ekko can estimate two kinds of environmental footprint for a transaction: a carbon footprint and a nature footprint. This page explains what each one measures, the units involved and when you'd use them. Both are returned by the quote endpoints.

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Two independent dimensions

Carbon and nature measure different things. A transaction can have a high carbon footprint and a low nature footprint, or the reverse, so the two aren't interchangeable.

How footprints are estimated

Both footprints are spend-based estimates calculated from three inputs:

• the Merchant Category Code (MCC) of the transaction
• the country where the transaction took place
• the transaction amount

Because the calculation works at transaction level, a footprint reflects the impact typical of the merchant's sector and country. It isn't a precise product-level measurement.

Carbon footprint

The carbon footprint estimates the greenhouse gas emissions of a transaction, expressed in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent). The quote returns the footprint in grams and ounces, with localised equivalents you can show consumers, for example kilometres driven or hours of phone charging.

Carbon supports two ways for consumers to act:

• Carbon credits, priced against the estimated emissions. Credits fund independently verified climate projects that prevent or remove greenhouse gas emissions.
• Contributions to verified environmental projects.

Generate a carbon footprint with the Create a carbon quote endpoint.

Nature footprint

The nature footprint estimates the biodiversity impact of a transaction, expressed in Mean Species Abundance (MSA). It's reported as an area of intact nature lost, in square metres and square feet, with a four-category breakdown across climate stress, pollution, land use and water use.

Nature is the biodiversity counterpart to carbon. It supports contributions to verified environmental projects. It doesn't return a credits block.

Generate a nature footprint with the Create a nature quote endpoint. For the full methodology, the four categories and the underlying pressure points, see Nature footprint methodology.

Choosing which to use

Each quote and each checkout session covers one footprint type. Decide which dimension you want to show consumers, then call the matching endpoint:

• Use the carbon quote to show emissions and offer carbon credits or contributions.
• Use the nature quote to show biodiversity impact and offer contributions.

For how funds reach projects through contributions and credits, see Key concepts.