Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

What are the PEF Category Rules?

PEF and OEF are intended to promote "Green Businesses" by making the environmental performance of companies measurable and communicable according to a uniform procedure. The aim is to make it easier for consumers to recognize how environmentally friendly a product or company is.

PEF is the EU Commission's response to the demand for standardization and comparability of the environmental performance of products.

Recognised standards and methods already exist to assess the environmental impact of products (e.g. LCA - Life Cycle Assessment). However, due to the universal applicability of some standards, there is scope for interpretation and questions of interpretation which can impair the consistency and comparability of the results.

In order to achieve the goal of a uniform methodology throughout Europe, the PEF is subject to strict rules. The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) have therefore been developed in collaboration with companies from various sectors.

History of the Product Environmental Footprint

In the following, you will get to know the development of the PEF, which can be divided into three phases:
 

2008-2013: Preparatory Phase
Definition of Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) and Organisation Environmental Footprint Sector Rules (OEFSRs)

2013-2019: Pilot Phase
First practical test of PEFCRs in pilot projects for readjustment and further specification

From 2019: Transition Phase
Application of the PEFCRs on a larger scale and implementation of a uniform labeling.

The completion of this transition phase is scheduled for the end of 2024. In December 2021, the Commission endorsed an updated Recommendation regarding the utilization of Environmental Footprint methodologies, aiding companies in assessing their environmental impact through dependable, verifiable, and comparable data. This recommendation also enables access to such information by various stakeholders including public administrations, NGOs, and business partners.

The Difference between PEF and LCA

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in accordance with ISO 14044 is one of the widely used standards for environmental assessment. Like the LCA, the PEF takes a life cycle perspective, but follows further product category specific requirements and standardised specifications which create a higher comparability of the results.

Examples of which key requirements differ:
 

• System Boundary
  The PEF method by default covers the entire cradle-to-grave cycle of a product, unless broken by PEFCRs. Classical LCAs vary in their metrics depending on the objective and scope of the study.
   
• Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) Methods
  In the PEF approach, there is a standardised set of LCIA methods, while in LCAs different variants can be identified, which in turn complicates the comparison of LCAs.
   
• Dealing with End-of-life phase
  The requirement of ISO 14044 only states that the End-of-life phase should be considered, e.g. the disposal or recycling of a product. PEF provides a concrete approach and a formula for end-of-life processes.