Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Calculation Tool
In the framework of sustainability, FINAT, in particular the collaboration workstream, is working towards harmonizing the measurement and monitoring of the environmental impact in the label sector. Learn more about how you can measure the environmental footprint of a product or collaborate with us in shaping a calculation tool made for and by the label industry.
A tool tailored to calculate the PCF of a label
Why this matters:
- FINAT's customers increasingly ask for CO₂ balances of labels.
- Growing demand for objective, comparable and quantitative data on environmental impacts.
- Organisations require harmonized and reliable reporting from suppliers.
- Industry needs a common framework for measuring and monitoring.
The FINAT PCF Project aims to:
- Develop a harmonized tool for calculating the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of a label and printed label across the value chain.
- Enable SME suppliers to access a friendly-user and reliable tool to calculate the environmental impact.
- Enhance adoption of a unified approach across the value chain.
Benefits of joining an industry standard:
- Stronger credibility and alignment with stakeholders.
- A tool co-developed with and for the industry
- Easier adoption by downstream users.
- Affordable and accessible tools for SMEs.
Are you a FINAT member and a PCF and/or technical expert and you want to contribute?
The project is defining the grounds of the PCF tool in 4 workshops.
- Workshop 1 – Introduction to main concepts and definitions. (30 June, 2025, see online recording)
- Workshop 2 – Goal & Scope definition (1 October, 2025, registration closed)
- Workshop 3 – Module 1: Up to the laminate process (25 November, 2025, Amsterdam)
- Workshop 4 – Module 2: Printing process (26 November, 2025, Amsterdam)
FINAT is working with, a recognized integrated sustainability company, Sphera to build an online PCF tool that will calculate the impact of a label across the supply chain. The tool will consist in two modules (laminate and printing process) that connect each other. The aim is to meet future legal requirements and the demands from the supply chain.
If you are not an expert but want to understand more, we have the following materials to get familiar with the PCF and its relevance in the label industry. Stay tuned with the development of the project in our website or through our newsletter. If you want to contact FINAT about the project write an email to info@finat.com.
Definitions of a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) & Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
In many discussions around the theme of Sustainability the terms 'LCA' and 'PCF' are widely used as measurements to 'characterise' the sustainability of a material or a process. Sometimes they are even used to refer to the same characteristic, but they are NOT the same thing! How familiar are we with these terms? Watch the informative video and view our first brochure.
Understanding PCF and LCA Standards and Tools
When it comes to determining the PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) for a product or process, there are many different names for the standards/methods/tools which are available. It is not always obvious what these are, how they might differ from one another or even how they might relate to one another. In this document we want to help explain the differences/similarities of these different aspects and their relevance to the self-adhesive label industry.
PCF Introduction to main concepts and definitions suitable for the label industry:
Listen to our external expert giving a general introduction LCA and PCF, the relevant standards and guidelines applicable to the label industry (e.g. ISO 14040-44, ISO 14067, TfS, CEPI) and an introduction to the FINAT PCF Calculator tool.