Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

A PCF measures a product's greenhouse gas emissions over its entire life cycle. The focus is on specific greenhouse gas emissions, as opposed to the general environmental balance.

The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is a comprehensive measurement that quantifies the total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of a product throughout its entire life cycle. This includes all phases, from raw material extraction through pre-processing, manufacturing, distribution, storage, and use to disposal or recycling. The PCF is expressed in kilograms or tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e), allowing for standardized comparability between different products and industries.

The calculation of the PCF occurs in several steps: First, the scope and system boundaries are defined, followed by data collection on materials, energy consumption, and transport methods. Emission factors are then applied to the collected data to determine the GHG emissions. Summing these emissions across all life cycle phases yields the total PCF.Internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol Product Standard guide the methodology for calculating the PCF and ensure transparency and comparability. Implementing PCFs offers numerous advantages, such as identifying emission hotspots to prioritize reduction measures, supporting environmentally conscious decisions by consumers, and meeting legal requirements. Additionally, the PCF promotes innovations and efficiency improvements throughout the supply chain and provides a basis for CO₂ compensation strategies.

Overall, the PCF serves as a critical tool for reducing climate impacts and promoting sustainable practices at both the corporate and consumer levels.