When you upload packaging data, Root needs to know the environmental impact of each material used in your packaging — for example, how much CO2 is produced per kilogram of cardboard or plastic film.

To do this, each packaging material you upload needs to be linked to an impact dataset: a reference record that contains the environmental footprint for that type of material. This linking step is what we call packaging material matching.

You can match packaging materials in two ways:

Most standard packaging can be matched quickly from the predefined list. Anything that isn't covered there can be matched against the full impact database instead.

Go to the Matching section, and click on the Packaging materials chapter. You'll see a list of all your packaging materials with their current status:

Click on a packaging material name to open its detail page, then click the Edit button to add an impact reference. From here you have two options.

You'll see a structured list organized by category and type:

Select the option that best describes your material. Each option shows its environmental impact per kilogram so you can verify you're picking the right one.

If a packaging material is missing from the predefined list, you can either match it using full impact reference matching (Option 2), create a custom reference, or reach out to us, and we'll add it to the list.

You can also match packaging materials against the full impact database, exactly as in the Materials section.

First, the AI Wizard appears, suggesting a set of possible matches based on the material name and other features — the products and components the material is present in, and where it is sourced — along with the reasoning behind each suggestion. This allows for a quick and thorough impact reference match.

You can also browse the database tabs (e.g. Ecoinvent, Agrifootprint) to select a reference manually. See an explanation of how to choose an impact reference here. As with any suggestion, check that the proposed match makes sense before applying it. Once a reference is linked, the resulting impact is automatically calculated.

If your packaging quantities are in a different unit than the dataset expects, you'll need to provide a conversion factor.

For example, if your packaging structure specifies plastic film in square meters but the dataset measures impact per kilogram, you'll need to tell Root how many kilograms one square meter of your specific film weighs.

Common conversions (like grams to kilograms) are handled automatically. You only need to provide a factor when Root can't convert between the units on its own.

Root tracks two types of packaging, both matched the same way:

Product packaging is the packaging that comes with each unit of your product (e.g. the box and plastic wrap around a phone). Its environmental impact is multiplied by the number of units purchased or sold.

Logistics packaging is the packaging used at your facilities for shipping and storage (e.g. pallets, bubble wrap, stretch film). Its impact is based on the total amount consumed at each facility over a given period.

Both types use the same packaging material records and datasets — the difference is only in how quantities and impacts are calculated.

Once a material is matched and unit conversions are in place, Root calculates the impact as:

For product packaging:

Impact = dataset impact per unit x quantity per product x number of products x conversion factor

For logistics packaging:

Impact = dataset impact per unit x total amount consumed x conversion factor

Unmatched materials (status: incomplete) are excluded from calculations, so completing your matches is important for accurate results.