Product Carbon Footprint refers to the calculation of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by a product throughout defined stages of its life cycle, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e). As the first step in any GHG reduction strategies, product carbon footprint assessments allow you to measure the climate impact of your products. We prepare product carbon footprint reports in line with international standards, which can be used in platforms such as the CDP Climate Change questionnaire. These reports also help identify which products should be prioritized for improvement.
Defining Boundaries in Product Carbon Footprinting
“Cradle-to-gate” and “cradle-to-grave” are the most commonly used system boundaries for calculating product carbon footprints. The cradle-to-gate approach applies to products sold to other businesses, while the cradle-to-grave approach includes impacts up to the end-user. Depending on your company’s role in the value chain and your specific needs, we can tailor the system boundaries accordingly. For our carbon footprint calculations, we use the LCA method. This means we don’t rely on generic emission factors—we model your product specifically to reflect its environmental performance as accurately as possible. Our calculations and reports follow internationally recognized standards such as ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol.
Why Product Carbon Footprinting Matters
Product carbon footprints play a critical role in CDP report. For companies that sell physical products, the Purchased Goods and Services category often represents the largest share of Scope 3 emissions. Calculating your product carbon footprints enables a comprehensive scope 3 reporting. Moreover, these calculations are useful in the Risks and Opportunities sections of a CDP report—one of the most influential areas for scoring. Finally, for companies aiming to set Science-Based Targets under the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), product-level carbon footprinting is a requirement.
Our Product Carbon Footprint Process
We define relevant boundaries, visit your facilities to collect accurate data, and use complete modeling to perform your carbon footprint calculations.
01 We begin with a project kick-off meeting to understand your production process and identify the necessary data.
02 Using the data collection form we provide, we model your product and calculate its carbon footprint.
03 We deliver the results in a report, formatted according to your preference.
