ISO 14067

ISO 14067 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that sets out principles, requirements and guidelines for quantifying and reporting the carbon footprint of a product (CFP). First published in 2013 and revised in 2018 (ISO 14067:2018), it covers the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product across its life cycle, from raw material extraction through to end of life.

The aim of the standard is to provide a consistent, scientifically grounded method for measuring and communicating the product carbon footprint, so that results are transparent and comparable between products and sectors. It is widely used by companies that want to reduce emissions and support the climate goals of the Paris Agreement.

Why ISO 14067 matters

Reducing GHG emissions is central to limiting climate change, and products are responsible for a large share of those emissions across their value chains. ISO 14067 gives organisations a clear methodology to identify and quantify the emissions linked to a product. This allows them to:

• Identify the main emission hotspots across the product life cycle.
• Design effective reduction strategies at product level.
• Communicate environmental impact transparently to customers and stakeholders, reducing the risk of greenwashing.

The standard also supports more sustainable production and consumption and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action).

Concepts and methodology

ISO 14067 builds on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) principles defined in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Its key concepts include the following.

Product carbon footprint (PCF)

The product carbon footprint is the sum of GHG emissions and removals in a product system, expressed as CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e). A partial carbon footprint can cover only selected life cycle stages. The analysis draws on the same emission categories used in corporate accounting under the GHG Protocol: direct emissions, emissions from purchased energy, and other indirect (value chain) emissions.

System boundaries

The standard requires the system boundaries to be defined clearly, stating which processes and stages are included, so that results are consistent and comparable. A cradle-to-grave study covers the full life cycle, while cradle-to-gate covers production only.

Primary and secondary data

ISO 14067 distinguishes between primary data (specific to the product and collected directly from operations) and secondary data (from external databases or literature), and prioritises primary data to improve accuracy.

Benefits of applying ISO 14067

• Operational efficiency: spotting emission hotspots helps optimise processes and cut costs.
• Market differentiation: a credible, verifiable product carbon footprint can set a company apart as buyers increasingly factor in sustainability.
• Regulatory readiness: the method aligns with product-level requirements emerging from EU policy, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the Digital Product Passport.
• Procurement and tenders: footprint data supports participation in green public procurement.

Relationship with other standards

ISO 14067 does not stand alone; it complements other environmental and climate standards:

• ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 set the principles and requirements for life cycle assessment, which underpin the product carbon footprint methodology.
• The GHG Protocol provides the framework for accounting and managing corporate GHG emissions.
• ISO 14064 focuses on quantifying and verifying GHG emissions at organisation level.
• ISO 14025 governs the Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that often report carbon footprint results.

Used together, these standards let companies manage both corporate and product-level emissions in a consistent way.

How Manglai helps with ISO 14067

Implementing ISO 14067 can be demanding because of the volume of data required and the precision needed for the calculations. At Manglai we help companies measure their product and organisational carbon footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting, combining solid methodology with software that simplifies data collection and improves traceability. Discover how Manglai can help you.