The fight against climate change requires an inevitable reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at all levels of our society. To address the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations and outlined in the 2030 Agenda, companies and organizations have access to tools for measuring the environmental impact of their activities, as well as their products. The ISO 14067 standard defines the modalities and requirements for quantifying the carbon footprint of a product.
What is the ISO 14067 standard?
Published in 2018, the international standard ISO 14067 is part of the ISO 14060 series dedicated to measuring, monitoring, and reporting GHG emissions. It is also consistent with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, which define the framework and guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA) of products.
ISO 14067 replaces the 2013 ISO/TS 14067 technical specification and turns it into an international standard, providing companies with a comprehensive methodology for calculating the carbon footprint of a product. It differs by focusing on quantifying the carbon footprint of products, while environmental management issues are addressed in the ISO 14000 family of standards. Specific recommendations have also been introduced for calculating GHG emissions from forest and agricultural products.
Principles of the ISO 14067 standard
The ISO 14067 standard, "Greenhouse gases - Carbon footprint of products," is a voluntary standard that serves as a reference framework rather than a regulation.
The ISO 14067 standard consists of two parts: the first part establishes the principles for quantifying the carbon footprint of products, and the second part details how to organize information for communication purposes. In this second part, the standard also provides guidelines for utilizing data and implementing actions to reduce the carbon footprint of evaluated products.
The ISO 14067 standard applies to products and services across all sectors, from industry and engineering to agriculture and construction. It assesses the impact of the product or service throughout its life cycle, including:
Raw materials
Suppliers
Design
Manufacturing
Transportation
Consumer use
Disposal or reuse
The AFNOR group offers ISO 14067 certification for the Carbon Footprint of Products. This certification involves an audit tailored to each sector and the specificities of each company or organization.
What are the implementation steps of the ISO 14067 standard?
Measure the environmental impact throughout the product's life cycle.
Quantifying the carbon footprint of a product considers the inflows and outflows occurring at different stages of the supply chain. This includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, resource usage, and waste production. This study allows for the identification of emission factors and the evaluation of the product's actual environmental impact.
Implement reduction actions.
Once the emission factors are identified, the company can take action to reduce the carbon footprint of its products by adjusting manufacturing processes or choosing raw materials wisely. Ideally, the implementation of the ISO 14067 standard aims for eco-design, which means manufacturing products with the lowest possible environmental impact. This involves:
Choosing recyclable and bio-based raw materials.
Selecting local suppliers who integrate environmental concerns into their performance strategy.
Reducing or eliminating packaging.
Using green transportation methods and optimizing the overall logistics model of the company.
Reducing energy consumption at various stages of production.
In the context of a circular economy, the key qualities of an eco-designed product are durability, robustness, and recyclability.
Why should companies proceed with the evaluation of the carbon footprint of their products?
Quantifying the carbon footprint of products, although not mandatory, offers several advantages for companies:
Cost reduction.
Evaluating the carbon footprint allows for cost optimization in terms of investment and operation through overall process improvement, from procurement to packaging and manufacturing. The ISO 14067 standard provides a framework for reducing energy expenses throughout the entire supply chain and production.
Responsibility and transparency towards stakeholders and consumers.
The ISO 14067 standard provides tools for clear communication about the environmental impact of the company's products and services. Integrating carbon footprint data into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports provides investors with additional sustainability guarantees.
Creation of a competitive advantage.
The ISO 14067 standard can lead to certification by an independent organization. Today, purchasing decisions are heavily influenced by environmental and social responsibility concerns. Labels and certifications attesting to a company's commitment to sustainable development and eco-design of its products can thus constitute a significant competitive advantage.
Compliance and anticipation of environmental protection regulations
Quantifying the carbon footprint of products based on the ISO 14067 standard enables companies to comply with government policies addressing climate change. Some government regulations require companies to conduct environmental reporting and assess their greenhouse gas emissions performance. By using the ISO 14067 standard, companies can gather precise data on the carbon footprint of their products and include them in their mandatory non-financial reports, such as the DPEF in France or the future CSRD regulation implemented within the EU from 2024 onwards.
Conclusion
Every product or service offered on the market impacts the environment throughout its life cycle. The fight against climate change inevitably requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve this reduction, it is essential to quantify these emissions. The ISO 14067 standard provides companies and organizations with the protocol to accomplish this. It is a valuable tool for improving processes, communicating commitments, and distinguishing oneself from the competition.