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The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of a product is a central tool for meeting the requirements of the European Green Deal and the new EU regulation for the eco-design of sustainable products (ESPR). It provides the necessary data to reduce the CO₂ footprint of products and create transparency. However, calculating a PCF is complex and multi-layered. It requires know-how in both production and materials technology and in life cycle assessment.

Modeling the life cycle
As a service provider for the plastics industry, SKZ has been offering the calculation of PCF according to ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol for industrial customers for many years. Among other things, the current Managed LCA database from Sphera is used, as well as special programs for modeling the life cycle and the corresponding emissions. Even very complex products can be mapped by a PCF, so that suppliers, customers or consumers receive the necessary product-specific information about the carbon footprint.

SKZ offers scalable, online-based solution
In particular for material manufacturers who have to verify the PCF for a wide range of variants, the SKZ also offers a scalable, online-based solution. With the help of a flexibly adaptable tool, the company can calculate the required PCF on its own. To do this, the tool is set up by SKZ experts according to the company’s requirements and the necessary data is stored. After that, a statement about the PCF of a compound can be made in a short time by simply selecting the material components, the transport and energy data, and the waste treatment.

Regular updates of the tool
The tool is provided by SKZ for an annual usage fee and is regularly updated. In addition, the all-inclusive package for the online tool includes personal support and user training, in which not only the basic operation of the tool but also background information on the methodology of life cycle assessment is explained. The database of the online tool is continuously being expanded so that PCFs for many different plastic compounds can be calculated.

Assessing the environmental impact of products
The PCF describes the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, converted into CO₂ equivalents, that are released during the life cycle of a product. It encompasses all phases from raw material extraction, production and transport to the use and disposal of the product. This key figure enables companies to evaluate the environmental impact of their products and reduce it if necessary – for example, through more energy-efficient processes, more sustainable materials or the use of renewable energies.

The SKZ research group “Sustainable and Circular Products” has been helping companies in the plastics industry to provide sound evidence of the environmental impact of plastic products for 20 years, including by creating CO₂ and life cycle assessments.

More information about the SKZ research area of circular economy