Product carbon footprint verification to ISO 14067

1. Terms and definitions (per the IPCC and the ISO 14067 series)

Term	Definition
Carbon footprint of a product (CFP)	The sum of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in a product system, expressed as CO₂ equivalent and based on a life cycle assessment using climate change as the single impact category. The quantified result is documented in a CFP study report and expressed as a mass of CO₂e per functional unit.
Partial carbon footprint of a product (partial CFP)	The sum of greenhouse gas emissions and removals of one or more selected processes in a product system, expressed as CO₂ equivalent, covering selected life cycle stages or processes.
Product life cycle	Life cycle: the consecutive and interlinked stages related to a product, from raw material acquisition or generation from natural resources to end-of-life treatment. Life cycle assessment (LCA): compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.
Carbon offsetting	A mechanism for compensating all or part of a CFP or partial CFP by preventing, reducing or removing an amount of greenhouse gas emissions in a process outside the product system under study.

2. The ISO 14067 standard

2.1. Overview

ISO 14067 sets out principles, requirements and guidance for quantifying the carbon footprint of a product. Its purpose is to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions attached to the life cycle stages of a product, starting from resource extraction and raw material sourcing and running through manufacture, use and end of life.

The standard builds on the principles, requirements and guidance of the life cycle assessment standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, and adds the specific requirements for quantifying a CFP or partial CFP.

It benefits organisations, industries, service providers, communities and other interested parties by providing a clear, consistent way to quantify a CFP. Using LCA under this standard, with climate change as the single impact category, helps by:

avoiding shifting burdens between life cycle stages, or between product life cycles;
providing requirements for quantifying a CFP;
making it possible to track how a CFP changes as emissions fall;
giving a deeper understanding of the CFP, so opportunities to increase removals and cut emissions can be identified;
supporting a sustainable, low-carbon economy;
increasing the credibility, consistency and transparency of CFP quantification and reporting;
supporting the assessment of alternative product designs and sourcing options;
supporting the development of greenhouse gas management strategies and plans across the product life cycle;
producing CFP information others can rely on.

2.2 How a CFP is quantified

The systematic LCA approach in ISO 14067 gives a complete picture of a product's environmental assessment, and keeps emissions reporting transparent and consistent across different sectors and products.

A CFP study under ISO 14067 runs through the four life cycle assessment stages:

a. Goal and scope definition — set the objectives and boundaries of the study, including the product system, the functional unit and the specific greenhouse gases to be assessed.
b. Life cycle inventory (LCI) — collect data on all relevant inputs (energy, materials) and outputs (emissions, waste) across the product system's life cycle.
c. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) — assess the potential environmental impacts of the product system from the LCI data, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
d. Life cycle interpretation — analyse the LCI and LCIA results to draw conclusions, identify where improvement is possible, and communicate the findings.

3. The ISO 14067 verification process

a. Pre-assessment — establish the scope of the product life cycle to be assessed and gather preliminary data. This is where potential difficulties are identified and the detailed analysis is planned.
b. Detailed life cycle assessment — a full LCA is carried out to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, covering every aspect of the product's environmental impact from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal.
c. Verification — the LCA results and carbon footprint calculations are verified by a third party for accuracy and conformity with ISO 14067. This step is what makes the result credible.
d. Documentation and reporting — full documentation records every detail of the LCA and the verification steps. It matters not only for certification but for later audits.
e. Certification and continuous improvement — once the required documentation is approved, ISO 14067 certification is issued. The organisation then keeps monitoring and improving, including further emission reductions, to maintain it.

4. What ISO 14067 delivers

Stronger ESG position — transparent reporting of greenhouse gas emissions across a product's life cycle earns the trust of stakeholders and strengthens the organisation's environmental, social and governance standing.
Better management — independent, transparent verification surfaces inefficiency, waste, losses and environmental risk, and commits the organisation to maintaining and improving its own internal checks and management system.
Better use of resources — identifying and managing carbon hotspots leads to more efficient use of energy and raw materials. Waste reduction and material recycling programmes cut both total emissions and operating costs.