UL Solutions Expands Product Carbon Footprint Verification Program

UL Solutions has launched the Product Carbon Footprint Measured label, expanding upon our UL Product Carbon Footprint verification program. The new label provides customers flexible options to share reliable, consistent and compliant greenhouse gas statements.

What is a product carbon footprint?

A product carbon footprint assesses and quantifies a product’s climate change impact across the product life cycle, considering raw material extraction, manufacturing and processing, transportation, usage and waste disposal. An increasing number of companies are measuring their products’ carbon footprint due to increased focus by buyers, consumers, regulators and investors.

The footprint reports are created according to the guidelines of the ISO 14067 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products standard, which builds on the criteria in the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards for life cycle assessment. Whether the work is done in-house or outsourced to a life cycle assessment professional, the complexity of the work can result in errors. However, manufacturers need to be confident in the data they are reporting.

UL Solutions and product carbon footprint measured

To address the need for more accurate data, UL Solutions launched its ISO 14064-3 Product Carbon Footprint Verification Program in 2021. It uses a risk-based approach and site visit to determine standard compliance and evaluate the accuracy of the report and primary data used.

The new UL Product Carbon Footprint Measured verification option still follows ISO 14067. However, the verification process is less complex, involving a critical review of the footprint report against the criteria in the relevant standards. This new approach is suitable for many companies, including those who want to demonstrate compliance with ISO 14067 but aren’t under pressure to meet ISO 14064-3 for financial disclosures or specific carbon frameworks like the Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT).

UL Solutions verification services can help reduce the risk of errors in your product carbon footprint report, regardless of which verification pathway you pursue, providing confidence for buyers and other stakeholders in the transparency of the report.

Learn more about the product carbon footprint services available from UL Solutions.