Product Carbon Footprint
per ISO 14067
ISO 14067:2018 is the international standard defining principles and requirements for quantifying and communicating the carbon footprint of products (CFP). This guide explains the methodology, differences from LCA, market requirements and the steps to obtain a verified CFP.
What is ISO 14067:2018 and how does it differ from LCA?
ISO 14067:2018 is a standard derived from the ISO 14040/14044 series (LCA) but with a narrower scope: it measures only the climate impact of a product, excluding other environmental impact categories (acidification, eutrophication, toxicity, etc.). This makes it faster and less expensive to implement than a full LCA, but also more limited in information scope.
Key differences from LCA per ISO 14040/14044: ISO 14067 covers only GWP (kg CO₂e), while LCA covers 10–18 environmental impact categories. ISO 14067 allows public communication of CFP as a single number (e.g. "1.8 kg CO₂e/bottle of wine"). A full LCA cannot be reduced to a single number without oversimplification. CFP per ISO 14067 is intended for carbon labels on consumer products, retailer requests, and Scope 3 supply chain reporting.
CFP methodology per ISO 14067 — five steps
- Define scope and system boundaries — Set the functional unit (e.g. "1 kg of C25/30 concrete in delivery condition"), system boundary (cradle-to-gate, cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle), and gas categories.
- Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) — Collect activity data for all processes: raw material consumption, energy, water; transport; waste generated. Document data sources and emission factors used.
- GHG emission calculation — Multiply activity data by GWP100 characterisation factors from IPCC AR6. Total emissions over the life cycle and subtract removals.
- Interpretation and internal validation — Analyse process dominance, sensitivity to key parameters and potential reductions. Document all assumptions and limitations.
- Critical review and communication — Third-party verification is recommended and mandatory for public communication. CFP communication must comply with ISO 14067 §8: numerical value, functional unit, system boundary and reference to the standard.
Why do European retailers request CFP per ISO 14067?
IKEA
IKEA Supplier Sustainability Platform requests suppliers to report CFP per article. Priority for wood, textile and plastic products.
Kaufland / Lidl / Aldi
The Schwarz Group (Kaufland, Lidl) and ALDI SÜD request CFP from food suppliers in the supply chain for CSRD Cat. 1 reporting.
Metro / Carrefour
Metro and Carrefour sustainability programmes include CFP data requests from food and non-food suppliers in Romania.
How long does a CFP study take and what does it cost?
| Project type | Duration | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| CFP cradle-to-gate, simple product (no verification) | 3–6 weeks | €1,500–4,000 |
| CFP cradle-to-gate verified (public communication) | 2–4 months | €4,000–10,000 |
| Full CFP cradle-to-grave, complex product | 3–5 months | €8,000–20,000 |
| CFP for product range (5–20 variants) | 2–4 months | €6,000–18,000 |
Frequently asked questions about CFP and ISO 14067
Is ISO 14067 mandatory or voluntary?
ISO 14067 is a voluntary standard — no legal obligation exists to use it specifically. However, customers, retailers and CBAM/CSRD requirements will accept emission data produced in accordance with recognised methodologies, of which ISO 14067 is the most widely used globally for product carbon footprints.
Can I use data from an existing LCA for ISO 14067?
Yes, provided the LCA is sufficiently granular to extract GWP100 category data and is documented per ISO 14044. An LCA per EN 15804 (EPD) contains GWP100 and can serve directly as the basis for a CFP per ISO 14067 with minimal incremental effort.
Is third-party verification required for ISO 14067?
ISO 14067 §7.3 recommends critical review by an external expert before public communication, but does not make it mandatory. However, if the CFP is used in advertising or on product labels, verification becomes practically necessary to support green marketing claims, in line with the EU Green Claims Directive (being adopted).
What is the direct link between ISO 14067 and CBAM?
CBAM embedded carbon calculation is methodologically aligned with ISO 14067, both targeting GHG emissions from a product's production process. A cradle-to-gate ISO 14067 study provides essentially the same data needed for the CBAM declaration, with specific adaptations (separating direct vs. indirect emissions per CBAM requirements).
Which system boundary should I choose: cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave?
It depends on the communication purpose: cradle-to-gate is used for B2B supply chain communication and CBAM. Cradle-to-grave includes the use and end-of-life phases and is more relevant for consumer labels and product comparisons.
Calculate the carbon footprint of your products
CarbonDRI performs CFP studies per ISO 14067:2018 for industrial products, construction materials, food products and packaging. We deliver complete technical reports, CBAM documentation and support for third-party verification.
Request CFP ISO 14067 Study →See also: CFP Service · CBAM Guide · EPD vs LCA Construction