Product Environmental Footprint PEF
A Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of a product that complies with a framework for the calculation and representation of results that has been developed by the European commission.
A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is also an LCA but it differs in that it focusses on measuring, managing and communicating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or the global warming issues that relate to particular goods or services.
The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is more holistic and requires 16 different impact categories to be calculated and reported. The intention of this approach is to harmonise the many different existing LCA standards into a PEF framework that standardises and facilitates better comparison between products. Despite sometimes being used to compare products Environmental Product Declarations (EPD's) they were not designed for this, as they often use different units of measurement. EPD's are essentially individual statements on the environmental impact of a product rather than comparing like for like.
The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodological framework developed by the European Commission’s science and knowledge service, relies on the principles of product categories, which group products of a similar nature or function. These in turn, generate Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) which support the overall methodology and provide more product-specific guidance, potentially seen as more rigid based, to facilitate comparisons in the performance of different products. EPD's also make reference to Product Category Rules (PCR's) but these are less prescriptive than those within PEF frameworks which are continually being developed as new products are assessed.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BREEAM Responsible sourcing of materials.
- Carbon footprint.
- Embodied energy.
- Embodied energy in construction
- Green Guide to Specification.
- Life cycle assessment.
- Material procurement.
- Product carbon footprint (PCF).
- Product Category Rules.
- Responsible sourcing of construction products.
- Sustainability.
- Sustainable development.
- Sustainable materials for construction
- Whole life costs
Featured articles and news
Top 50 firms awarded 52bn of projects in the last year
New engineering data shows.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
UK Construction Week, London is here !
Debuting major international pavilions and much more.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.