Product environmental footprint

Pamela Haverkamp

Chapter 128 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 482-485 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method, developed by the European Commission, quantifies and communicates the environmental impacts of products using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This method addresses the problem of the proliferation of environmental labels, reporting systems, and product certifications lacking harmonization, leading to limited comparability and greenwashing issues. The PEF method aims to provide reliable and transparent environmental information, supporting environmentally friendly products in the European market. It builds on existing methodologies, allowing fair comparisons and the definition of benchmarks and performance classes. This contribution explains the principles of the PEF method, the structure of a PEF study, and the importance of representative products and Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs). The use and potential applications of PEF studies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of PEFCRs for specific product categories.

Keywords: Product Environmental Footprint; Life cycle assessment; Environmental impacts; Benchmarking; Harmonization; Comparability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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