What Impact does your product leave behind? Understanding the Upcoming Standard: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

_{Governmental Agency: European Commission}
_{Jurisdiction: European Union}
_{Ref no:}_2021/2279
_{Status: ADO}_PTED_{December 2021}

Are you noticing a growing demand from your customers for clearer and more consistent information about your products? We wouldn’t be surprised, given that an estimated 59% of consumers feel that apparel labels lack sufficient information about the products they are buying! With this increase in consumer demand, the European Commissions is tackling it by introducing a new standard: the Product Environmental Footprint, or also known as PEF.

This upcoming standard is changing the way in which businesses measure the environmental impact of their products across their entire life cycle - YES this includes both the supply chain and the downstream activities e.g. distribution, order fulfillment and delivery.

In this article, we delve into the key goals and objectives established by the EU in its adoption of this new standard, outlining the impacts and benefits for both people and planet. We also explore the potential challenges and the steps that businesses (like you) must take to overcome them and ensure compliance.

Understanding the PEF

In 2013, the European Commissions launched the 'Single Market for Green Products Initiative' to improve information on the environmental performance of products and organizations; PEF was recommended as part of this initiative.

PEF was founded on the scientific methodology of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), and presents a standardized method of evaluating the environmental impact of a product’s entire lifecycle, encompassing all stages from raw material extraction to production, distribution, use and end-of-life disposal or recycling.

Of course, it would be very difficult to develop an assessment criteria and compare all of the different product categories, therefore a set of guidelines known as the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rule (PEFCR) was created. These guidelines ensure that products within each category are measured consistently, allowing results to be compared across similar products. The following PEFCR categories are:

T-Shirts
Shirts and Blouses
Sweaters and Mid-Layers
Jackets and Coats
Pants and Shorts
Dresses, Skirts, and Jumpsuits
Leggings, Stockings, Tights, and Socks
Underwear
Swimwear
Apparel Accessories
Open-Toed Shoes
Close-Toed Shoes
Boots

The following impact areas are what the assessment must measure the products life cycle against (so not limited to co2 emissions only!):

Climate Change
Ozone Depletion
Ecotoxicity for aquatic freshwater
Human Toxicity - cancer effects
Human Toxicity - non-cancer effects
Particulate Matter/Respiratory Inorganics
Ionising Radiation - human health effects
Photochemical Ozone Formation
Acidification
Eutrophication - terrestrial
Eutrophication - aquatic
Resource Depletion - water
Resource Depletion - mineral, fossil
Land Transformation

The latest update of this methodology was in December 2021, and while the Product Environmental Footprint standard is still in working progress, we should expect it to be adopted by the end of 2024.

Which companies will be applicable?

It’s pretty simple: any company intending to label its products as “more responsible” or “more sustainable” etc, for the European market, whether it’s now or in the future, MUST adhere to this upcoming standard!

Benefits and challenges of PEF

The benefits of PEF are multifaceted and include;

It provides a standardized method for assessing the environmental impacts associated with products and services.
It aims to combat greenwashing by establishing a transparent framework to prevent exaggerated and false sustainability claims.
Empowers consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions by providing clear and consistent product information.
It serves as a catalyst for innovation by identifying areas for improvement in product design, manufacturing process and supply chain management.

While Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) offers significant advantages, its implementation presents challenges that companies must address and overcome. These challenges include:

Cost and complexity: Conducting thorough environmental assessments can be costly and complex, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), imposing financial strains.
Data accuracy and comparability: The challenge of ensuring the accuracy and comparability of data across different products and industries.
Additional cost and time of changing existing production processes to improve environmental performance
Consumer awareness: For PEF labels to have the desired impact, consumers must understand their significance. Enhancing consumer awareness and comprehension of PEF labels is essential for driving informed purchasing decisions and promoting sustainable consumption habits.

To sum up, PEF is all about boosting the market for more responsible choices while promoting a clear assessment of a product’s environmental impact! This upcoming standard will tackle greenwashing and any false sustainability claims, and motivate companies to continue with their sustainability journey by helping consumers recognise to what extent a product, company or service is making a positive impact!

Are you feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start with this upcoming standard? RethinkRebels is here to help! With our ‘Impact Above and Beyond’ service, we will bring your company in line with all upcoming national and international laws and legislations such as EPR, CSRD, CSDD, PEF, DPP, to name a few! Ready to start this journey, book a 30 minute call with one of our experts TODAY!

Oh and before you go…don’t forget to check out our Instagram reel highlighting key insights and updates on the upcoming Product Environmental Footprint standard, providing bite-sized content for easy understanding.

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