Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) The EU methodology for comparable environmental information
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What is a Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)?
The PEF is a harmonized Life Cycle Assessment methodology developed by European Commission. PEF aims to enable environmental information on products which has to be collected and compared across the EU according to uniform criteria.
The 16 Environmental Impact Categories
- Climate change: Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalents)
- Ozone depletion: depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer
- Human toxicity, carcinogenic: potentially carcinogenic effects on humans
- Human toxicity, non-carcinogenic: non-carcinogenic health effects
- Particulate matter: emissions of particulate matter and precursor substances
- Ionizing radiation: effects on human health
- Photochemical ozone creation: Formation of ground-level ozone (summer smog)
- Acidification: Acidification of soils and waters
- Eutrophication, terrestrial: Overfertilization of land areas
- Eutrophication, freshwater: Nutrient enrichment in freshwater
- Eutrophication, marine: Nutrient enrichment in marine waters
- Ecotoxicity, freshwater: Toxic effects on freshwater ecosystems
- Land use: Effects of land use and land conversion
- Water use: Consumption of water resources
- Resource use, fossil fuels: Consumption of fossil fuels
- Resource use, minerals and metals: Consumption of mineral raw materials
The EU strategy behind the PEF
The PEF is part of the EU strategy for a single market for green products.
EU Commission objectives:
- Comparability: Uniform methods for product comparisons within a category
- Combating greenwashing: Scientifically sound, verifiable environmental claims
- Harmonizing the internal market: One EU standard instead of many national systems
PEF in EU regulatory landscape
PEF is gaining importance through various EU initiatives
- Green Claims Directive (under negotiation): Companies must substantiate environmental claims using methods such as PEF. Final adoption is still pending, but PEF will be central.
- Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): Will extend ecodesign requirements to additional product groups. PEF-based criteria may become mandatory.
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Mentions PEF as a possible method for assessing environmental impacts.
- Digital Product Passport (DPP): Could contain PEF data as standardized environmental information.
PEF Category Rules (PEFCR)
The EU Commission develops specific calculation rules for individual product categories
Defining PEFCRs:
- System boundaries for the product category
- Functional unit and reference flow
- Data quality requirements
- Allocation rules
- Permissible secondary data sources
Finalized PEFCRs:
- Textiles and shoes
- Batteries
- Packaging
- Detergents
- Others in development
Why does your company require a PEF?
B2B Communication
Quantify and compare environmental performance vis-à-vis business customers
B2C Communication
Scientific basis for consumer claims, protection against greenwashing accusations
Regulatory preparation
Be prepared for upcoming EU requirements, avoid time pressure
Product development
Identify environmental hotspots, develop more environmental friendly products
PEF, EPD or LCA - which is suitable for my business?
To do this, let's take a look at different aspect each one is focused on:
| Aspect | PEF | EPD | LCA |
| Developer | EU Commission | Program operator (IBU, Kiwa) | ISO standards |
| Impact categories | 16 defined | Variables depends on PCR | Flexible |
| Possibility for single score | Yes | No | No |
| Verification | Optional | Mandatory | Optional |
| Main application | B2B/B2C, EU regulation | Construction products, DGNB/LEED | Research, Product development |
Our recommendation: For construction products, the EPD remains the established tool. The PEF is becoming increasingly important for broader product communication and EU requirements. We are glad to advise you on what aligns perfect for you.
The PEF process with Kiwa:
Goal definition
PEFCR review
Data collection
Modelling
Interpretation
Documentation
Frequently asked questions
What is a PEF?
PEF stands for Product Environmental Footprint; an EU methodology for measuring the environmental impact of products throughout their entire life cycle.
What is the PEF method?
A standardized life cycle assessment procedure developed by the EU Commission to make environmental information comparable.
What does PEF stands for?
Product Environmental Footprint or in other words, the ecological footprint of products.
Will the PEF become mandatory in the EU?
Voluntary at present. Due to the Green Claims Directive and other regulations, it may become a requirement for certain environmental claims.
How does PEF differ from EPD?
EPDs are based on ISO standards and are established for construction products. The PEF is specific to the EU, with a focus on comparability, and enables a single score.
How much does a PEF study costs?
Completely depends on product complexity and data availability.
Get in touch: Know more about PEF study
We conduct your PEF study in accordance with EU methodology.
Our services:
- PEF studies in accordance with EU recommendations
- Review of applicable PEFCRs
- Modelling of all 16 impact categories
Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF)
Understanding your organization's carbon footprint is the first step towards meaningful change. At Kiwa, we show you how your company will reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way for the long term. We support you from the calculation to verification to reporting and enable transparent, accurate, scientifically sound communication of your environmental performance - without greenwashing!
Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) according to EN 15804 / EN 50693
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a Type III Environmental Declaration and is regulated by ISO 14025 and EN 15804. It contains quantifiable environmental information on a European harmonized, scientific basis. An EPD is based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
A Life Cycle Assessment is used to quantify the environmental impacts of processes, products, services or organisations, usually as a basis for other sustainability applications such as Environmental Product Declarations, Product Environmental Footprints and CO2 footprints.
CO2 - Footprint / Certification CO2-neutral
The CO2 Footprint, also known as the Carbon Footprint, records the total CO2 emissions that occur directly or indirectly over the life cycle of a product system.
