors 2024, national average generation intensity · Category B | 2 | 6.410 |
| Extraction, milling and utilities5.51 kWh/kg on the India grid0.7130 kgCO2e/kWh · IEA Emission Factors 2024, national average generation intensity · Category B | 2 | 3.929 |
| Fuel supply chain, well-to-tank0.003 l diesel upstream0.64 kgCO2e/litre · UK DESNZ conversion factors 2024, WTT diesel · Category B | 3 | 0.002 |
| Cultivation inputs and nutrientsGear, seed, nutrients and process chemicals, amortised1.850 kgCO2e/kg · Published open-pond microalgae LCA literature, gross cradle-to-gate. · Category B | 3 | 1.850 |
| Inbound haul, wet biomass55.0 kg over 70 km by road, Tamil Nadu, India0.096 kgCO2e/t-km · GLEC Framework v3.0 default, >32t diesel truck · Category B | 3 | 0.370 |
| Outbound freight, finished ingredient1 kg over 14,100 km, sea freight, container0.016 kgCO2e/t-km · GLEC Framework v3.0 default, deep-sea container · Category B | 3 | 0.226 |
| Packaging0.020 kg aluminium foil laminate per kg8.60 kgCO2e/kg · International Aluminium Institute LCI, primary foil stock · Category B | 3 | 0.172 |
| Gross footprint | 1+2+3 | 12.965 |
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
0.1%
Harvest and fuel
Scope 2
79.7%
Purchased electricity
Scope 3
20.2%
Upstream and freight
Largest lever: drying energy, 6.41 kgCO2e/kg of the total, Category B.
Batch total for 500 kg: 6,482.4 kgCO2e
Biogenic uptake
1.78 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.
Bluecarbon Methodology 2026.2, Category B.
Published bovine hide and bone processing LCA range, mid-point. Category C.
Blue Bioeconomy Score: 100.0th 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, Arthrospira platensis, Category B. Nothing recurs.
Nothing was saved. Copy the link to this Run to come back to it.