In this episode of Data Driven Manufacturing, I sat down with Rupert Blackstone, Managing Director of Wattcraft, to unpack something a bit different—but just as crucial to the world of manufacturing: carbon impact. We kicked things off with a quiz that really made me stop and think—what actually has a bigger carbon footprint, cycling to work or driving? Rupert challenged some of my assumptions right out of the gate.

From there, we dug into the surprising carbon costs of everyday habits—leaving lights on, sending emails, and even what we eat. One standout moment was a discussion about bananas (yes, bananas). You’d think importing them from across the world would be terrible for the environment—but it turns out the full story is more complex, especially when you compare it to the impact of more intensive, local farming.

That led us into life cycle analysis—the proper, whole-system way to understand the environmental impact of products and processes. Rupert helped break down how this applies not just to consumer choices, but also to sustainable manufacturing. It’s an eye-opening conversation about context, trade-offs, and why the right data matters if we’re serious about sustainability.

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