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Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF): Recommendations of the European Union
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Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF): Recommendations of the European Union

Thursday 09, May 2024

Since 2013, the European Union has promoted reliable and correct measurement and information on the environmental performance of products and organizations. This is what is known as the Product Environmental Footprint or PEF and the Organization Environmental Footprint or OEF.

 

 

(DOUE).- Since 2013, the European Union has been legislating (Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU) to promote the use of common methods for measuring and communicating the environmental performance of products and organizations throughout their cycle. of life.

In 2021, the Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 of the Commission of 15 December 2021 on the use of environmental footprint methods to measure and communicate the environmental performance of products and organizations throughout their life cycle.

The European Union welcomed the “European Green Deal” indicating that reliable, comparable and verifiable information is necessary from the industry, so that the consumer can make more sustainable decisions and reduce the risk of “greenwashing”.

European legislation is moving towards the use of the environmental footprint, as can be seen, for example, in the Taxonomy Regulation, the Sustainable Batteries Initiative or the Green Consumption Commitment.

The use of environmental footprint calculation methods is planned in EU policies and legislation, for example in the Taxonomy Regulation, the Sustainable Batteries Initiative or the Green Consumption Pledge.

The Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020, relating to the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investments and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 ), establishes, among other aspects, the environmental objectives (DNSH principle) that must be met by all projects financed by the European Union (Next Generation Funds, FEDER,…).

Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 establishes the methodology for calculating the Product Environmental Footprint or PEF and Organization Environmental Footprint or OEF, but the methodology for the preparation of Environmental Footprint Category Rules of Products (hereinafter, EFCR) and Sectoral Environmental Footprint Rules of Organizations (hereinafter, SEFRO) is also established.

The Product Category Rules (RCHAP) or Sectoral Rules for the Environmental Footprint of Organizations (RSHAO) are specific rules for each sector or for product families, based on life cycle analysis (LCA), which complement the general methodological guidance. for HAO/HAP studies, providing greater specification at the sector or product category level. If an RCHAP/RSHAO exists, they should be used to calculate the environmental footprint.

In the aforementioned legislative act, recommendations are made to member states, private organizations and the financial community so that:

  • Use PEF and OEF methodologies (and the prescriptive RCHAP or RSHAO, if they exist), to measure or communicate the environmental performance of products or organizations,
  • Contribute to the review of public databases and enrich them with data on the life cycle of their products and organizations,
  • Support companies in your supply chain, in particular SMEs, to provide information based on PEF or OEF.

The EU recommendations are not binding, but they do allow the European Union to suggest the course of action to follow without imposing legal obligations.

What steps must be taken to calculate the Product environmental footprint (PEF) or the Organization environmental footprint (OEF)?

The annexes to Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 establish the methodology to be used for both products and organizations:

  1. Establish and categorize Product Category Rules or Sectoral Rules for the Environmental Footprint of Organizations.
  2. Definition of the objective or objectives and the scope of the study.
  3. Life cycle inventory.
  4. Product/organization life cycle impact assessment
  5. Results analysis.
  6. Verification and validation of studies, reports and communication vehicles of the PEF or OEF.
  7. PEF or OEF verification and validation report.
  8. PEF or OEF validation statement.

Benefit of the Product environmental footprint (PEF) or the Organization environmental footprint (OEF)

  • It contributes to the fulfillment of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and promotes the transition towards a circular economy model,
  • It facilitates access to ALL financial instruments of the European Union. Currently, it is not possible to qualify for Next Generation or FEDER Funds without favorable DNSH reports,
  • Improves the public image and reputation of the organization as it positions it environmentally and improves aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
  • Responds to demands for environmental information from clients, consumers, investors and/or shareholders,
  • Allows comparison with competitors and access to new markets,
  • Better positioning and access to public procurement.

We provide Solutions

At we have been working since 2017 in the field ofen Product environmental footprint (PEF) wave Organization environmental footprint (OEF), specially in Environmental declarations or type III ecolabels UNE-EN ISO 14025:2010.

The information contained herein is collected from various sources. Although we endeavor to keep it correct, accurate and current, we cannot guarantee that it will remain so at the time you access it. For this reason, any initiative that may be taken using such information as a reference must be preceded by an exhaustive verification of its reality and accuracy, as well as the relevant professional advice from our consulting and development area.
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