Product Carbon Footprints: Navigating practical questions

“When collecting PCFs at scale, perfect accuracy isn’t always the goal. The real value comes from strategic prioritisation focused on the materials and processes that matter most.” 

Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) are the foundational metric for understanding an reducing climate impact at the product. Caclulated using internationally recognised lifecycle assesments standards (ISO 14040/44, ISO 14067, GHG Protocol), a PCF quantifies total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal.  

How can PCFs help your business? And how can you navigate its tricky parts such as gathering data from suppliers, comparing different sources and across standards? Our expert Anna Ma guide you through it. 

How can PCF calculations help your business? 

Calculating your product carbon footprint transforms abstract environmental data into a strategic business asset. It enables you to: 

• Identify and prioritise key emission hotspots across your value chain, from raw materials to end of life disposal 

• Ensure compliance with emerging regulations like the EU’s CSRD and CBAM 

• Strengthen your brand’s reputation among environmentally conscious consumers, investors, and partners 

• Support more efficient sourcing and reduction of operational costs 

• Drive innovation in sustainable product design 

Integrating PCFs into your business processes empowers you to make data driven decisions that reduce emissions, lower costs, and unlock new market opportunities. This delivers both environmental and economic value. 

Read our PCF factsheet to dive deeper into solid strategies for your products’ footprint.

Five critical questions from ESG leaders 

As organisations advance their decarbonisation strategy, several practical challenges consistently emerge. We’ve gathered insights on five key topics that leaders in the sector have identified as crucial to scaling PCF adoption and impact. 

1. How do we compare PCFs fairly when suppliers use different methodologies, scopes, years, and data quality levels? 

Fair comparison requires a pragmatic approach. Rather than pursuing perfect uniformity, organisations should focus on achieving material comparability that serves their specific objectives. Begin by establishing clear end goals and determining what level of comparability is reasonable for your use case. Where possible, standardise allocation methodologies across suppliers and use contractual terms to drive continuous improvement beyond baseline performance. 

The fundamental question to address is purpose. Understanding what you’re using the data for and how it will inform decisions is essential to determining the appropriate level of comparability required. 

2. When does supplier specific data meaningfully improve accuracy, and when does it not? 

Strategic prioritisation is essential when determining data collection approaches. High stakes decisions naturally demand high quality, supplier specific data. However, pursuing perfect data across every supplier relationship can create diminishing returns and resource constraints. Thoughtful segmentation based on spend, value chain significance, and brand exposure helps focus efforts where they matter most. 

A critical consideration is that supplier specific PCF data is not inherently superior to spend based or secondary data. Well-constructed Life Cycle Analysis using robust secondary datasets can often yield more reliable results than poorly documented supplier specific figures. The quality of methodology matters more than data sources alone. 

3. How do we operationalise PCF collection at scale across hundreds of suppliers without substantial sustainability budgets? 

Effective operationalisation begins with leveraging existing resources. Rather than defaulting to new data collection exercises, organisations should combine available supplier data with digital solutions that build internal capability. Providing suppliers with actionable insights and creating clear demand levers helps position PCF as a value creating conversation rather than an administrative burden. 

The primary barrier is often cultural rather than technical. While specialist expertise will always have a role, sustainable scaling requires embedding PCF capability across the organisation. This transition from specialist exercise to standard practice is essential for long term success. 

4. How are companies using PCFs to drive real business decisions and carbon reductions? 

Product carbon footprints create actionable business intelligence when integrated strategically. Organisations should exercise appropriate caution when making emission reduction claims, but PCFs enable concrete decision making across multiple domains: 

• Design and reformulation decisions informed by comparative product analysis 

• New product development with embedded carbon considerations from conception 

• Internal carbon pricing (ICP) and contract pricing mechanisms that reflect true environmental costs 

• Material selection and pricing strategies aligned with carbon impact 

Many R&D and product teams are already conducting carbon informed work without formalising it as “PCF driven decision making.” The value of establishing a formal decarbonisation action plan lies in creating visibility, accountability, and stakeholder alignment. Perhaps most importantly, having quantified data transforms supplier engagement from abstract sustainability discussions into concrete, outcome focused conversations. 

5. What level of validation, assurance, and auditability is realistic today, and can we scale this? 

The appropriate level of assurance should align with intended use. PCFs supporting compliance reporting require rigorous validation to withstand regulatory scrutiny and defend against greenwashing allegations. Data used primarily for internal decision making may warrant a more proportionate approach. 

Looking forward, market expectations will continue trending toward enhanced data quality and integrity. Validation frameworks that accommodate both traditional PCF creation and emerging AI assisted methodologies will be essential for scalable implementation. The guiding principle should be fitness for purpose. Organisations should regularly assess whether validation requirements genuinely serve their objectives or represent process for its own sake. 

Key takeaways 

The landscape of PCF certification and assurance remains fragmented.  

Multiple frameworks create confusion for organisations trying to determine the right approach for their specific context and use case. 

Standardisation is critical as organisations face mounting pressure. 

Divergent client requests and reporting requirements make standardised data collection methods essential for efficient, scalable PCF management. 

Accuracy requirements should match ambition and scale. 

When collecting PCFs across large supplier networks, perfect data isn’t always necessary. Strategic prioritisation based on material impact and process significance delivers better outcomes than pursuing comprehensive accuracy everywhere. 

Moving forward 

Addressing scope 3 emissions requires practical, scalable approaches to PCF collection and use. The questions above reflect real challenges that sustainability leaders face daily. By approaching these challenges with clear priorities, appropriate levels of rigour, and a focus on business outcomes, organisations can turn PCF data from a compliance checkbox into a genuine driver of environmental and economic value. 

Your partner for product decarbonisation 

At Nexio Projects, we help organisations measure and reduce their product and supply chain emissions through comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis and scope 3 carbon footprint assessment. Our experts bring deep experience in PCF calculations, supplier engagement strategies, and product sustainability to help you turn climate data into actionable business intelligence. 

Whether you need to operationalise PCF collection at scale, develop internal carbon pricing mechanisms, or build a decarbonisation action plan that drives real reductions, we combine technical rigour with practical implementation support. As a Certified B Corporation and registered LCA practitioner under the International EPD® System, we’ve supported over 400 clients worldwide to build robust, data driven sustainability strategies. 

Ready to act? 

Explore our product sustainability and net zero & decarbonisation services, or get in touch with our experts for a free consultation on scope 3 measurement and decarbonisation strategy. 

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