Méthodologie de Calcul CO₂
Transparence et rigueur dans l'évaluation de l'empreinte carbone
Methodology version 2.1 — updated 2026-09-27
Notre Approche
Chez ThinkEco, nous croyons en la transparence totale. Notre méthodologie de calcul de l'empreinte carbone est basée sur des données vérifiables et des standards reconnus internationalement.
Formule de Calcul
Comment nous calculons l'empreinte carbone de chaque produit
Formule générale
Émissions du transport
Facteurs de transport utilisés
Depending on lawn size and place of manufacture, transport accounts on average for only 6 to 21% of the total footprint: most of it comes from manufacturing the battery. A robot made in Asia with a small battery can therefore get a better grade than a European robot with a large battery.
Émissions de production
Nous calculons les émissions de production à partir de la batterie lithium-ion, proportionnellement à sa capacité. Les autres composants (châssis, moteurs, électronique) ne sont pas comptés : voir « Limites et hypothèses ».
Origine du facteur
A to E grade: compared with robots of the same size
Each robot gets a grade from A to E, like the Nutri-Score. It compares its footprint (in kg CO₂) with that of robots designed for the same lawn size, based on the maximum area stated by the manufacturer.
Why by size? A robot for large grounds necessarily has a bigger battery than one for a small garden. Graded against the whole catalogue, it would always get D or E and a small robot always A or B: the letter would reflect the size of the lawn, not how frugal the robot is. Compared within its size, it answers the question that matters: among the robots able to mow my lawn, which one does it with the lowest emissions?
| Lawn size (robot maximum area) — thresholds in kg CO₂ | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to 600 m² | ≤ 6 | ≤ 7.1 | ≤ 8.8 | ≤ 10.6 | > 10.6 |
| for 601–1,000 m² | ≤ 7.9 | ≤ 10.5 | ≤ 11 | ≤ 13.5 | > 13.5 |
| for 1,001–1,600 m² | ≤ 10.4 | ≤ 11.1 | ≤ 13.2 | ≤ 15.9 | > 15.9 |
| for 1,601–3,000 m² | ≤ 12.9 | ≤ 14.9 | ≤ 20.2 | ≤ 28.8 | > 28.8 |
| over 3,000 m² | ≤ 15.1 | ≤ 21.5 | ≤ 24.8 | ≤ 33.3 | > 33.3 |
Thresholds: quintiles of the graded models in each size (three catalogues, each model counted once, robots sold without a battery excluded), computed on 27 September 2026 and then frozen. Adding a robot therefore does not change the grade of the others. Thresholds are revised deliberately, with a new version of the methodology.
Among the most frugal robots of its size (about 20% of models).
More frugal than the average robot of its size.
Average for robots of its size.
Higher emissions than the average for its size, usually because of a bigger battery.
Among the highest-emitting robots of its size (about 20% of models).
Please note
A grade compares robots of the same size: an A for large grounds can emit more than a C for a small garden. To compare different sizes, look at the footprint in kg CO₂, always shown next to the letter.
Only robots whose weight, place of manufacture, battery capacity and maximum area we know display a grade. Robots sold without a battery have none either: their footprint depends on the battery you will use (bought with the robot or already owned). They all show “?” rather than a wrong grade.
Calcul des distances
Les distances sont calculées depuis les usines de fabrication identifiées jusqu'à Bruxelles, notre point de référence fixe — le même pour tout le monde, quel que soit votre marché ou la langue de consultation, afin que la note CO₂ d'un produit soit stable et citable. Nous utilisons les coordonnées du site de référence de chaque marque, visibles sur la carte des usines.
Depuis la Chine
≈ 19,600 km by sea + 338 km by road
Depuis l'Europe (vers Bruxelles)
≈ 580 to 800 km by road only
How are robots recommended?
The CO₂ grade counts for only 5% of our recommendations, and the place of manufacture is not part of them. Everything is explained on the dedicated page.
How we recommend robots →Source register
Every value used in the calculation, with its source:
Limites et Hypothèses
Notre calcul couvre le transport et la fabrication de la batterie. Ne sont pas inclus :
- Fabrication du châssis, des moteurs et de l'électronique (seule la batterie est comptée)
- Electricity consumed during use: it depends on your country and usage, not on the model. Order of magnitude: 4 to 12 kWh per month at maximum use (Husqvarna and Gardena manuals), i.e. about 7 to 20 kg CO₂ per 7-month season at the EU average electricity mix (242 g CO₂/kWh in 2023) — as much as or more than battery manufacturing, every year.
- The actual road route: distances are calculated as the crow flies, so they are underestimated.
- Shipping detours: we use the Suez Canal route; going around the Cape of Good Hope makes it about 30% longer.
- Battery lifetime: we count the battery at manufacture. A bigger battery, going through fewer charge cycles, may last longer — we have no data to measure it.
- Recyclage et fin de vie du produit
- Emballage et accessoires
- Infrastructure logistique (entrepôts, points de vente)
Transparence des Données
Pour chaque produit, nous affichons le détail complet du calcul : poids, origine de fabrication, distance parcourue et facteurs utilisés.
Mises à Jour
Nos données sont régulièrement mises à jour lorsque les fabricants publient de nouvelles informations ou déplacent leur production.
Questions ?
Si vous avez des questions sur notre méthodologie ou souhaitez suggérer des améliorations, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter.