In the first project of its kind in Germany, ten businesses came together in 2008 to start measuring the life cycle emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases related to selected products and services - the Product Carbon Footprint, or so-called PCF.
The project was initiated by the think-do-tank THEMA1, WWF, Öko-Institut (Institute for Applied Ecology), and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The project aims to give companies a platform for sharing practical experiences in assessing and communicating Product Carbon Footprints.
Companies participating in the scheme include: BASF, dm-drogerie markt, DSM, FRoSTA, Henkel, REWE Group, Tchibo, Tetra Pak, T-Home, and Unternehmensgruppe Tengelmann. In the first phase of the PCF Pilot Project, the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) was measured for 15 selected products and services. Case studies are documented on the www.pcf-project.de website.
The project will continue to work towards an international standard methodology for PCF measurement. Furthermore, the focus is also on exploring how communication and supply chain collaboration can best contribute to climate-conscious consumption - with a view beyond the concept of static carbon labels.
Feb 2010