Hidden Carbon: The Emissions You’re Missing
Iora Ecological Solutions
Pioneers in developing Nature based Solution projects for climate action. 120+ NbS projects over the last decade.
By Muhammed Sufail and Udayvir Guha Sircar
The world is marching towards the goal of achieving net zero by setting targets that are ambitious, urgent and necessary. Nations are negotiating policies, industries are rethinking supply chains, and governments are laying out roadmaps. But here’s a question we rarely pause to ask: How we can truly be part of this mission?
When we talk about curbing emissions, our minds usually go the obvious culprits – smoke from factories, exhaust from vehicles, or fires from forest agriculture lands. These visuals dominate our imagination of climate change. Yet, beyond these visible emitters lie the missed smaller streams of emissions that run quietly through our daily lives. From your morning showers, to your smartphone buzzing with notification, to you doing your dinner dishes, or even the clothes you wear, every action has the potential to contribute to the emissions.
This Zero Emissions Day, let’s see how our daily choices and actions are adding up to the carbon footprint and how can you reclaim control over this invisible footprint.
Scrolling Costs
Smartphones have become our constant companions. Out of the 8.2 billion people in the world, 70.5% own one, and nearly 68% of the population has access to the internet.[i] But this digital world comes with an unseen cost, where a single phone can emit more carbon than a refrigerator. It is not just from the charging of your smartphone; it’s the vast digital infrastructure running such as the servers, broadband networks or the data centers. For example, a one-minute call generates about 50–60 grams of CO₂ and a person talking for about two minutes daily can emit 47 kilograms of carbon every year. Stretch that out to daily across the billions of mobile phone users, and the footprint becomes immense.[ii]
Doomscrolling is now a pastime; smartphone use is inevitable, but there are ways to make it less carbon-intense. Text when a call is not urgent, lower your screen brightness and make sure you use your phone for a longer period rather than upgrading every year, because 70-80% emissions from the digital world is from the manufacturing of the devices. And when you must buy a new one, opt for energy efficient models and use them for a longer period.
The Cooling Bill
India currently has 62 million air-conditioner (AC) users that could reach to 245 million by 2035 at the moderate growth rate of 10% CAGR. This means the carbon emissions rising from the current 156 million tonnes of carbon equivalent to 329 million tonnes.[iii] While the Indian government is working on schemes for improving energy efficiency in air conditioners, phasing out refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) and developing frameworks to implement the AC temperature range of 20°C to 28°C, the role of an individual is just as critical.
For new buyers, choosing star-rated energy-efficient ACs can make a significant difference. For the existing users, simply maintaining the temperature from 20-21°C to 24-25°C can cut power use by about 24%. If just half of the AC users made this switch, the country could save 10 billion units of power which is equivalent to a reduction of 8.2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
What Your Clothes Cost the Climate
At first glance you may not realise, the fashion industry is a silent polluter, accounting for 2.1 billion metric tons of GHG emissions in 2018, half of which were created by fast fashion. The industry is also projected to emit nearly 2.8 billion tons of GHG emissions annually by 2030. [iv]
The clothes we buy matter and no fabric is impact free. Wool is the most carbon intensive, with studies estimating 2 square meters of wool fabric equals to 13.89 kg CO2e of emissions (equal to around 70 km of driving).[v] These emissions are primarily linked to sheep rearing, particularly from sheep feed and manure management. However, wool is a critical resource for small scale farmers and rural communities, whose agricultural practices are far less carbon intensive. Thus sustainable sourcing of your wool is essential. Similarly for cotton, it is recommended to choose organic over conventional one, given intensive emissions from water used in growing the latter.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic are considered one of the most intensive as a fibre material, as they are petroleum-derived and are energy intensive. Acrylic fibre, for example emits 11.53kg CO2e per 2 square meters of fabric.[vi]
In terms of lesser carbon intensive fibres, natural, organic, and recycled materials like hemp, linen, organic cotton, Lyocell, and recycled textiles generally have a lower carbon footprint. Hemp even has a near "carbon-negative" impact as hemp plants absorb more CO2 than released during their growth and processing.
How we care for clothes also matters. Laundry habits, often overlooked, can make an unexpectedly big dent in your carbon footprint. One study estimates that one load of washing including the use of a dryer is equivalent to 2.4kg CO2e,[vii] with another stating that running a wash and dry cycle every two days can add up to roughly 440 kg of CO2e emissions over the course of a year.[viii] For many garments, especially ones that see frequent washing and machine drying, the “use phase” can be a large share of lifetime impact.
The fixes to offer are simple and cheap. Heating water is the biggest energy drain, so cold or lower temperatures washes are recommended for everyday loads. They use less electricity and are often enough for lightly soiled clothes. Tumble dryers are heavy energy users, while line drying uses none at all. Even simple adjustments helps; spin clothes at a higher rpm in the washer, then let them air dry when possible. By rethinking how often and how efficiently we wash and dry, we can shrink our footprint without sacrificing clean clothes.
Plates and Planet
Food’s footprint begins on the farm, shaped by how land is cleared crops are grown, animals fed, fertilisers applied, and water is pumped, and continues through processing, packaging, refrigeration, and cooking. And when food goes to waste, all those hidden emissions are squandered, with landfill methane adding a final blow.
A well-known study by Mike Berners-Lee helps put food emissions into perspective. He found that 200g of potatoes, a banana, an orange, or a bowl of porridge may each generate 100-500 grams of CO2e; a loaf of bread, a pint of beer, or a ten-inch pizza might falls between 500 grams and 1 kg. At the extreme end, a single leg of lamb carries a staggering footprint of about 42 kg CO2e, the same as eating porridge every day for three months.[ix]This reminds us how food choices stack up.
However small dietary shift can pay off. Base most meals on plants, treat red meat as an occasional indulgence. Opt for pulses, millets and seasonal produce, and stick to fresh, minimally processed foods. Whenever possible, skip air-freighted perishables for local alternatives. Plan portions, shop with a list and store ingredients well so they last. One or two lower-impact meals a week paired with a little less waste and a bit of kitchen savvy will cut emissions without fuss, save money, while often tasting better too.
Click, Cart, Carbon
In the evolving digital world, everyone e-commerce platforms for shopping and food delivery are convenient, but hey carry a footprint. In India, packaging alone generates 0.15–0.29 kgCO₂ per order, with nearly 22,000 tonnes of waste sent to landfills each month. Delivery adds further impact, as two-wheelers emit about 0.103 kgCO₂/km, roughly 1 kg for a 10 km trip. India’s e-commerce market is projected to emit around 8 million tonne of CO2e by 2030, if current patterns persist.[x]
So the next time before you click “buy now,” think: can I pick it up? When ordering food, skip cutlery, choose restaurants with minimal packaging, or bundle deliveries to cut trips.
The Bigger Picture
Climate action is not just about power plants, policies, or international pledges. It lives quietly in our kitchens, closets, and phones. The choices we make ripple outward, shaping demand, influencing industries, and rewriting what’s possible.
This Zero Emissions Day, don’t chase perfection, chase momentum. Start by choosing one simple action that fits your life, begin today, and let it grow. After all, the climate story of tomorrow may just begin with the choices you make today.
[i] https://www.meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends
[iii] https://iforest.global/research/the-climate-cost-of-air-conditioning-report/
[iv] Li, Z., Zhou, Y., Zhao, M., Guan, D., & Yang, Z. (2024). The carbon footprint of fast fashion consumption and mitigation strategies-a case study of jeans. The Science of the Total Environment, 924, 171508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171508
[v] https://www.co2everything.com/co2e-of/wool
[vi] https://www.co2everything.com/co2e-of/acrylic-fabric
[vii] https://www.co2everything.com/co2e-of/washing-load-40c-with-dryer
[ix] https://howbadarebananas.com/
[x] https://stand.earth/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CostOfConvenience_Final-Design.pdf