What Is Product Carbon Footprint Software?
Product carbon footprint software helps companies accurately measure how much carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases are emitted across a product’s entire life cycle – from raw material extraction to end-of-life.
Product carbon footprint calculations play a central role in modern carbon assessments, where companies analyse climate impact not only at the corporate level but also at the level of individual products and supply chains.
A product carbon footprint (PCF) is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted throughout a product’s life cycle. The footprint is typically expressed in CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalents) and calculated according to standards like:
- ISO 14067 (Carbon footprint of products)
- EN 15804 (for construction products)
- GHG Protocol Product Standard
Many companies also use product carbon footprint software to automate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), ensuring compliance with standards mentioned above.
Corporate carbon footprint vs product carbon footprints
Product carbon footprints are different from corporate carbon footprints (CCF), which measures emissions at company level – across operations, energy use and supply chains. PCF focuses on the footprint of a single product, from raw materials to end-of-life. Together, they support comprehensive carbon accounting across the entire organisation.
What Does a Product Carbon Footprint Software Do?
A robust product carbon footprint software is often delivered as a user-friendly platform, providing companies with a secure digital interface to manage their sustainability efforts and integrate with existing systems.
Data collection: Gathers primary data from operations and suppliers + secondary data from LCI databases.
Emission factors: Applies emissions data (e.g., from ecoinvent or DEFRA) to calculate CO₂e.
LCA modelling: Builds product life cycle assessments (LCAs) to assess environmental impact.
Report generation: Creates EPDs, CBAM declarations, and CSRD-aligned reports.
Scenario analysis: Models how changes (e.g., supplier, packaging, material) affect footprint.
A reliable product carbon footprint system integrates both primary and secondary data sources, applying consistent emission factors across all stages of the product’s life cycle, while enabling seamless integration with broader business processes.
For a deeper look at how product-level LCA connects to carbon footprinting, read the Practical Guide to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Why Use Product Carbon Footprint Software?
Beyond automating calculations, product carbon footprint software unlocks strategic value across operations, supply chains and sustainability efforts. It enables companies to:
- Identify emissions hotspots across product life cycles and supply networks, using precise, data-driven analysis
- Evaluate the climate impact of materials, suppliers and design choices, supporting smarter sourcing and innovation. See how product-level data supports eco-design and sustainable product development.
- Implement targeted emissions reduction strategies aligned with corporate net-zero and decarbonisation goals
- Integrate carbon data into existing systems such as ERP, procurement or logistics platforms, streamlining workflows
- Generate actionable insights that improve sustainable decision making and compliance readiness
- Demonstrate credible climate responsibility to customers, partners and investors with traceable, verifiable product-level data
By centralising carbon data, these tools help organisations move from fragmented reporting to scalable sustainability performance, while improving product carbon transparency across the entire value chain.
Why It Matters
- Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements like CSRD and CBAM
- Supports eco-design and greener product development
- Enables traceable product-level climate data to meet expectations from stakeholders and regulators
Why Calculate Environmental Footprint on Product Level?
There are several compelling reasons why product-level carbon calculations are becoming standard practice:
1. Regulatory Compliance
New and upcoming regulations, including the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), require companies to report environmental impact with increasing granularity.
2. Climate Impact Reduction
Knowing a product’s carbon footprint helps identify hotspots in the supply chain, enabling targeted emissions reductions. This supports internal goals such as net-zero strategies and eco-design initiatives.
3. Customer Expectations
Many B2B buyers and end-consumers demand sustainability data. Transparent product-level insights support procurement requirements, environmental labelling and climate-related marketing claims.
4. Strategic Decision-Making
Whether you’re redesigning a product or selecting new suppliers, understanding environmental performance at the product level enables more informed decisions, leading to better outcomes for both business and planet.
What Data Sources and Emission Factors Are Used?
Accurate footprinting relies on high-quality data. A robust product carbon footprint software integrates:
- Primary data from operations and suppliers
- Secondary data from LCI databases like:
- ecoinvent
- GaBi
- ELCD
- Emission factors from:
- IPCC Guidelines
- DEFRA
- Exiobase
- Product Category Rules (PCRs) to ensure alignment with EPD standards
EandoX – Product Carbon Footprint Software for Smarter, Scalable Climate Action
EandoX is a purpose-built product carbon footprint software that helps businesses turn sustainability goals into measurable progress—quickly, accurately and at scale.
With EandoX, you can:
- Enhance carbon assessments for complex product portfolios
- Generate EPDs and climate disclosures in line with ISO 14025, EN 15804 and ISO 14067.
- Ensure compliance with regulations like CSRD and CBAM
- Integrate supplier data and track emissions across your value chain
- Replace spreadsheets with structured, auditable and reusable data
- Run scenarios to support eco-design and emission reduction strategies
Curious to see how it works?
FAQ: Product Carbon Footprint Software
What is the difference between a corporate carbon footprint and a product carbon footprint?
A corporate carbon footprint (CCF) measures emissions across the entire organisation. A product carbon footprint (PCF) focuses only on emissions linked to a specific product throughout its life cycle.
How is a product carbon footprint calculated?
Product carbon footprints are calculated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), including system boundaries, inventory data, emission factors, and results expressed in CO₂e.
Why use software instead of spreadsheets?
Spreadsheets are error-prone and not scalable. PCF software offers automation, traceability, and regulatory alignment (e.g., CSRD, CBAM).
What data sources and emission factors are used?
PCF software combines primary data with external sources like ecoinvent, DEFRA, and IPCC guidelines, following relevant standards.
Can product carbon footprint software support Scope 3 reporting?
Yes. PCF software provides the granularity needed to account for Scope 3 emissions, particularly for purchased goods, transport, and end-of-life stages.
Can it support financial accounting and investor reporting?
Yes. By integrating carbon data with financial systems, PCF software enables combined sustainability and financial reporting—enhancing transparency for regulators and stakeholders.
Is product carbon data relevant for SEC reporting?
Yes. While the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) currently focuses on corporate-level climate disclosures, product carbon data is increasingly important—especially for Scope 3 reporting, investor transparency, and export compliance under schemes like CBAM.
Can product carbon footprint software generate EPDs?
Yes. Many PCF tools, including EandoX, can automatically generate Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) aligned with ISO 14025 and EN 15804.
