Terms of Service
Legal framework for PolarBear Footprint
Last updated: October 2, 2026
How PolarBear Footprint works
PolarBear Footprint estimates the environmental impact of daily habits (diet, transport, energy use, purchases) and shows it in kg of CO2 equivalent per day.
How estimates are calculated
Calculations rely on scientific emission factors derived from EXIOBASE 3 and peer-reviewed studies published in Nature Food and Science. Users can log a daily check-in with variations from their personal baseline (for example an extra car trip, a vegan meal, or a clothing purchase). The app computes incremental impact and adds it to the profile.
What remains on your device
Baseline and history remain local by default. With separate research consent, selected behavioral data may be sent to the backend with pseudonymous identifiers, approximate location and available organization/QR references. App-usage telemetry has separate consent.
Research program (optional)
Research sharing is optional and requires explicit consent. Uploads include selected records with persistent pseudonymous identifiers, behavioral data, approximate location and available QR/organization references; data are not anonymous at the point of upload. External access is not automatic and requires documented review of privacy, purpose, eligibility and applicable agreements. Consent can be revoked in Settings.
Economic model
PolarBear is free, contains no advertising, and does not sell data. The model is based on reciprocity: users get accurate estimates for free, researchers get real behavioral data to improve models, and PolarBear improves its algorithms on a scientific basis.
1. Nature of the service
PolarBear Footprint is a free service provided on an as-is basis. It does not generate revenue from advertising, profiling, or selling personal data. The service may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time.
2. Intellectual property and scientific sources
PolarBear emission factors are based on open scientific sources, including EXIOBASE, Scarborough et al., and Poore & Nemecek. Estimates are indicative and do not constitute certified environmental accounting under GHG Protocol or ISO 14064 standards.
3. User data and research contribution
User-entered data are processed locally for personal features. With separate research consent, selected history and check-ins are sent to the backend with pseudonymous identifiers; aggregated or pseudonymized outputs depend on the dataset and access rules. Agreements and procedures for external access must be formalized before data are made available to third parties.
4. Limitation of liability
PolarBear Footprint provides indicative environmental estimates and does not replace professional assessments or official certifications. Use of results is under the user's responsibility.
5. Changes to the Terms
PolarBear Footprint may update these Terms at any time. The updated version is published on polar-bear.app/terms with the latest revision date.
Note: this page is an operational version of the internal legal framework and must be validated by legal counsel before final publication.