Building Trust in Product Carbon Footprints

We deliver comprehensive PCF data for our entire product portfolio. Our TÜV-certified methodology calculates cradle-to-gate emissions, supporting accurate Scope 3 reporting and product sustainability assessments throughout the value chain.

We follow the Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF Guidelines (opens in a new tab) for the Chemical Industry, ensuring our data is comparable across the sector. The approach complies with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard, with the TÜV Rheinland certification validating our calculation methods.

The resulting standardized PCF data supports the required sustainability reporting, procurement decisions and regulatory compliance across global markets. This transparency enables informed choices between conventional and alternative feedstocks, including bio-based and recycled raw materials as well as other innovative raw materials, helping to identify opportunities for cutting emissions within one’s own value chains.

While PCF focuses specifically on greenhouse gas emissions, our comprehensive LCA approach evaluates additional environmental impact categories. For detailed information about these broader environmental impacts and our complete LCA methodology, explore our LCA webpage.

With growing regulatory requirements and rising customer demands for emissions transparency, reliable PCF data enables companies to track their Scope 3 emissions and identify reduction opportunities. Product-level transparency forms the foundation for effective sustainability strategies across chemical value chains to achieve climate neutrality goals.

As the chemical industry transitions away from fossil feedstocks, collaboration across the value chain is essential for success. PCF transparency fosters effective partnerships across the entire value chain, creating trust, reducing compliance costs, and increasing market uptake of more sustainable products while supporting competitive positioning.

Lifecycle+: TÜV-Certified Automated Calculations for Reliable PCF Data

Our comprehensive digitalization of product-specific life cycle assessments (LCA) represents a pioneering achievement in the chemical industry. Our TÜV-certified automated system Lifecycle+ calculates emissions for approximately 50,000 products annually, processing supplier-specific data and integrating information from our internal systems. This automated approach delivers significantly superior Data Quality Ratings (DQR) compared to conventional manual calculations that rely on averaged reference values from third-party databases.

CO₂ Transparency as the Key to Climate Action

The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) quantifies greenhouse gas emissions from raw material extraction to the factory gate (cradle-to-gate). This measurement captures all CO₂ equivalent emissions associated with producing a specific product.

Covestro uses Lifecycle+, our automated, TÜV Rheinland-certified LCA tool, to calculate cradle-to-gate emissions for approximately 50,000 products, combining information such as process emission data from our internal ERP systems with supplier-specific raw material data.

We follow the TfS PCF Guidelines for the Chemical Industry, ISO 14040, ISO 14044, ISO 14067 standards, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard. This ensures our PCF data is comparable across the chemical industry and supports effective collaborative partnerships along the value chain.

Product-specific PCF data is available through our customers' sales contact. Our customers receive detailed emissions information along with supporting documentation for integration into their sustainability calculations and reporting frameworks.

PCF reduction requires collaboration across the entire value chain. Covestro supports PCF reduction through (1) alternative feedstock offerings (bio-based, recycled, CO₂-based), (2) our own Scope 1+2 reduction program, and (3) digital tools like our CQ Configuratorthat enable real-time assessment of formulation choices on carbon footprint. Contact our sales team to identify the potential reduction for your specific application.

More Information

Press Release (opens in a new tab) Life Cycle Assessments digitalized: boosting transparency Webinar: (opens in a new tab) Transparency at Scale: How Covestro automates LCAs for their global product portfolio Interview with Mathias Matner, Head of Sustainability and Advocacy, Coatings & Adhesives Together for Sustainability: (opens in a new tab) The Product Carbon Footprint Guideline for the Chemical Industry

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