The ISO 14067 standard is the "rulebook" for standardizing the calculation and reporting of the product carbon footprint. While the 'product carbon footprint' is a process and a concept, ISO 14067 describes how to manage it.
What Is the ISO 14067 Standard?
ISO 14067 is the international standard developed for the scientific calculation and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product throughout its life cycle.
As the concept of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) gained importance in the 20th century, 'product carbon footprint' calculations also became popular. For this reason, ISO published the ISO 14067 standard specifically for the product carbon footprint.
Developed in 2013 and based on the ISO 14040/44 standards
ISO 14067:2013 was later revised in 2018 and took its current form as ISO 14067:2018, which remains in force today.
The latest version of ISO 14067 uses the same system as LCA, but unlike LCA it focuses only on GWP (Global Warming Potential). In other words, ISO 14040 evaluates all the environmental impacts of a product across multiple categories under LCA, while ISO 14067 focuses only on the greenhouse gas emissions of the product for its carbon footprint.
The Product Carbon Footprint Process Under ISO 14067
Similar to the ISO 14040 standard, ISO 14067 divides the product carbon footprint calculation and reporting process into four stages.
These four steps do not have to progress linearly. Different steps can be revisited at different times as the process evolves.
Goal and Scope Definition
This stage forms the foundation of the study. The product for which the carbon footprint is calculated, the reason for the calculation, the system boundaries (cradle-to-grave, cradle-to-gate, etc.), and the unit of measurement are all defined here.
- Product definition
- Defining the functional unit (for example, 1 L of milk)
- Setting the system boundaries
- Defining assumptions, data sources, and data quality
At this stage, it is also decided whether greenhouse gases other than CO2 will be included and what GWP time horizon (usually 100 years) will be used.
Inventory Analysis (LCI)
At this stage, all input and output data from the product's life cycle are collected. Within ISO 14067, only processes that generate greenhouse gases are evaluated.
- Raw material use
- Energy consumption
- Logistics data
- Process emissions
- Waste disposal process
Data that will serve as inputs for the product carbon footprint calculation are gathered in this way.
Impact Assessment (LCIA)
Unlike LCA, calculations at this stage are based solely on GWP values. Each greenhouse gas is multiplied by the GWP factor defined by the IPCC and converted into CO2e (CO2 equivalent). The data are then aggregated in CO2e terms.
If we think of inventory analysis as data collection, impact assessment is the process of turning that data into meaningful results.
Interpretation
This stage is where the results obtained are verified for technical accuracy and reported.
Whether the product carbon footprint study has met its goal, the uncertainties within the process, reduction strategies, and the future use of the report are all addressed in this stage.
The Importance of the ISO 14067 Standard
The ISO 14067 standard ensures that product carbon footprint studies are credible and transparent at an international level. Product carbon footprint studies conducted in line with this standard can serve a number of purposes.
Credibility for Stakeholders
A product carbon footprint process carried out correctly is, much like an LCA, one of the most reliable data sources for stakeholders. Although they focus on a product or service, these calculations increase the prestige of companies and organizations at both product and corporate level.
Regulatory Compliance
While there is no current mandatory requirement for product carbon footprint calculations, companies can carry out PCF studies to prepare for potential future regulations.
In addition, the existing CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) regulation is essentially a narrow-scope (gate-to-gate) product carbon footprint process. Standards-compliant product carbon footprint calculations make compliance with regulations such as CBAM much easier.
Verification and Product Labeling
Once a product carbon footprint has been calculated, a carbon footprint label can be created for the product. Verification is not mandatory in this process. However, a verified product carbon footprint label can be used both to prepare for potential future obligations and to build trust with end consumers.
CarbonSmart and the Product Carbon Footprint
We have previously discussed how difficult and complex the product carbon footprint process can be.
With the CarbonSmart "Product Carbon Footprint Management Module," calculating product carbon footprints is now much easier!
Using the product carbon footprint management module, you can calculate, analyze, and report on the emissions of your products. On the platform, you can either manually build a 'flow' or integrate with your ERP systems to automatically pull 'flow' data.
To strengthen your brand's reputation and prepare for possible future regulations, get in touch, talk to our experts, and step into the digital world of sustainability.
