supply-chain-scope-3September 21, 2025Featured

Why a Carbon Footprint Label Drives Real Reductions Across Your Supply Chain

Why a Carbon Footprint Label Drives Real Reductions Across Your Supply Chain - cover image

Why a Carbon Footprint Label Drives Real Reductions Across Your Supply Chain

Why carbon data on pack works

Putting a carbon footprint label on-pack gives shoppers decision-useful numbers and pushes suppliers to cut emissions. Randomized and field experiments show environmental labels shift choices toward lower-impact foods (see references).

Oatly helped mainstream prominent "climate footprint" numbers (kg CO₂e per unit) and explains boundaries in plain language—a model for salience and transparency. The lesson from the UK ASA ruling on Oatly's comparative ad ("73% less CO₂e vs milk"): comparisons must be defined precisely in the claim, not only in a footnote.

In the EU, expectations are rising. The Empowering Consumers Directive (EU) 2024/825 will, by 2026, ban generic, unsubstantiated green claims and prohibit "climate-neutral" product claims based on offsets. The proposed Green Claims Directive is paused, but enforcement under consumer-protection law continues to tighten.

Carbon footprint label vs. Eco-score vs. Environmental footprint label

  • A carbon footprint label reports kg CO₂e per functional unit, typically aligned to ISO 14067 and the GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Standard—focused on climate only.
  • Eco-score aggregates multiple environmental impacts (GHG, land, water, resources, toxicity, etc.) into a single rating. It's broader and useful for quick comparisons, but you must document the rules behind the score.
  • An environmental footprint label often refers to the EU's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) approach (multi-impact LCA with PEF Category Rules) or to EPDs (ISO 14025 / EN 15804) in construction. These require strict rules and independent verification.

Takeaway: If you want one number on pack that tracks climate targets, lead with a carbon footprint label. If you need cross-impact comparability or you work in sectors like construction, consider an Eco-score or environmental footprint label (PEF/EPD) alongside—or instead.

The backbone: recognized methods & programs

  • ISO 14067 (Carbon footprint of products) & GHG Protocol Product Standard for quantification and reporting.
  • PAS 2050 (historic, still referenced) informed many programs.
  • EPDs (ISO 14025; EN 15804 for construction): third-party verified, Type III declarations with product category rules (PCRs).
  • EU PEF (Product Environmental Footprint): harmonized, multi-impact LCA with sector-specific rules (PEFCRs) from the European Commission's JRC.

How to label without greenwashing: a practical playbook

  1. Write a precise claim

Print the number and the unit: "0.48 kg CO₂e per 1 L, cradle-to-retail". State boundaries and functional unit on pack; expand online.

  1. Use strong data and say how strong it is

Prioritize primary data for hotspots; document secondary datasets and vintages; disclose data quality and allocation rules.

  1. Verify independently

Obtain qualified third-party review (publish the statement). In construction or where EPDs are standard, follow ISO 14025/EN 15804.

  1. Time-stamp, version, and update

Show a version/date on pack; set an annual update cadence or when processes change materially.

  1. Keep offsets off the product claim

Under EU rules, don't present a product as "carbon neutral" via offsets. If you fund climate projects, describe them separately from the footprint figure.

  1. Be careful with comparisons

Only compare like-for-like—same boundaries, unit, and category rules—and cite the reference in the claim (learn from ASA's Oatly ruling).

  1. Make details one scan away

Use a QR to a public page with: method, boundaries, datasets (incl. versions), uncertainty, verifier, and change log. Many credible programs and pilots follow this disclosure pattern.

Design choices: On-pack vs. online

On pack (simple):

Climate footprint: 0.48 kg CO₂e / 1 L (cradle→retail). Includes ingredients, manufacturing, packaging, distribution. Verified to ISO 14067. v1.2 (2025-09-21). Scan for full method & verifier statement.

Online (complete): method (ISO 14067/GHG Protocol), functional unit, boundaries, allocation, data sources & vintages, uncertainty, verification, update policy, and—if used—your Eco-score or broader environmental footprint label methodology (PEF/PEFCR) with links.

Policy watch (EU)

  • Empowering Consumers Directive (EU) 2024/825: bans generic green claims, unverified labels, and offset-based "climate-neutral" product claims by 2026. Plan copy and creative accordingly.
  • Green Claims Directive: talks paused mid-2025; expect stronger enforcement using existing consumer-protection law.
  • France's labeling push (ADEME): pilots and Eco-score-style schemes for food/textiles shape multi-impact disclosure and consumer expectations.

Implementation checklist (for your launch team)

  1. Choose your method: ISO 14067 + GHG Protocol Product (carbon); consider PEF/EPD if you need an environmental footprint label.
  2. Lock functional unit and system boundary; print both on pack.
  3. Gather primary data for hotspots; document secondary data & vintages.
  4. Independent verification (publish statement). For construction, issue an EPD (ISO 14025 / EN 15804).
  5. Draft a clear, specific carbon footprint label claim; avoid offsets language.
  6. Build the QR disclosure (method, datasets, uncertainty, verifier, versioning).
  7. If you add an Eco-score or environmental footprint label, cite the rules (PEFCR/PCR) and explain how it complements the carbon figure.
  8. Pre-clear marketing with counsel against EU consumer-law provisions; stress-test any comparisons.

References & further reading (live links)

Standards & methods

EU policy / greenwashing rules

Programs, examples & enforcement

Eco-score / Environmental footprint label (France & EU pilots)

Evidence that labels shift choices

为什么碳足迹标签能在供应链中驱动真实减排