Product Carbon Footprint (PCF): what it is and how to Calculate the PCF

At Pilario we strongly believe in the fact that achieving a sustainable future starts with understanding and analyzing your Product Carbon Footprint (PCF). 

That’s why we really think that calculating product carbon footprint is an essential step to making your business and products way more sustainable. 

Let’s explore the meaning of PCF or product carbon footprints (PCF), how to calculate it, their  importance and how Pilario can ease the process.  

What is a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)? 

A product carbon footprint, or PCF, consists of measuring the total amount of greenhouse gasses (GHG) generated throughout the total life cycle of one specific product. From raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal.

These emissions are expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), a metric that combines CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) on a standardized scale for easy comparison.

Typically, the PCF is expressed as carbon intensity, a common measure of emissions impact.

Let’s explain this through a short example: 

• A pair of sneakers might have its carbon intensity expressed as 14 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO2e) per pair. Including emissions from raw materials like rubber and cotton, manufacturing processes, and transportation to retail stores.
• A bottle of wine might have its carbon intensity expressed as 1.2 kgCO2e per bottle, accounting for emissions from grape farming, fermentation, bottling, packaging, and distribution.

How does Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) play a role in Product Carbon Footprinting

As mentioned briefly above, to truly understand a product’s environmental impact – through product carbon or environmental footprinting – requires following the LCA methodology. 

This standardized process evaluates the entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal, capturing all significant environmental impacts, like a LCA analysis does.

The key difference between a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is their scope. An LCA examines all environmental impacts, while a PCF focuses exclusively on climate impact, just one of over 15 LCA categories, measuring total greenhouse gas emissions linked to a product.

If you are interested in learning more about LCAs and impact scores in our detailed article here.

How to calculate the carbon footprint of products?

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of calculating your Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)? 

Don’t worry, let’s try to break it down into manageable steps. 

It’s not just about numbers, it’s about gaining those deep insights into your product’s environmental footprint and finding ways to make a difference. 

Here’s how to start, one step at a time:

Step 1: Scope and goal 

Every successful calculation begins with setting clear boundaries. Define the product you’re analyzing and the lifecycle stages to include. Will you focus on production only (cradle-to-gate) or the entire lifecycle, from raw materials to disposal (cradle-to-grave)?

Your purpose is just as important, for example: are you calculating to meet regulations, improve processes, or highlight sustainability for customers? 

For instance, a beverage bottle manufacturer might prioritize cradle-to-gate emissions to optimize production, saving disposal emissions for later analysis.

A well-defined scope and purpose keep your efforts focused and your results actionable.

Step 2: Gathering data is key 

This is where the detective work begins. Document everything involved in creating your product, from a data perspective. 

Start with raw materials, like what are they, and how much do you use? Next, track energy consumption in production, whether it’s electricity, gas, or other fuels. Don’t forget transportation, how far do materials and products travel, and by what methods? 

Finally, consider end-of-life, how the product is disposed of or recycled.

For example, when evaluating a smartphone, you’d record data like the kilograms of metals and plastics used, the electricity needed for assembly, and emissions from transporting it to retailers. 

Thorough data collection is crucial, as every detail contributes to the bigger picture of your product carbon footprint calculation. 

Sidenote: The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard enables companies to choose the quality of the data they collect and provide guidelines. 

PCF calculation when primary data is missing

When high-level estimates are needed or primary data is unavailable, default data serves as a reliable alternative. This method uses average emissions factors or modeled production data, often sourced from public or specialized databases (like ecoinvent).

However, balancing speed and accuracy remains crucial when adopting this approach. Nevertheless some PCF software simplifies the process by automating it and automatically filling in default data from databases.

Step 3: Let’s apply emission factors 

Now the science aspect comes in the picture: converting raw data into emissions. Each material, energy source, and activity has an emission factor. This is a standardized value estimating its greenhouse gas output. 

For example, 1 kilogram of steel might produce 2 kilograms of CO2e, and 1 kilometer of truck transport might add 0.2 kilograms of CO2e.

Multiply your activity data by these emission factors (activity * emissions factor) to calculate emissions for each lifecycle stage. 

This step transforms raw data into actionable insights, linking your operations to your product carbon footprint.

Step 4: PCF calculation 

Add up the emissions from all stages of your product’s lifecycle to find its total carbon footprint. Divide this number by the quantity produced to get your product’s carbon footprint. 

Example: A bottle emitting 8 kg CO2e across raw materials, production, and transport equals 8 kg CO2e per bottle when producing 1,000 units. This metric makes your product’s footprint clear and easy to benchmark. 

Step 5: Analyze and take action

Analyze the results to identify high-emission stages. For example, if transport is a major contributor, explore local suppliers. If production is energy-intensive, consider switching to renewables.

A PCF is more than just a calculation, it’s a statement of your commitment to sustainability. By starting with a clear purpose and following a structured process, you ensure your calculations are accurate, actionable, and meaningful.

Why are PCF calculations important ? 

For companies of any size, understanding and calculating Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) provides valuable insights into their sustainability efforts. Beyond this, calculating PCFs offers numerous other benefits. 

Here are a few key benefits of Product carbon footprints calculations, from our perspective :

Less demanding than LCA analysis

Instead of conducting an LCA analysis, a PCF calculation is less high-level and data-demanding. This way you can already get a good glimpse of what your product’s environmental impact is, without evaluating all other LCA impact categories. 

Identify and reduce environmental hotspots

PCF calculations help you identify environmental hotspots across your product’s entire lifecycle. By targeting and optimizing these high-impact areas, you can optimize processes and reduce your overall carbon footprint overtime (e.g. ecodesign). 

Meeting demands of all stakeholders

Stakeholders increasingly expect transparency about a product’s environmental impact. A clear and well-communicated Product Carbon Footprint enhances a company’s brand image and attracts eco-conscious buyers. Additionally, many customers now actively request PCF calculations.

Prepare for meet compliance standards

Stricter regulations, around the world, are mandating businesses to disclose and reduce their carbon emissions. Examples include the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the growing focus on Scope 3 emissions reporting standards. 

On the other hand, investors and stakeholders are focusing more on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, with carbon footprint being a key component of ESG evaluation.

These are just a few examples of compliance standards, regulations and,or directives. 

Emerging technologies, PCF software is here to assist you

In today’s fast-paced environment , spreadsheets just don’t cut it for carbon footprint calculations anymore. Modern PCF software, like Pilario, are designed to simplify and scale with your business. 

Whether you’re expanding operations, launching new products, or managing complex supply chains, these tools handle growing data volumes with ease and simplify the process of collecting it. 

Pilario, for example, centralizes all your sustainability data in one LCA software, ensuring accurate, compliant, and consistent calculations across regions and divisions. 

This scalability is a game-changer, especially for global businesses in industries like packaging, electronics, and food production. Because supply chains involve multiple tiers and countless stakeholders. With the right software, you save time, reduce errors, and stay ahead of the curve.

At Pilario, we go beyond just calculating your product carbon footprint. Our industry-compliant LCA models allow you to analyze all impact categories, enabling you to conduct a full LCA analysis and unlock a broader view of your product’s environmental impact.

Curious about how Pilario can help you with your product carbon footprint challenges and calculations? Get in touch with one of our experts today and let us show you!