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CarbonInk
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About CarbonInk
CarbonInk is a local-first desktop application for greenhouse-gas accounting that runs entirely on the user’s machine without cloud storage or accounts. It automates the extraction of emission data from invoices, bills, and ledgers using AI, matching entries to IPCC or ECOINVENT emission factors to generate ISO 14064-1 inventory reports. The tool supports Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, including supplier disclosure collection via email-based Excel round-trips without requiring supplier accounts. It handles batch imports of large ledgers, provides built-in emission factor libraries, and exports audit-ready reports with full calculations and citations. Designed for privacy, CarbonInk stores all data in a local SQLite database and offers regional AI provider options to optimize performance and cost. The software is open-source under the MIT license and includes guides for ISO 14064-1 compliance and supplier data collection.
Key features
- AI bill extraction from PDFs, Excel, and images
- Built-in IPCC and ECOINVENT emission factor libraries
- One-click ISO 14064-1 inventory report generation
- Batch ledger import for large datasets
- Supplier disclosure collection via Excel email round-trips
- Automatic questionnaire population for CDP and TCFD
- Private emission factor library support
- Workspace isolation for multi-client use
Use cases
- Generating corporate greenhouse-gas inventories under ISO 14064-1
- Collecting Scope 3 supplier emissions data for compliance
- Automating carbon accounting for EU CBAM and CSRD reporting
Pros
- Local-first architecture with no cloud dependency
- AI-powered extraction from bills and ledgers
- Built-in ISO 14064-1 and GHG Protocol compliance
- Offline operation with no account or license required
- Open-source under MIT license
Cons
- Desktop-only application with no mobile or web version
- Requires manual confirmation of AI-extracted data
- No built-in supplier portal; relies on email-based disclosure
- Limited to standards supported by built-in templates
Frequently asked questions about CarbonInk
What is carbon accounting?
Carbon accounting quantifies an organization's greenhouse-gas emissions for a year into a traceable, verifiable inventory under a standard like ISO 14064-1 or the GHG Protocol. It processes source documents such as utility bills, fuel invoices, and activity data to produce CO₂e emissions by category.
Where does my data live when using CarbonInk?
All data resides in a SQLite database on the user’s own machine. CarbonInk runs fully offline with no cloud sync, accounts, or data transmission to external servers.
Which AI provider should I use with CarbonInk?
CarbonInk supports regional AI providers. In mainland China, DeepSeek is recommended for lower latency and cost, while OpenAI and Anthropic are suggested outside China. Calculation results remain consistent across providers.
Does CarbonInk follow specific standards for reporting?
Report exports adhere to ISO 14064-1:2018 (categories 1–6) and include a Scope 1/2/3 mapping aligned with the GHG Protocol. The tool provides one dataset formatted for both standards.
How do I collect Scope 3 data from suppliers using CarbonInk?
Suppliers do not need an account. CarbonInk generates an Excel disclosure form that suppliers complete and return via email. The data is then ingested into activity data with one click, and overdue disclosures are flagged for follow-up.
Can I import an existing Excel activity ledger into CarbonInk?
Yes. Users can upload xlsx or csv ledgers, which are auto-mapped from Chinese or English headers. Each row is validated, and emission factors are confirmed per group of entries. Bad rows are skipped and reported for auditability.
