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What is the difference between a PCF, an LCA and an EPD?

LCA, PCF, and EPD are closely connected approaches—each offering a distinct perspective on evaluating and communicating product environmental impacts within sustainability reporting.

The following overview outlines how each approach contributes to sustainability reporting and highlights their specific roles and applications.
 

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Definition: LCA is a comprehensive, systematic evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or service throughout all phases of its life cycle—from raw material extraction (cradle) to end-of-life disposal or recycling (grave).

Scope: This method encompasses all key stages, including raw material sourcing, manufacturing, usage, and final treatment, assessing a broad range of environmental impacts such as global warming potential, ozone depletion, eutrophication, and resource consumption.

Purpose: LCA is leveraged to identify and measure environmental impacts, compare design or operational alternatives, guide sustainability-driven decisions, and enhance overall product performance.

Standards: Conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 frameworks.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Definition: An EPD is a standardized report that transparently communicates quantified environmental data for a product, derived from a verified LCA. It provides a credible basis for environmental comparison and market communication.

Scope: EPDs cover multiple environmental indicators and incorporate detailed LCA-based data, typically including product descriptions, defined functional units, and clear boundaries for life cycle stages assessed.

Purpose: EPDs promote transparency, facilitate product comparisons, and are frequently used for procurement processes, building certifications, and to validate product sustainability outcomes to stakeholders.

Standards: Developed in alignment with ISO 14025 and ISO 21930 for Type III environmental declarations.

Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)

Definition: PCF specifically quantifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product across its life cycle stages, representing a focused subset of LCA centered on climate impact.

Scope: While the approach mirrors the cradle-to-grave boundaries of LCA, PCF is limited to GHG emissions and typically reported as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). Currently, Green Project’s PCF calculations cover cradle-to-gate boundaries only.

Purpose: PCF is instrumental for organizations aiming to assess and communicate a product’s carbon footprint, identify emissions reduction opportunities, and respond to carbon-related market and regulatory drivers.

Standards: PCF assessments follow ISO 14067 or the GHG Protocol Product Standard.

In summary:

LCA delivers a comprehensive analysis of a product’s or service’s environmental impacts, EPD provides a standardized and transparent mechanism for formally communicating LCA results to stakeholders, and PCF specifically quantifies the carbon emissions associated with a product across its defined life cycle stages.