Have you ever wondered how much impact the things we buy have on the environment? One way to understand this is by looking at the Product Carbon Footprint, or PCF for short. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of it before — this article will explain what PCF is, why it matters, and how businesses use it.
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What is Product Carbon Footprint?
Think of the Product Carbon Footprint as the total amount of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) that are released into the air because of a product — from the moment its raw materials are taken from the earth, all the way to when it’s used and finally thrown away or recycled.
For example, take a mobile phone. Its PCF includes emissions from mining metals like lithium and cobalt, making the parts, assembling the phone, shipping it to stores, the electricity used when you charge it, and even what happens when you recycle or throw it away.
How is PCF Different from a Company’s Overall Emissions?
You might have heard about companies measuring their greenhouse gas emissions Scope 1, 2 and 3. That’s called organisational emissions — it’s the total emissions from everything a company does, like running factories, offices, and vehicles.
PCF is different because it focuses on just one product. It looks at every step involved in that product’s life. So, while organisational emissions give you the big picture, PCF zooms in on the impact of a single item.
Why Should Businesses Care About PCF?
One of the main benefits of knowing the Product Carbon Footprint is that it helps businesses identify the biggest sources of emissions in making a product. By pinpointing these “hotspots,” companies can focus their efforts on fixing the parts that cause the most environmental harm first, making their reduction efforts more effective.
Today’s customers are becoming more environmentally conscious and want to buy products that are better for the planet. When companies share the PCF of their products openly, it builds trust and shows that they care about sustainability. This transparency can influence buying decisions and strengthen customer loyalty.
In addition, governments around the world are starting to require companies to report the carbon emissions of their products. By measuring and managing PCF, businesses can stay ahead of regulations and avoid potential fines or penalties.
Reducing the product carbon footprint also gives companies a chance to stand out from their competitors. Offering greener products can attract more customers and improve brand reputation, which is increasingly important in today’s market.
Finally, understanding PCF encourages innovation. When companies know the environmental impact of their products, they are motivated to design and create items that are kinder to the environment, using sustainable materials and cleaner processes.
How Do You Calculate a Product Carbon Footprint? A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Calculating PCF might sound tricky, but here’s an easy way to think about it, using our mobile phone example:
Step 1: Clarity
Decide What You’re Measuring: Are you looking at the whole life of the phone (from raw materials to disposal)? That’s called cradle-to-grave. Or maybe just from raw materials to when it leaves the factory (cradle-to-gate). For this example, we’ll do cradle-to-grave.
Step 2: Measuring
Gather information: Find out:
- How much metal and plastic go into the phone
- How much energy is used to make it
- How far and how it’s shipped
- How much electricity the phone uses while charging
- What happens to the phone at the end of its life
Select emission factors: Emission factors are numbers that tell you how much greenhouse gas is released per unit of activity. For example:
- How many kilograms of CO₂ are released per kilogram of mined cobalt
- How much CO₂ comes from one kilowatt-hour of electricity
- How much CO₂ is emitted per kilometer of shipping
Step 3: Reporting & Verifying
Calculate the product carbon footprint and produce the report: Multiply each activity by its emission factor, then add everything up. That total is the phone’s carbon footprint. Write a PCF report in accordance with the GHG Protocol and ISO 14067 standards.
Verify the report: Obtain ISO 14067 verification from a third-party independent verification body to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Step 4: Decarbonising
See which parts cause the most emissions and think about how to reduce them — maybe use recycled materials or cleaner energy.
If this sounds interesting and you want to dive deeper, Bernard Business Consulting is hosting a free webinar called ‘How to Calculate Product Carbon Footprint’. The session aims to bring experts’ opinions, encourage open discussion, and introduce practical tools to help you start calculating your product’s carbon footprint.
Sign up now and take your first step toward understanding product carbon footprint.
Webinar
How to Calculate Product Carbon Footprint?
In this focused discussion, you’ll learn how to accurately measure and report your product’s carbon emissions using proven methods, practical tools, and key compliance insights to strengthen your carbon reduction strategy.
