Checklist: How to master PCF requests in 4 steps

The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) serves as an indicator of a product’s environmental impact and is a key factor in sustainability assessments. By calculating the PCF, companies can track which greenhouse gas emissions are caused by their products and how these are distributed across process steps and components. One motivation for calculating PCFs is to achieve climate targets.

Customer inquiries regarding the sustainability of products have become a trigger for calculating a PCF in many industries. Customers demand evidence in order to understand the environmental impact of their own supply chains, to meet current legal reporting requirements, or to offer climate-friendly products to their own customers. Those unable to meet these demands risk being excluded as suppliers in the medium term.

1. Define objectives & scope

Before starting the calculation of a PCF, companies should clearly state the underlying motivation – in this case, the customer request – and define the target audience. This represents an externally driven motivation, where customer inquiries are answered proactively and the PCF serves as the basis for transparent stakeholder communication.

The next step is to define the system boundaries and the functional unit – for example, whether the PCF should cover the lifecycle from raw material extraction to the factory gate (“cradle-to-gate”) or through to end-of-life (“cradle-to-grave”).

Another important aspect is deciding whether the calculation should be carried out for a few or many products. This decision affects the required master data quality and determines whether scalable approaches take priority. In addition, suitable software solutions and databases must be selected to support the calculation process. A step-by-step approach – such as initial experiences in a pilot project – facilitates entry and creates a solid foundation for scaling.

2. Data collection

Data collection is based on the previously defined system boundaries and generally includes the product's bill of materials. Additional information on transport routes, weights, production processes, energy consumption, and waste quantities is also required. Emission factors are sourced from industry-specific databases such as DBEIS, IDEMAT, Ökobaudat, EPDs, and GLEC or provided directly by suppliers.

High data availability and quality are critical for reliable results, with a particular focus on raw materials. Different data sources must be processed and integrated via system interfaces. To enable scaling, standardization, software support, and automation play a key role. A pragmatic, iterative approach – starting with internal and proxy data – enables continuous improvement in data quality and makes data collection more efficient.

3. Consider environmental impacts

The focus of PCF calculation is on greenhouse gas emissions. Depending on the objective, it can be sensible to also consider other environmental impacts, such as water use or land use. In the context of PCF requests, companies often encounter terms like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The method applied often depends on the intended use or customer context.

Especially for products with varying technical solutions, a holistic assessment is recommended. A comparison based solely on the Product Carbon Footprint can lead to overlooking hotspots or negative impacts in other environmental categories. For instance, optimizing the CO₂ footprint might inadvertently result in greater harm in other areas, such as biodiversity or water usage. A well-rounded assessment across multiple environmental impact categories ensures that such trade-offs are identified and avoided at an early stage.

Correct allocation of emission factors and datasets remains essential. Internal comparisons help identify potential for improvement within the portfolio, while consistent methodologies ensure comparability with other products.

4. Reporting & communication

The results are documented in a transparent report to verify the calculation path. For external communication, transparency and credibility must be ensured. Assumptions and potential limitations must be clearly communicated.

Transparency is key in external communication to build credibility – whether with suppliers, customers, or competitors. Additionally, the report forms a valuable foundation for developing a company-wide climate strategy and for targeted reduction measures along the value chain.

Efficient PCF calculation with Tanso

Calculating the PCF in Tanso enables companies to conduct efficient, precise, and standard-compliant emissions accounting – without redundant data collection.

✔️ Integrated solution & consistent data basis

The PCF module is fully integrated into the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) module. By using a shared data basis, duplicated efforts are avoided, allowing companies to calculate their PCF cost-effectively and with minimal additional effort.

✔️ TÜV-certified & standard-compliant calculation

Tanso’s calculation model meets the requirements of the GHG Protocol and relevant ISO standards. The PCF methodology was developed in collaboration with VDMA and is confirmed by dual TÜV certification for both CCF and PCF.

✔️ Automated & precise emissions calculation

For Scope 1 and 2, Tanso uses specially optimized emission factors aligned with CSRD requirements. This allows for automatic and precise calculation of location-based emissions, including energy mix considerations.

✔️ Comprehensive data access & customization options

Tanso provides a wide range of high-quality emissions databases, including DBEIS, IDEMAT, Ökobaudat, EPDs, GLEC, and others. Additionally, users can flexibly integrate their own data, supplier data, or commercial databases to enable tailored calculations.

✔️ AI-based mapping for efficient data use

By applying artificial intelligence, relevant emission factors are automatically assigned, significantly accelerating and simplifying the calculation process.