Why Your Supply Chain Needs a Product Carbon Footprint Strategy - New paper from IEMA

24th April 2025

IEMA’s Senior Policy and Engagement Lead, Chloë Fiddy sets out how IEMA's new paper can help you get started...

As climate risk moves from the margins to the mainstream, organisations across every sector are under growing pressure to understand, manage and reduce their carbon impact. For most, the biggest share of emissions—often over 80%—sits not within their own operations, but upstream in their supply chains.

That’s where Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) come in.

PCFs offer a pathway to better data, more credible sustainability claims, and smarter supplier decisions. But for many practitioners, navigating the jargon, standards, and technical complexity involved in producing a PCF can be a major hurdle.

Our latest paper, An Introduction to Product Carbon Footprints, is designed to change that.

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This practical, accessible guide is written specifically for professionals tasked with assessing the carbon impact of purchased goods and services—whether you're just starting out or looking to improve existing processes. It demystifies the landscape of PCF standards, explores best practices, and outlines a clear, structured approach to gathering data, engaging suppliers, and generating actionable insights.

In the paper, we cover:

  • The growing regulatory and market drivers for PCFs
  • The limitations of spend-based Scope 3 emissions estimates
  • How to transition to product-specific carbon data
  • Practical steps for conducting and using PCFs effectively
  • Key tools, standards and guidance to support your journey

From supply chain transparency to compliance with incoming EU regulations such as CBAM and the Digital Product Passport, PCFs are becoming essential. They empower organisations to identify emissions hotspots, benchmark supplier performance, and ultimately reduce climate impact in a measurable way.

Whether you're in procurement, sustainability, product development, or compliance, this paper offers the insight and tools to build a more resilient, future-ready carbon strategy.

Let’s stop estimating. Let’s start understanding.

IEMA members can download their FREE copy here.

Non-IEMA members can purchase the guide on our online shop under: 'Sustainable Resource Management' here.