PCF vs LCA: The Key Differences Explained

When it comes to measuring environmental impact, Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are two concepts you’re likely to encounter. Both are valuable tools for understanding and addressing sustainability challenges and while they are interconnected, each offers unique insights. In this article, we’ll explore what they are, how they differ, and how they can help businesses build smarter sustainability strategies.

What is a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)?

A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) measures the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a specific product over its lifecycle from cradle to grave or cradle to gate. The focus is exclusively on carbon emissions, providing insights into the product’s contribution to climate change.

A PCF is valuable for organisations looking to reduce their emissions for a specific product. By focusing on the carbon emissions at different stages of the product lifecycle, organisations can identify hotspots and create targeted strategies to reduce their impact. For example, a PCF might highlight that the manufacturing stage of a product accounts for the largest percentage of emissions, prompting the organisation to explore alternative materials or production methods.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

A life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of a product, service, or process throughout its lifecycle. Unlike a PCF, which solely focuses on carbon emissions, an LCA considers multiple environmental indicators such as water use, energy consumption, and pollution.

An LCA is valuable for organisations looking for a more comprehensive understanding of their environmental footprint. By examining more than just carbon emissions, it can help inform strategic decision-making.

The stages of a Product Life Cycle

The stages assessed for both a PCF and LCA are generally the same, focusing on the entire lifecycle of a product. 

1. Raw material extraction: This involves assessing emissions generated during the extraction and processing of raw materials
2. Manufacturing: Emissions during the product’s production including machinery and energy use
3. Transportation: Emissions from the shipping and distribution to distributors or end users
4. Consumer use and retail: Emissions generated while customers are using the product
5. End of life: Emissions from the disposal, recycling or reuse of the product

Cradle to gate vs. cradle to grave

The choice between cradle to gate and cradle to grave helps to define the system boundaries for the scope of a PCF or LCA assessment as they are different.

Cradle to gate

This focuses on the emissions and environmental impacts in the product life cycle from raw material extraction, design and production and stops at packaging and distribution.

Cradle to grave

This covers the full lifecycle of a product from raw material extraction through to its use phase and end-of-life or disposal.

For more details on this, check out our blog: Product vs. Corporate Carbon Footprint: What’s the Difference?.

How are PCF and LCA calculated?

There are typically 4 steps to calculate a PCF and an LCA:

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1. Define the objective

• Clearly outline the objectives of the PCF study, including the system boundaries. For example, is this being done for regulatory purposes, to support carbon labelling or to identify emission hotspots?
• Define the unit of measurement e.g. emissions per unit of product or per kilogram produced

2. Set the boundaries

• Defining the boundaries includes agreeing on the relevant lifecycle stages e.g. whether it’s cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-gate
  

3. Data collection

• Collect activity data related to energy consumption, raw material use, transportation distances and waste management
• Primary data from each stage is used where possible and is supplemented by secondary data from reliable sources or databases

4. Calculate the emissions

• This step assigns emission factors to the collected activity data. The emission factors can bef sourced from databases such as ecoinvent
• Emissions across all the lifecycle stages are added up to calculate the total carbon footprint

5. Interpretation

• The stage analyses the results to then identify environmental hotspots and identify areas for improvement

For a deeper understanding of LCAs and the calculation process, check out our blog What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

Key Differences between PCF and LCA

There are several differences between a PCF and an LCA. Both are valuable and can be used depending on an organisation’s priorities.

The benefits of PCF and LCA

Both PCF and LCA offer significant advantages for organisations aiming to understand and improve their sustainability performance. A PCF enables organisations to focus on targeted carbon reductions that align with climate goals that are quicker to identify to make an impact. The benefits of an LCA include supporting a more holistic sustainability strategy,  aligning with regulatory compliance needs and comparing products, services and systems.

How Zevero can help

 At Zevero, we provide organisations with the tools and the sustainability guidance to achieve their sustainability goals. Our platform enables:

• Accurate data collection: Integrations with ERP systems and easy-to-use bulk upload functions streamline and shorten the collection process for the relevant data across your supply chain
• Regulatory compliance: Zevero’s platform aligns with the GHG protocol, ISO standards and reporting frameworks to ensure compliance
• Data-driven insights: Zevero’s sustainability experts can provide decarbonisation strategies to reduce emissions and meet climate targets
• Collaboration and support: Access expert sustainability guidance to measure, reduce and report your environmental impact effectively

Key takeaways

• PCF focuses on carbon emissions, making it ideal for organisations prioritising climate goals.
• LCA provides a comprehensive view of environmental impacts, supporting broader sustainability initiatives.
• Both methodologies are valuable tools for measuring and reducing environmental footprints.
• Zevero offers the expertise and technology to address these requirements, empowering you to make informed, impactful decisions.

Contact us to learn how we can support your sustainability journey.