What is a Product Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Assessment?

A product GHG assessment, or product carbon footprint, quantifies the total GHGs produced directly and indirectly from the manufacture, use and disposal of a product. However, it is not always practical to include use and disposal-related GHG emissions within a product GHG assessment, as information on these phases is often unavailable. Therefore, many businesses find the “cradle to customer” GHG assessment boundary to be a useful tool in quantifying and managing the GHG emissions over which they have influence and control.

Assessment boundary options

Why carry out a product GHG assessment?

• To report product GHG emissions using an internationally recognised methodology
• To identify areas within a product supply chain that are carbon-intensive in order to manage and reduce GHG emissions
• For reporting GHG emissions to consumers, such as through labelling of products
• For transparency or as part of a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility programme

Ecometrica’s experience with product GHG assessments

Ecometrica’s team of analysts has over 25 years combined experience in GHG assessment for clients of all sizes and sectors in the UK, Europe, North America and worldwide. Our independent, analytical approach along with comprehensive knowledge of industry developments allows us to use current best practice for quantifying product GHGs such as the UK Carbon Trust’s Product Carbon Footprinting Methodology (PAS 2050).

Ecometrica is a preferred supplier of product carbon footprinting for the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Label Company, for more information about the Carbon Label Company see www.carbon-label.com

How does the assessment process work?

We work with our clients to:

• Identify the product and scope of assessment (e.g. cradle to customer)
• Define the boundary of the assessment and the sources of GHG emissions to be quantified
• Identify reporting period
• Collect data relating to the manufacture and processing of the product under assessment
• Collect data from key suppliers about the product’s raw materials and input materials

We then undertake the following:

• Review all data
• Quantify GHG emissions from the supply chain
• Produce an informative report to the client’s specifications
• Produce reporting metrics and key performance indicators
• Work with our clients to identify next steps and extract the maximum value from the results