CASE STUDY
Publication of EF 3.1 and start of EF 4.0
For more than 10 years, our Environmental Footprinting teams have been closely involved in the EU Environmental Footprint (PEF) initiative. After successfully contributing to the release of the EF 3.1 dataset, we are currently part of a consortium working on the Environmental Footprint 4.0 (EF 4.0) life cycle inventory datasets.
Context & Goal of the Study
The EU ambition is to harmonize the methods of Environmental Footprinting calculations through the PEF (Product Environmental Footprint). This initiative requires aligned methodologies and official datasets. High-quality data resources play a great role in enhancing environmental performance evaluations, particularly in sectors like food, feed, and bio-based materials. The EF 4.0 datasets contain official secondary data and are pivotal in facilitating EF-compliant assessments according to the PEF Category Rules (PEFCRs) and Organizational Environmental Footprint Category Rules (OEFCRs).
Delivery
Mérieux NutriSciences’ team, alongside consortium partners, is responsible for producing EF-compliant core datasets covering various aspects such as energy, food and feed, packaging, and more.
The development of EF 4.0 involves the creation of a substantial number of secondary datasets. Our team has to generate nearly a thousand datasets related to food and feed and bio-based materials.
Unlike previous iterations, EF 4.0 datasets are anticipated to be publicly accessible, offering broader utilization opportunities. The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with EF-compliant assessments. It particularly benefits SMEs and ensures consistency and comparability across environmental performance evaluations.
Results & Benefits
The release of EF 3.1 datasets, focusing on feed, agrofood, and bio-based materials, is a significant milestone for this EU initiative and for our teams.
These datasets play a vital role in providing background data for companies engaged in PEF/OEF studies, facilitating more comprehensive and standardized LCAs. The transition towards EF 4.0 further emphasizes the importance of accessible, harmonized datasets. It offers potential cost reductions for companies venturing into PEF assessments.
Additionally, the acquisition of EF 4.0 datasets by the EC promises increased harmonization opportunities and regulatory enforcement power, ultimately triggering progress in environmental sustainability practices across industries.