Getting Started
CarbonTrail integrates with your Shopify store to automatically calculate carbon emissions for every order and offer customers the option to offset at checkout.
Prerequisites
- A Shopify store with an active plan
- Admin access to your Shopify store
- Product weights configured (recommended but not required)
Installation
Step 1: Install from Shopify App Store
Click "Install on Shopify" from our website or find CarbonTrail in the Shopify App Store. You'll be redirected to authorize the app.
Step 2: Authorize Permissions
CarbonTrail requires the following permissions:
- Read orders — to calculate emissions for each shipment
- Read products — to access product weights
- Read shipping — to determine shipping destinations
- Write script tags — to display the checkout widget
Step 3: Complete Onboarding
After authorization, you'll be guided through a quick setup wizard to configure your warehouse location and preferences.
Configuration
Warehouse Location
Set your primary fulfillment location. This is used as the origin point for distance calculations. You can update this anytime in Settings.
Default Product Weight
If a product doesn't have a weight configured in Shopify, we'll use your default weight. We recommend setting this to your average product weight.
| Setting | Default | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Default weight | 500g | Your average product weight |
| Weight unit | grams | Match your Shopify settings |
Offset Provider
Choose your preferred carbon offset provider. Each provider offers different project types and pricing structures.
Widget Setup
The CarbonTrail widget appears at checkout, allowing customers to opt-in to carbon offsets.
Widget Placement
The widget automatically appears in your checkout flow. No theme modifications required for most Shopify themes.
Customization Options
- Toggle visibility on/off
- Customize the call-to-action text
- Choose between opt-in or opt-out default
- Set a custom offset price or use calculated amount
Widget Styling
The widget inherits your theme's fonts and colors by default. For advanced customization, you can add custom CSS in Settings → Widget → Advanced.
Dashboard Guide
Overview
The dashboard home shows your key metrics at a glance: total emissions, offsets purchased, customer opt-in rate, and monthly trends.
Navigation
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Overview | Key metrics and trends |
| Orders | Individual order emissions |
| Offsets | Offset purchase history |
| Reports | Detailed analytics and exports |
| Claims | AI-reviewed sustainability claims |
| Settings | Configuration and preferences |
| Audit | Activity log and compliance |
Reports & Analytics
Monthly Reports
Access monthly summaries of your carbon footprint, including breakdowns by shipping destination, transport mode, and product category.
Export Options
- CSV export for spreadsheet analysis
- PDF reports for stakeholder sharing
- Scheduled email reports (Growth plan and above)
Key Metrics
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Total kgCO₂e | Cumulative emissions from all orders |
| Offset Rate | Percentage of emissions offset |
| Opt-in Rate | Customer participation percentage |
| Avg per Order | Average emissions per order |
Managing Offsets
Automatic Offsets
When customers opt-in at checkout, offsets are purchased automatically from your configured provider. Each transaction is logged with a unique reference ID.
Manual Offsets
You can purchase offsets manually to cover emissions from orders where customers didn't opt-in. Go to Offsets → Purchase Manual Offset.
Offset Verification
All offsets include verification details from the provider, including project name, location, and certification standard.
Troubleshooting
Widget Not Appearing
- Ensure the widget is enabled in Settings
- Check that your theme supports app blocks
- Clear your browser cache and try again
- Contact support if the issue persists
Incorrect Emissions Calculations
- Verify your warehouse location is correct
- Check that product weights are configured in Shopify
- Review the default weight setting
Need Help?
Contact our support team at support@carbontrail.org or use the chat widget in your dashboard.