Complete guide · Product carbon footprint
ISO 14067 in Romania
The standard for calculating a product carbon footprint across its life cycle: how to quantify impact per product — increasingly demanded by customers, retailers and regulations such as CBAM.
What is ISO 14067?
ISO 14067 is the international standard for quantifying the carbon footprint of a product (CFP). It measures the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product across its life cycle — from raw materials to end of life.
The current version is ISO 14067:2018, grounded in the life cycle assessment (LCA) principles of ISO 14040 and 14044. The standard defines how boundaries are set, how emissions are allocated, and how the result is reported.
It answers a question customers and retailers ask ever more often: "exactly how much carbon does this product carry?" Without a standardised methodology, the answer is not credible.
Why the product carbon footprint matters
Pressure is shifting from organisation level to product level, driven by CBAM, retailer requirements and consumer expectations.
Customer requirements
Large retailers and B2B customers ask for the carbon footprint per product in their specifications
CBAM readiness
For products in scope of CBAM, embedded emissions must be known and documented
Hotspots
Life cycle analysis reveals where emissions concentrate — and where you can actually cut them
Claims that hold
A footprint calculated to ISO 14067 withstands scrutiny, unlike vague assertions
Ecodesign
The basis for redesigning lower-impact products, as required by EU regulations
Differentiation
A product with a documented footprint becomes a genuine commercial argument
How a product carbon footprint is calculated
Defining goal and boundaries
We set the product under analysis, the functional unit and the boundaries — "cradle to gate" or "cradle to grave". Duration: 1–2 weeks.
Life cycle map
We map every stage: raw materials, production, transport, use, end of life.
Life cycle inventory
We collect input and output data for each stage — materials, energy, transport, waste.
Emissions calculation
We apply characterisation factors and allocate emissions to the product, documenting the assumptions.
The CFP report
We compile the result into a report conforming to ISO 14067, with hotspot analysis.
Verification (optional)
For public claims, an independent body can verify the footprint, strengthening its credibility.
What a product carbon footprint costs
Cost depends on the complexity of the product and its supply chain — a product with few components and suppliers is far simpler than one assembled from hundreds of parts. Indicative figures per product:
Simple product
Few materials, short chain
EUR 3,000–6,000
One product / family
Medium product
Assembly, several suppliers
EUR 6,000–11,000
Medium complexity
Complex product
Extended chain, many components
EUR 11,000–18,000
Data to collect along the chain
✅ Costs cover the life cycle assessment and the CFP report to ISO 14067. For products in scope of CBAM, the same analysis serves to document embedded emissions. Read about CBAM →
How long a product footprint takes
Collecting data from suppliers is usually the critical stage. The average is 6–14 weeks per product.
Simple product
4–6 weeks
Few components, cooperative suppliers, material data available.
Standard
6–10 weeks
Assembled product with several stages and suppliers to contact.
Complex
10–16 weeks
Extended supply chain, primary data hard to obtain.
Frequently asked questions about ISO 14067
What is the difference between ISO 14067 and ISO 14064?
ISO 14067 measures the footprint of a specific product across its life cycle; ISO 14064 quantifies emissions at organisation level. Product versus organisation — entirely different purposes, even though both account for greenhouse gases.
Do I need ISO 14067 for CBAM?
CBAM requires the embedded emissions of imported products in the covered categories. An analysis to ISO 14067 is the rigorous way to quantify and document them, although CBAM has its own reporting rules that we follow in parallel.
What does "cradle to gate" mean?
It is the boundary of the analysis. "Cradle to gate" covers everything from raw material extraction to the product leaving the factory. "Cradle to grave" adds use and end of life. The choice depends on the purpose of the claim.
Is a product footprint certified?
It is not certified — it can be verified. For public claims or carbon labels, an independent body verifies the calculated footprint. Without verification the result is valid internally, but more vulnerable to external scrutiny.
What data do I need from suppliers?
Ideally, primary emissions data for the materials and components you purchase. Where that is unavailable, emission factors from life cycle databases are used, with that choice clearly documented.
Other ISO standards for your company
Verifiable credentials
IRCA Lead Auditor for integrated systems
CQI | IRCA certified courses, taken with RINA: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
ISO 9001
ISO 14001
ISO 45001See the certificates →Want to know your product footprint?
We calculate the carbon footprint to ISO 14067, with hotspot analysis and a report ready to show your customers. The first conversation is free.