What is Product Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or products, and is expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). A carbon footprint accounts for all six Kyoto GHG emissions:

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O)
  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)

 

There are two main types of carbon footprint:

  • Organisational carbon footprint - A measure of GHG emissions from all the activities across the orgnisation including energy used in buildings, industrial processes and company vehicles, etc.
  • Product carbon footprint (PCF) - a measure of GHG emissions across the life of a particular product (goods or service) throughout its "life cycle", from the extraction of raw materials and manufacturing, distribution through to its use and end-of-life.

Keywords: ISO 14067, PCF labeling, verification

Quantification: A product carbon footprint offers a number of benefits, both in terms of differentiating the product or service assessed, and leading to better understand and manage your supply chains.

Communication: Communicating internally can lower energy cost, engage with employees and optimize processes; External communication can be mainly used in business to business companies and business to consumer orgnisaztions.

International trend

Climate change poses an enormous challenge for farmers in developing countries. In addition to adapting to changing climatic conditions, food exporters are increasingly being asked by retailers to measure and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products. A product carbon footprint can help to differentiate your product or service and enhance your brand image As a result, new market requirements have emerged, mainly in the form of standards on PCF.

The growing trend of PCF standards is driven largely by retailers and several governments in developed and emerging economies. These standards can be classified into three main (though not mutually exclusive) groups based on their stakeholder involvement and pathways of development: International schemes: developed through international consultation with the involvement of stakeholders from public and private organisations, business, NGOs, academia, etc.

 

 

 

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