A PCF maps the greenhouse gas emissions of a product across its full lifecycle: from raw material extraction and production through transport, use and end-of-life. The calculation follows ISO 14067 and/or the GHG Protocol Product Standard – the internationally recognised standards for product emissions.

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A PCF differs from a company-wide or corporate carbon footprint (CCF). Whereas a CCF measures an organisation’s total emissions, the PCF focuses on one specific product or product group. The two are complementary – the PCF provides the detailed insight that customers, procurers and regulators are increasingly demanding.

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A PCF is also an internal strategic instrument. Because a large share of companies’ scope 3 emissions is embedded in their products and value chain, a PCF reveals where the real reduction lever lies: in design choices, material use, suppliers and logistics. That level of detail is necessary to make decarbonisation concrete.

For us, a PCF is more than a standard calculation. Which lifecycle phases are included, which emission factors are applied, and how is data uncertainty handled? Pantarein delivers a transparent, reproducible PCF that is ready for external verification.

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We work in four steps:

1. Scope and system boundaries – We determine which lifecycle phases are relevant (cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave or another demarcation), which emission sources are included, which functional unit is used, and which allocation method applies to shared processes or raw materials.
2. Data inventory – We collect primary production data, supplier data and secondary emission factors. Where primary data are unavailable, we apply transparently documented default values.
3. Calculation in accordance with ISO 14067 – We calculate the PCF in conformity with the international standard, with attention to methodological consistency, transparent assumptions and full traceability of every calculation step.
4. Reporting and verification preparation – You receive a complete PCF report, ready for internal communication, customer enquiries and external verification by an independent third party – a requirement under ISO 14067 for public claims.

A PCF rarely stands alone. These are the logical steps that follow:

• ‍CO₂ footprinting – The PCF as a building block for a company-wide or corporate footprint.‍
• Decarbonisation roadmap – PCF hotspots as the starting point for product-focused reduction measures.‍
• CBAM – From embedded emissions to a full CBAM compliance trajectory.‍