The product carbon footprint (PCF) is increasingly becoming the focus of corporate sustainability strategies. Do you want to be economically successful and at the same time act in an environmentally responsible manner? Then you need clarity about where your emissions are generated.
If you want to operate sustainably, you need to be able to measure. The PCF makes this possible - along the entire value chain. It shows potential for less CO₂ and more transparency. An advantage for the climate. And in global competition. Because resource efficiency is a decisive factor. How does it work? natureOffice provides the basics, methods and solutions.
What is the PCF calculation for?
Find the hotspots
Where are the biggest chunks of CO2 hiding? Spoiler: Often not where you think. A Scope 3 balance sheet reveals which of your suppliers, processes or materials are the real climate killers. With the right data, you can see at a glance: This is where the leverage pays off. This is where you can really make a difference.
Thinking outside the box
Your factory gate is not the end of the world. Neither are your emissions. A proper Scope 3 analysis will show you where the real improvements are waiting in your supply chain. Perhaps at the steel supplier in Poland. Or the logistics partner who is still driving around with diesel. These are often precisely the adjustments that your suppliers would also like to make. You just need to know which ones.
Create trust
"We are climate neutral" sounds good. But does anyone still believe it? Your customers are becoming more critical, investors are probing deeper. With a well-founded Scope 3 balance sheet, you can show that you mean business. You know exactly where your emissions come from and can prove that your climate targets are based on real figures. This creates the trust that makes the difference today.
Clever development
Your development department has good ideas. But which ones are also good for the climate? A Scope 3 balance sheet gives your engineers the data they need. Which material really saves CO₂? Which production route is the most climate-friendly? This results in products that are not only technically impressive, but also make ecological sense.
The product carbon footprint: what you need to know
The product carbon footprint shows how many greenhouse gas emissions in CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e) a product causes throughout its entire life cycle - directly or indirectly. From raw material extraction to disposal - everything is taken into account. The calculation limit is used to determine this. Two approaches set the framework:
Cradle-to-gate: A consideration from raw material extraction to the factory gate. Ideal for manufacturing companies with downstream processors.
Cradle-to-grave: A view "from the cradle to the grave" - or recycling. The view is more comprehensive and all environmental impacts are taken into account. The range of optimization potential is greater, the timeframe for assuming corporate responsibility is longer and the need for data is more complex.
"We have been working successfully with natureOffice in the areas of carbon footprint and carbon offsetting since 2020. We were particularly impressed by the motivation of the natureOffice team to adapt to our production processes."
Tobias Dickmann | Product Manager Green Portfolio | Lhoist
PCF vs. CCF - that's the difference
Feature
PCF (Product Carbon Footprint)
CCF (Corporate Carbon Footprint)
Unit of analysis
Individual product
Entire company
Focus
Product life cycle
Company-wide activities
Objective
Product optimization, transparency
Climate strategy, CO₂ reduction
Data basis
Product-specific
Location/process-related
System boundary
Cradle-to-gate / cradle-to-grave
Scope 1, 2, 3
Area of application
Product development, marketing
Sustainability report, climate balance
Significance
Emissions per product unit
Total emissions of the company
Comparability
Possible between similar products
Limited between companies
Relevance for customers
High
Medium
Normative basis
ISO 14067, GHG Protocol Product Standard
ISO 14064, GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
How the calculation works: Determine product carbon footprint
The calculation of a product-specific carbon footprint is carried out in accordance with international standards - ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol Product Standard are among them. A structured process is important:
1
Define goals and system boundaries
What do you actually want to know? This question sounds banal, but it is crucial. Is it about the complete product from cradle to grave? Or is "cradle-to-gate" enough for you - i.e. until the product leaves your factory gate? The system boundaries determine how complex the whole thing will be. It's better to start small and become more ambitious later. This is more honest than taking on too much right away.
2
Data collection
Collecting primary data means: your own figures from production. Energy consumption, material quantities, transport routes. This data is worth its weight in gold because it accurately reflects your company. Secondary data comes from databases such as ecoinvent. You need these for everything that you cannot measure yourself - for example, the CO2 values of your raw materials. These databases are like the telephone directory for emission factors. Pro tip: Start with what you have. Perfection comes later.
3
Calculate emissions
For each process stage, you multiply your activity data by the corresponding emission factors. Sounds complicated? It is a bit. But don't worry: it's doable. The result is CO₂ equivalents (CO2e) - i.e. all greenhouse gases converted into CO₂. So you can compare apples with apples.
4
Hotspot analysis
This is where it gets exciting: which processes are the real climate killers? Often they are not the ones you would expect. Sometimes the biggest leverage lies in transportation, sometimes in an inconspicuous raw material. This analysis shows you where you need to take action. And where you can save yourself the effort.
5
Documentation & Communication
Transparency is the be-all and end-all. Document your methodology, your assumptions and your data sources. This creates trust with customers and partners. And communicate the results in such a way that they are understood. Nobody is interested in your Excel spreadsheet with 47 columns. But everyone wants to know: What does that mean in concrete terms?
Your product carbon footprint. Without Excel drama.
Digital tools make CO₂ balancing easier - and significantly more efficient for companies.
We have been supporting companies in climate management and sustainability consulting for many years. Our experience comes from practical experience - from projects that make an impact. Our customers benefit from this today. Put the creation and optimization of your PCF in experienced hands. Whether production, trade or services - we are there for you. From assessing your needs to developing a comprehensive sustainability strategy. And we don't stop there: We are also at your side when it comes to setting up efficient operational climate management.
How we guide you to your product carbon footprint in four steps
1
Contact & offer
In a personal meeting, we define the scope of your greenhouse gas balance and prepare a customized offer.
2
Start & data acquisition
After accepting the offer, we hold a kick-off meeting, explain the CO₂ balancing, discuss your goals and system limits, and initiate the data collection.
3
Data analysis & evaluation
We review and analyze all the data collected to start calculating your carbon footprint.
4
Conclusion & documentation
We present the results of the CO₂ calculation to you in a final meeting. You will then receive full documentation of your greenhouse gas balance.
The PCF focuses exclusively on the climate-relevant emissions of a product (measured in CO₂e), while the CCF assesses the environmental impact of a company's entire operations.
The accuracy depends heavily on the quality of the underlying data. Primary data from your own production offers a high level of accuracy. Secondary data is ideal for modeling or for preliminary products.
In principle, yes. However, it is important that sufficient data is available and that the methodology complies with current standards. natureOffice offers suitable tools and expert advice.
At present, there is no obligation to prepare one. However, in the context of supply chain laws, the EU taxonomy and the CSRD, the pressure to make the carbon footprint of products transparent will increase.
A product carbon footprint should be reviewed regularly, particularly in the event of changes in production, the supply chain or energy use. A review every 1 to 2 years is recommended.
Further accounting solutions
Corporate Carbon Footprint
Accounting for your company
Your corporate carbon footprint in figures. We do the math, you know the facts.
