GETTING STARTED: WHAT SHOULD I CALCULATE?
I sell services. How should I calculate a Product Carbon Footprint?
For service-based businesses, a Product Carbon Footprint is not the most relevant measurement. Instead, you should calculate your Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF), which provides a comprehensive overview of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by your organisation as a whole, rather than focusing on individual products.
Do I have to calculate a PCF if I have already been asked for a CCF?
No — calculating a PCF is optional unless your customer has specifically requested one. That said, it adds value in both directions:
For you: the functionality is free and allows you to calculate a PCF that would typically take months with a consultancy. You can export the PCF and its methodology directly from the platform to share with other customers.
For your customer: PCF data allows them to increase the accuracy of their own emissions calculations and reflect the sustainable procurement decisions they are making.
Which products should I calculate a PCF for?
You should calculate PCFs for the products your customer is buying from you. Once you create a PCF, you have the option to share it with the customer engaging you through Engage50. They will be able to match it to their purchases and use the specific emission factor in their own emissions calculations.
You are also welcome to calculate PCFs for any of your other products.
WHAT DOES A PCF COVER?
What scope of emissions is covered by the PCF?
Our PCF calculator creates a cradle-to-gate PCF — from the extraction of raw materials (cradle) to the factory gate (before the product is transported to the consumer or end user). It covers GHG Scopes 1, 2, and 3 upstream categories, and is calculated using an average-based method (quantity).
Do you take circularity into account?
Not yet. The current PCF calculator does not assess circularity indicators — it does not account for internal recycling loops, the use phase or end-of-life phases of a product, or the recycled content of input materials. Expanding functionality to include comprehensive circularity measurement is on our product roadmap.
How are transportation emissions calculated?
We apply modelled Ecoinvent emission factors to transportation activities using the mass of your specific products. This ensures accurate Scope 3 measurement for upstream logistics and supply chain transportation phases.
Note: at this time, our platform does not yet cover downstream logistics (i.e., distribution from your organisation to end customers). This is on our roadmap for future releases.
HOW DO I CALCULATE A PCF?
I have a product available in different dimensions. Should I create a PCF for each one?
No. If the only difference between your products is the dimension, we recommend calculating one PCF on a mass basis and applying it across the whole product range.
What should I input as the UUID of my product?
We recommend using the code most likely to appear in your customers' expense data. This helps them link the PCF to their spend records, which increases the granularity and accuracy of their emissions inventory.
If it is not immediately clear which code to use, you can fall back to the code displayed for the product on your website, product catalogue, or — if you are reselling — any identifying code defined by the manufacturer.
If we supply a product to multiple customer locations, how should we report transport intensity? A weighted average?
If you are importing a pre-calculated PCF, transport intensity is not required — we only need the cradle-to-gate scope.
If you do want to include it, we recommend using a weighted average.
SHARING YOUR PCF DATA
If we supply different products to different customers, how do customers only see PCFs relevant to them?
At the moment, when you share your data with a customer under the Requests section of your Profile, that customer will be able to see all your PCFs. Greater granularity in data sharing options is something we are working towards for a future release.
Are there guidelines for what to include in a PCF methodology report?
Yes. If you have already calculated PCFs and are looking to upload them, here is the recommended content for your attached Methodology Report:
1. Product & Scope
Clear product description and specification
System boundaries and life cycle stages included
Any exclusions, clearly stated
2. Carbon Accounting
GWP100 values broken down by life cycle stage
Clear handling of biogenic carbon (if applicable)
Standard followed (ISO 14044, ISO 14067, GHGP, etc.)
3. Data Quality
Primary data sources and collection year
Background data sources and databases used
Geographic scope, technology coverage, data completeness and gaps
4. Methodological Details
Functional / declared unit definition
Allocation methods used
Cut-off criteria and calculation approach
Uncertainty discussion
5. Verification
Third-party verification status
PCR reference (if applicable)
Study period and validity dates
Report author and verifier details