How to Support the ICE Database

Read below to find out the ways in which you can help support the Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) Database.

What is the ICE Database

The ICE Database is a free resource, containing material embodied carbon information, that has been downloaded by over 50,000 users globally. Circular Ecology are committed to keeping it freely available. However, the reality is that funds need to be raised to cover the maintenance and development of the database.   

Created in 2005 when carbon footprinting was not commonplace, the ICE Database was updated in 2011, 2019 and most recently in 2024. However, the carbon landscape has changed immeasurably in that time and the ICE database was not updated enough to reflect this.

We want to change this and plan to bring all the old data up to date as well as develop the database further. 

How is the ICE Database funded? 

The ICE Database has always been, and will always remain, a free resource of embodied carbon data. Circular Ecology plan to bring the old data up to date as well as continue to maintain and further develop the database.  

In order to help raise the funds for the maintenance and development of the ICE database, we have developed a supporter system. Contributions are optional for all users.   

This system recognises organisations that have made contributions to the ICE database, with several levels of support to suit different organisation sizes.  

How can I support the ICE Database? 

There are a number of ways you can contribute to the maintenance and development of the ICE Database. Please support however you are able. 

Share the ICE Database & how you use it (non-financial contribution)  

A key part of our Mission Statement and purpose is to release impactful work, to enable scalable carbon reductions. We do this through the release of impactful data, tools and resources, for all to use such as the ICE Database. We encourage existing users to share where the ICE Database can be downloaded with their networks, to help others in their carbon reduction journeys. 

If you carry out a project or research and make use of the ICE Database, please acknowledge this and share your work. We are very interested to learn more about how and where the ICE Database is used and its impact. 

Contribute to our Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative (SCRI) 

A key part of our Mission Statement and purpose is to release effective work, to enable scalable carbon reductions. We do this through the release of impactful data, tools and resources, for all to use.  

In order to fund the development and maintenance of such resources, we have set up a Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative (SCRI), to divert some of the income from our sales towards free data, tools and resources that facilitate carbon emission reductions around the world. You can learn more about our Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative here. 

Purchase Circular Ecology products with built in contributions 

Circular Ecology have integrated contributions to the SCRI into various products:  

The amount diverted is currently (28th November 2024), as below 

• e-learning Training Courses: This is composed of two rates: 
  • Default: 25% of the excluding VAT fees is diverted into the Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative for all of our training courses. The exception is where it is a booster course, such as the below: 
  • ICE Database Fund Raising Courses: Currently the ICE Database is our most widely known resource, and also the most in need of funding. We have therefore nominated our Embodied Carbon Training Couse as a fund-raising booster. For all sales of this course, we currently divert 66.67% of the ex. VAT fee into a fund specifically to use to update the ICE Database.  

• Carbon offset credits: For all carbon offset credit sales, we divert £1 per tCO2e into the Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative.  

• Tree planting packs: Tree planting packs are our only product that are exposed to exchange rates (GBP to USD). The rates may therefore be updated if exchange rates move notably. However, we currently divert £250 per 1,000 trees planted (28th November 2024) 

However, please check our online store for the latest rates against each individual product. In the case of discrepancy with the above, the rate specified on the online store product will take priority, being the point of sale.

Donate directly to the ICE Database 

We have embedded contributions to our Scaling Carbon Reductions Initiative, or to the ICE Database specifically into several of our core products. However, if none of those are of interest, but you would still like to support the ICE Database, direct donations can also be made. To discuss a more direct donation, please contact us.   

Become a data partner 

In addition to the supporter system tiers, there is a tier to recognise organisations that have provided large amounts of data for the background ICE dataset. These organisations can obtain the Data Partners recognition.   

How do you recognise contributors?

We wish to recognise the organisations that have supported the maintenance and development of the ICE Database. ICE Database supporters are all recognised here in the relevant contributor tiers with their logos displayed in alphabetical order.

Key Supporters are also recognised within the ICE Database acknowledgement page for anyone who has downloaded to see. For contributors in the top 3 tiers of Key Supporters, they will be recognised on the ICE Database front page in the order of largest contribution first. (Threshold for logo on front to be reviewed periodically). 

We also acknowledge all supporters on our LinkedIn Network which has over 20,000 followers. Our Key Supporters are also recognised in dedicated LinkedIn posts. Additionally, supporters will also be displayed on ICE Database related webinars. 

If you are interested in contributing to the ICE Database, please see below:

If would like to help support the ICE Database, please visit our online store to view our supporting products such as training courses and carbon offsets.

Alternatively, you can reach out to us directly to discuss contribution options.