Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

Normec OWS creates both Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF) reports. These are methodologies that state how to calculate the environmental impact of a product, or service, and organizational activities within the European context. The PEF and OEF methodologies are standardized, LCA-based sustainability assessments based on the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards.

The methods

The PEF and OEF methodologies are performed following the PEF and OEF guidelines published by the European Commission and, if available, specific category rules (PEFCRs) or sector rules (OEFSs). The methods were developed in order to harmonize environmental assessments of products and organizations, allowing easier comparison of results.

For example, the guidelines and rules provide data requirements, define how and which impacts must be assessed, and explain how to deal with data quality and uncertainty issues.

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Approach of PEF and OEF

The standardized approach of the PEF and OEF methodologies increases comparability and transparency, thereby tackling greenwashing and false sustainability claims. PEF and OEF take into account the supply chain activities, from extraction of raw materials, through production and use, to final waste management.

PEF provides a methodology for modeling the environmental impacts of the flows of material/energy and the emissions and waste streams associated with a product throughout its lifecycle.

OEF focuses on the overarching environmental impacts associated with the activities of organizations providing products/services.

The following impact categories are taken into account for our PEF and OEF studies:

  • Climate change (kg CO2 eq.)
  • Ozone depletion (kg CFC-11 eq.)
  • Human toxicity – cancer effects (CTUh)
  • Human toxicity – non-cancer effects (CTUh)
  • Particulate matter/Respiratory inorganics (disease inc.)
  • Ionizing radiation human health (kBq 235U eq.)
  • Photochemical ozone formation (kg NMVOC eq.)
  • Acidification (molc H+ eq.)
  • Terrestrial eutrophication (molc N eq.)
  • Freshwater eutrophication (kg P eq.)
  • Marine eutrophication (kg N eq.)
  • Freshwater ecotoxicity (CTUe)
  • Land use (Pt)
  • Water use (m3 world eq)
  • Resource use minerals & metals (kg Sb eq.)
  • Resource use fossils (MJ)

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