The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term "carbon footprint" as "The amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period." This definition incorporates the amount of carbon and of damage done to the environment by the use of a product, but it does not assess the carbon created by production of the product. The Wall Street Journal reports that the United States produces a total of approximately 118 pounds of carbon per person, per day.
Cars
Cars produce an average of one pound of carbon dioxide for each mile traveled. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the total amount of CO2 released into the environment by cars each year in the U.S. totals 1.7 billion tons. Over the average life of a mid-size car, or approximately 120,000 miles, it creates more than 63 tons of carbon dioxide, according to a study done by the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. The Toyota Motor Corporation reports that its Prius model, a hybrid car that integrates both gasoline and electric power, uses less gasoline and reduces the carbon footprint to approximately 44 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Major Appliances
Reducing the carbon footprints for appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, involves selecting items with an Energy Star rating. The EPA and the Department of Energy set energy guidelines for appliances, and these require each product to feature a label with the average energy consumption for each year and the cost of operation. In addition to selecting appliances with high energy ratings and a smaller carbon footprint, energy-conscious consumers must maintain appliances to retain tight seals and keep air sealed in refrigerators, ovens and dryers, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Clothing
The carbon footprint of clothing incorporates the type of fabric used and the amount of transportation involved in creating the piece of clothing and delivering it to the marketplace. Polyester fabrics, which are made from oil polymers, have a large carbon footprint and a negative impact on the environment. Recycled materials, including polyester, reduce the footprint size. United Kingdom garment manufacturer Continental Clothing labels its products with information identifying the carbon footprint of each item. The company is the first to supply such labels for clothing.
Food
Carbon footprint statistics for food vary widely, and incorporate the impact of consumer packaging on the footprint. In some cases, the carbon used in packaging is equal to or greater than that used to produce the food item itself. A gallon jug of milk creates between six and eight pounds of carbon, the higher number involving plastic containers. Waxed cardboard milk containers create the smaller footprint. According to Justin Kitzes of the Global Footprint Network, the length of supply lines, the type of feed fed to cattle, the fuel used to process the milk, and the amount and type of refrigeration used to keep the milk cool all impact the total carbon footprint.
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