What is the EU's PEF scientific method and how do we use it?

By Prof. Robert Somogyi

The first step would be to ask, why is it so important to measure the environment footprint of products and how can my personal behavior have a positive impact on reducing the negative footprints of products.

Measuring the environmental footprint of products is important for several reasons:

1. Identify environmental hotspots: By measuring the environmental footprint of products, we can identify which stages of their life cycle have the most significant impact on the environment. This allows us to prioritize actions to reduce their environmental impact and make them more sustainable.
2. Encourage sustainable consumption and production: Measuring the environmental footprint of products helps consumers make informed choices about the environmental impact of the products they buy, encouraging more sustainable consumption patterns. It also encourages companies to produce more sustainable products and adopt more sustainable production practices.
3. Meet regulatory requirements: Many governments are implementing regulations that require companies to measure and report on the environmental impact of their products. Measuring the environmental footprint of products is therefore essential for companies to comply with these regulations.
4. Enhance corporate sustainability: Measuring the environmental footprint of products is an important part of corporate sustainability. It helps companies identify opportunities to reduce their environmental impact, improve their environmental performance, and enhance their sustainability credentials.
5. Support circular economy: Measuring the environmental footprint of products is important for creating a circular economy, where products are designed to be reused, recycled or repurposed. By identifying environmental hotspots, companies can redesign products to be more environmentally friendly and contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy.

In summary, measuring the environmental footprint of products is essential for promoting sustainable consumption and production, complying with regulations, enhancing corporate sustainability, and supporting the transition to a circular economy.

The EU's PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) methodology is a scientific method that is used to evaluate the environmental performance of products throughout their entire life cycle. It is based on the ISO 14040/14044 standards for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and is a robust and scientifically sound approach to assess the environmental impact of products.The PEF methodology is designed to be a standardized, transparent, and comprehensive method for measuring and communicating the environmental performance of products. It is based on the following principles:

1. Comprehensive life cycle approach: The PEF methodology evaluates the environmental impact of a product from raw material extraction, through production, distribution, use, and end-of-life disposal.
2. Science-based approach: The methodology is based on scientific principles, using data that is reliable, transparent, and up-to-date.
3. Product-specific approach: The PEF methodology recognizes that different products have different environmental impacts, and therefore the methodology is designed to be adaptable to specific product categories.
4. Consistency and comparability: The PEF methodology is designed to ensure consistency and comparability across different products, allowing for fair and accurate comparisons to be made.

The PEF methodology consists of four main stages: goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life cycle impact assessment, and interpretation. Each stage involves a set of scientific procedures and methods that are used to collect, analyze, and interpret data. This methodology is a scientifically rigorous approach to assess the environmental performance of products and is increasingly being used by businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders to support sustainable consumption and production.

The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology is a standardized framework developed by the European Union to measure and communicate the environmental performance of products across their life cycle. The PEF methodology covers a broad range of environmental impacts, including resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, land use, and air pollution. It consists of a set of guidelines and tools for conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a product. An LCA is a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle, including the production, use, and disposal phases.The PEF methodology includes the following steps:

1. Goal and scope definition: Define the purpose of the study and the scope of the product system being analyzed, including the functional unit and system boundaries.
2. Life cycle inventory (LCI): Collect and quantify data on the inputs and outputs of the product system, including raw materials, energy use, emissions, and waste.
3. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA): Evaluate the environmental impacts of the product system using a standardized set of impact categories, such as global warming, water depletion, and human toxicity.
4. Interpretation: Analyze and communicate the results of the study, including identifying areas of improvement and comparing the environmental performance of different products.

The PEF methodology is intended to provide a standardized and transparent way for companies to communicate the environmental performance of their products to consumers and other stakeholders. The European Union is encouraging the use of the PEF methodology as part of its efforts to promote sustainable consumption and production.

The PEF is a scientifically rigorous approach to assess the environmental performance of products and is increasingly being used by businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders to support sustainable consumption and production.

Here are some recommendations on the use of Environmental Footprint methods:

1. Start with clear goals and scope: Before embarking on an Environmental Footprint study, it is important to define clear goals and scope of the study. This will help to ensure that the study is relevant, focused and aligned with the intended objectives.
2. Use standardized methods: Environmental Footprint methods such as the EU's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology are standardized and widely recognized, making them ideal for use in assessing the environmental performance of products. It is recommended to use standardized methods to ensure comparability of results and consistency across different products.
3. Ensure data quality: The reliability and quality of data used in Environmental Footprint methods are crucial to obtaining accurate results. It is recommended to use reliable and up-to-date data sources and ensure that data quality is verified and validated throughout the study.
4. Communicate results effectively: Environmental Footprint studies often generate large amounts of data, which can be difficult to interpret and communicate effectively. It is recommended to use clear and concise visualizations and explanations to communicate the results of the study to stakeholders.
5. Use results to drive improvement: Environmental Footprint studies should not be viewed as an end in themselves but rather as a means to drive improvements in the environmental performance of products. It is recommended to use the results of the study to identify opportunities for improvement and implement measures to reduce the environmental impact of products.
6. Continuous improvement: Environmental Footprint studies should be viewed as a continuous improvement process. Companies should strive to improve the quality of their data, refine their methods, and broaden the scope of their studies over time to continually improve their environmental performance.

In summary, using Environmental Footprint methods can help to assess and improve the environmental performance of products. It is important to use standardized methods, ensure data quality, communicate results effectively, use results to drive improvement, and continuously improve the methods used. Please find more information of the EU recommendation (Commission Recommendation on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods_0.pdf (europa.eu)

Relationship to other methods and standards 

Each requirement specified in the OEF (organisation environmental footprint) method was developed taking into consideration the recommendations of similar, widely recognised product environmental accounting methods and guidance documents. Specifically, the methodological guides considered were: ISO standards, in particular: 

(a) EN ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management — Life-cycle assessment — Principles and framework; 

(b) EN ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management — Life-cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines; 

(c) EN ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification; 

(d) ISO 14046:2014 Environmental management — Water footprint — Principles, requirements and guidelines; 

(e) EN ISO 14020:2001 Environmental labels and declarations — General principles; 

(f) EN ISO 14021:2016 Environmental labels and declarations — Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling) 

(g) EN ISO 14025:2010 Environmental labels and declarations – Type III environmental declarations – Principles and procedures; 

(h) ISO 14050:2020 Environmental management — vocabulary 

(i) ISO 14064 (2006): Greenhouse gases -- Part 1 and 3; 

(j) ISO/WD TR 14069:2013 GHG -- Quantification and reporting of GHG emissions for organisations; 

(k) CEN ISO/TS 14071:2016 Environmental management — Life-cycle assessment — Critical review processes and reviewer competencies: Additional requirements and guidelines to EN ISO 14044:2006 

(l) ISO/TS 14072:2014 Environmental management — Life-cycle assessment Requirements and guidelines for organisational life-cycle assessment 

(m) ISO 17024:2012 Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. 

OEF Guide, Annex to Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life-cycle environmental performance of products and organisations (April 2013); 

ILCD (International Reference Life-cycle Data System) Handbook6 developed by EC Joint Research Centre; 

Ecological Footprint Standards ; 

Greenhouse Gas Protocol - Product Life-cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard 8 (World Ressources Institute - WRI/ World Business Council for Sustainable Development - WBCSD); 

BP X30-323-0:2015 General principles for an environmental communication on mass market products (Agence de la transition écologique, ADEME)9 ; 

PAS 2050:2011 Specification for the assessment of the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services (British Standards Institution - BSI); 

ENVIFOOD Protocol

FAO:2016. Environmental performance of animal feeds supply chains: Guidelines for assessment. LEAP Partnership. 

A detailed description of most of the analysed methods and the outcome of the analysis is available in ‘Analysis of Existing Environmental Footprint methodologies for Products and Organisations: Recommendations, Rationale, and Alignment‘