Article key points: 

• The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is the European Commission’s standardized method for measuring and verifying the environmental impact of products across their entire lifecycle.
• PEF evaluates 16 environmental impact categories spanning ecosystems, human health, and natural resources, and provides a comprehensive framework that’s standardized and verifiable to prevent greenwashing.
• While not yet mandatory, PEF will likely be the basis for future EU regulations. Organizations that adopt PEF methodologies now will gain valuable supply chain insights and be better positioned for future compliance requirements.

Introduction to Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

The Product Environmental Footprint is one component of the European Commission’s Environmental Footprint (EF) methods: scientific tools that calculate reliable and verifiable environmental impact information for both specific products and entire organizations. 

The EF methods consist of Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methods and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) methods, which together, provide “guidelines for modelling, calculating, and reporting life cycle environmental impacts of products and organisations” according to the European Commission.  

The PEF is a valuable tool for brands, retailers, and manufacturers interested in accurately measuring the environmental impacts of a specific product. Its creators say it will provide businesses with a way to truly assess their own environmental impact while also giving consumers the ability to make informed purchasing decisions based on accurate environmental impact data. At the same time, the PEF will help prevent greenwashing by giving companies a way to prove their environmental impact claims through a standardized and verifiable framework.  

While information about the PEF is plentiful, it can also be technical and dense. We’ve created this quick-start guide to help simplify what you need to know about the PEF, along with links to additional resources for further information. 

What is the PEF?

The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is a method that the European Commission, the EU’s primary executive body, developed to quantify the environmental effect of products across their entire lifecycle from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal.  

Who does the PEF apply to?

The PEF is applicable to all businesses globally, as an alignment framework, although the scope of regulatory requirements based on the PEF will likely be limited to companies doing business in the EU. While the PEF is not yet mandatory for these businesses, EU-wide regulations are constantly evolving, and brands, retailers, and manufacturers that want to stay ahead of compliance to reduce business risk associated with their products’ environmental impacts can use the current PEF recommendations as a guidepost for future requirements.  

What environmental impact categories does the PEF consider?

The PEF looks at 16 different categories that each influence every product’s environmental footprint across its lifecycle. 

These environmental impact categories are: 

• Ecosystems
  • Acidification
  • Terrestrial Eutrophication
  • Freshwater Eutrophication
  • Marine Eutrophication
  • Freshwater Ecotoxicity
• Human Health
  • Ozone Depletion
  • Human Toxicity Non-Cancer Effects
  • Human Toxicity Cancer Effects
  • Particulate Matter
  • Ionising Radiation
  • Photochemical Ozone Formation
• Climate Change
  • Global Warming
• Natural Resources
  • Mineral Resource Depletion
  • Non-Renewable Energy Resource Depletion
  • Land Use
• Water
  • Water Scarcity Footprint

What stages of a product’s lifecycle does the PEF measure?

The PEF is designed to capture the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifecycle from resource extraction through the end of its life. 

These stages include: 

• Raw materials extraction 
• Processing
• Manufacturing
• Packaging
• Distribution
• Use
• Maintenance 
• Disposal
• Recycling and recovery

What are the phases of a PEF study? 

There are four key phases of a PEF study: Defining the goal and scope of the study, compiling the life cycle inventory, conducting the life cycle impact assessment, and interpreting and reporting the results. After these steps are completed, the final phase of a PEF study is to conduct environmental footprint verification. 

What categories of goods have Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRS)? 

As of this writing, the European Commission’s website divides the PEFCRs into three categories:

New:

• Cut flowers and potted plants
• Synthetic turf
• Tourism
• Aviation, drones, and eVTOLs

In development: 

• Apparel and footwear 
• Marine fish
• Space

In revision:

• Feed for food-producing animals
• Batteries and accumulators 
• Beer
• Pasta
• Pet food
• Dairy products

The European Commission states that it is constantly updating and revising PEFCRs to keep up with new data, market developments, and to improve the scientific reproducibility and verifiability of its assessment models.

Is the PEF mandatory? 

While complying with the PEF is not mandatory for European businesses yet, the current “transition phase” ended in late 2024 and new recommendations are expected in 2025. It’s highly likely that PEF models will be the basis for future EU regulatory requirements, which means organizations that begin to adopt the PEF now will be set up for success for future mandatory compliance.  

Where can I learn more about the PEF?

The European Commission has a comprehensive website with a large number of resources related to both the PEF and the OEF. The following are direct links to some of the most useful information: 

Overview of the Environmental Footprint Methods (consisting of both PEF and OEF)

Infographic explaining what data you need to conduct the PEF, and where to obtain it

Recorded webinars and slide decks in multiple languages 

The role of PEF in today’s world

As interest in social and environmental impact continues to shape consumer preferences and regulatory landscapes, the PEF represents a significant step toward standardized, science-based environmental assessment. 

Organizations that proactively engage with the PEF methodologies today will not only be better prepared for future compliance requirements but will also gain valuable insights into their supply chains and production processes. By embracing the comprehensive approach that the PEF offers, businesses can make meaningful progress toward reducing their environmental impact while potentially discovering opportunities for innovation, cost savings, and market differentiation. 

If you’re looking for ways to get better data from your supply chain partners for greater understanding of your products’ social and environmental impacts, contact Worldly today.