I gave a presentation on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Methodology at the Kokkola Material Week that is an international conference hold in Kokkola Finland between 23. and 26. of September 2014.

1. Introduction to the Product
Environmental Footprint (PEF)
Methodology
24.9.2014 Kokkola Material Week/LeatherKokkola
Anna Virolainen,
Freelancer Environmental Specialist,
Visia Cooperative

2. List of content
1. Basic concepts
2. The development of the PEF methodology
• Background
• 1. step: International Reference Life Cycle data System, ILCD
(2008-2012)
• 2. step: The development of the PEF methodology (2011-2016)
• 3. step: Piloting the process of making PEFCRs (2013-2016)
• 4. step: Use of the PEF (2017->)
3. PEF Methodology in a Nutshell
4. Piloting the process of making PEFCRs - CASE: leather pilot

3. Basic Concepts

4. Basic terms
Source: http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
• Lifecycle thinking takes into account the
environmental impacts of the entire life cycle of the
analysed system. To avoid the unwanted shifting of
problems from one life cycle stage to another, from
one geographic area to another etc.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• an ISO standardised methdology to analyse
environmental impacts of products,
companies, systems, countries etc. It
brings a wide range of environmental
problems into an integrated assessment
framework.
• Scientific and quantitative method
• LCA = International Reference Life Cycle
data System (ILCD) --> PEF

5. LCA
• ISO 14040 serie was published in 1997
ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management -- Life cycle
assessment -- Principles and framework
ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management -- Life cycle
assessment -- Requirements and guidelines
• Widely used nowadays
• LCA-approach has roots in energy efficiency and energy issues
• It was utilised already post-World War 2 era
• Coca Cola was one of the front-runners in investigating the
resources and environmental profile of different packaging
materials for their products.
• In the 1990s, SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry) became a key player in further developing the LCA
and published various best-practice guides.
Source: The International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD). European Comission. 2012. Available at http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/JRC-Reference-Report-ILCD-Handbook-Towards-more-
sustainable-production-and-consumption-for-a-resource-efficient-Europe.pdf

6. The development
of the PEF
methodology

7. Source: Motiva

8. Policy acts of the European Union
• Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (November 2013) on a General
Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (April 2013): Building the
Single Market for Green Products - Facilitating better information on the environmental performance of
products and organisations
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (10/2011): “Towards a
Single Market Act - for a highly competitive social market economy”: Proposal No 10: Before 2012, the
Commission will look into the feasibility of an initiative on the Environmental Footprint of Products to address the
issue of the environmental impact of products, including carbon emissions. The initiative will explore possibilities
for establishing a common European methodology to assess and label them.
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council (2011): Resource Efficiency
Roadmap (20.9.2011)
• Council Conclusions (20.12.2010): The Council invites the Commission to “develop a common methodology on
the quantitative assessment of environmental impacts of products, throughout their life-cycle, in order to support
the assessment anhd labelling of products”
8

9. Development of ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of making
PEFCRs 2013-2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?

10. Source: The presentation of Michele Galatola (EC, DG Environment) available at http://www.cepi.org/system/files/public/epw-presentations/2011/Michele%20Galatola%20-
%20Ppt0000022.pdf

11. The ILCD Handbook documents launched in
March 2010
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
Source: http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/uploads/JRC-Reference-Report-ILCD-Handbook-Towards-more-sustainable-production-
and-consumption-for-a-resource-efficient-Europe.pdf

12. Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)
• PEF is a multi-criteria measure of the environmental
performance of a product or service throughout its life
cycle
• The PEF Guide provides a method for modelling the
environmental impacts of the flows of material/energy
and the emissions and waste streams linked with a
product
• The PEF Guide gives guidance on how to calculate a
PEF, how to develop Product Environmental Footprint
Category Rules (PEFCRs)
• The PEF Guide available in English and other official
EU-languages

13. 2011-2013: Development of the PEF methodology
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/dev_pef.htm 13

14. Analysis of existing methdologies
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
Source: The presentation of Michele Galatola (EC, DG Environment) available at http://www.cepi.org/system/files/public/epw-presentations/2011/Michele%20Galatola%20-
%20Ppt0000022.pdf

15. 2013-2016: Piloting the process of making PEFCRs
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
Source: Applied from the materiol of Environmental Footprint Training material. 2014. European Commission. Available at the Environmental Footprint Wiki pages.

16. 2013-2016: Piloting the process of making PEFCRs
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?

17. 2020: Use of PEF
17
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
• Applications can be e.g.
• An assessment tool for a company to optimize its
processes and products
• A benchmark tool to be used in ekodesign, GPP etc.
• Communication tools (labels, EPDs, product passport..)
• Incentive programs
• The applications could be on a voluntary or mandatory
basis
• Between 2017-2018 the COM investigates potential
applications of PEF method and PEF results. The
applications won’t be applied before 2020
• Some applications are tested in the pilot projects in 2016

18. Pilots / Communication module
Source: background document European Commission 2014

19. Pilots / Reference product and Benchmarks
1 2 3 4 5
Environmental performance level
Weak Excellent
Source: Applied from the presentation of Michele Galatola (EC, DG Environment) available at http://www.cepi.org/system/files/public/epw-presentations/
2011/Michele%20Galatola%20-%20Ppt0000022.pdf

20. PEF in a nutshell

21. Phases of a PEF study
Define goals of PEF study
Define scope of PEF study
Create the Resource Use Emissions Profile
Conduct the Environmental Footprint Impact
Assesment
Environmental Footprint Interpretation Reporting

22. Communicatio
n module
Weighting (O)
Review
procedure
requirements (O)
Phases and requirements of a PEF study
Intended
application(s)
Target
audience(s)
Comparative
study disclosed
to the public?
Commissioner
Multi-functional
process
Reason(s) for
carrying out the
study
Assumptions/
Limitations
Classification
Characterisatio
n
Normalisation (O)
Model
robustness
Identification of
hotspots
Estimation of
uncertainty
Conclusion,
recommendati
ons
limitations
System
boundaries
Unit of analysis
reference
flow(s)
Select EF Impact
Categories
Select
additional
environmental
information
Define cut-off
rules
Goal
Scope
EFIA
Interpretati
on
Reporting
Data quality
requirements
Specific vs.
generic data
collection
Resource use
emission profile
data
Data
management
plan (O)
Inventory Screening step

23. Piloting the methdology
2013-2016
CASE: leather pilot

24. 2013-2016: Piloting the process of making PEFCRs
ILCD
2008-2012
Development of the
PEF method
2011-2013
Piloting the process of
making PEFCR 2013-
2016
Use of PEF
2017? 2020?
Source: Applied from the material of Environmental Footprint Training material. 2014. European Commission. Available at the Environmental Footprint Wiki pages.

25. Reference timing for the development of a PEFCR (1/2)
Source: Guidance for the implementation of the EU PEF during the EF pilot phase - Version 4.0

26. Reference timing for the development of a PEFCR (2/2)
Source: Guidance for the implementation of the EU PEF during the EF pilot phase - Version 4.0

27. Leather (semi-processed or finished product)
NACE/CPA: 15.11 Tanned and dressed leather; dressed and dyed fur
• 15.11.1 Tanned or dressed fur skins
• 15.11.10 Tanned or dressed fur skins
• 15.11.2 Chamois leather; patent leather and patent laminated
leather; metallised leather
• 15.11.21 Chamois leather
• 15.11.22 Patent leather and patent laminated leather; metallised
leather
• 15.11.3 Leather, of bovine or equine animals, without hair
• 15.11.31 Leather, of bovine animals, without hair on, whole
• 15.11.32 Leather, of bovine animals, without hair on, not whole
• 15.11.33 Leather, of equine animals, without hair on
• 15.11.4 Leather of sheep, goat or swine, without hair
• 15.11.41 Sheep or lamb skin leather, without wool on
• 15.11.42 Goat or kid skin leather, without hair on
• 15.11.43 Leather of swine
• 15.11.5 Leather of other animals; composition leather with a basis
of leather
• 15.11.51 Leather of other animals, without hair on
• 15.11.52 Composition leather with a basis of leather or leather
fibre
• 15.11.9 Sub-contracted operations as part of manufacturing of
tanned and dressed leather; dressed and dyed fur
• 15.11.99 Sub-contracted operations as part of manufacturing of
tanned and dressed leather; dressed and dyed fur

28. Members of the Technical Secretariat
• UNIC – Unione Nazionale Industria Conciaria
• UKLF
• VDL – Verband der Deutschen Lederindustrie e.V.
• FLIA
• SG – Svenska Garveriidkareforeningen
• APPBR – Asociatia Producatorilor de Piele si Blana din Romana
• APIC – Associaçao Portuguesa dos Industriais de Curtumes
• FNL – Federatie van Nederlandse Lederfabrikanten
• UNITAN – Union de la Tannerie et de la Mégisserie Belge
• BULFFHI – Branch Union of Leather, Furriers, Footwear and
Haberdashery Industries
• FFTM – Fédération Française de la Tannerie-Mégisserie
• SLG – Scottish Leather Group Ltd.
• Pittards Plc.
• University of Northampton – Institute for Creative Leather
• Technologies - ICLT
• University of Pisa – Department of Civil Industrial Engineering
• ICT – International Council of Tanners
• IULTCS/IUE International Union of Leather Technologists and
Chemists Societies/Environment Commission
• Stahl
• World Leather – World Trades Publishing Ltd.
Contact person for the Technical Secretariat:
Mr Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano,
COTANCE - Confédération des Associations Nationales de la
Communauté Européenne
Secretary General
Email: cotance@euroleather.com

29. State of art 24.9.2014
• The focus is now on the Commission-led Working Group of the
Model of a Cow.
• The first TS meeting took place in June 2014
• The second TS meeting will be on 24 October 2014 in Bucharest,
where will be reviewed the requests for participating in the TS, the
writing team, the search for existing Category Rules and further
preparatory work.
• Stakeholder consultations next year?
• PEFCR ready in 2016

30. List of References
• General information
• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/pef_pilots.htm
• Environmental Footprint Wiki (e-commenting) pages and instructions on registration
• Method
• Annex 2 of the Recommendation: Product Environmental Footprint method (2013)
• Material for pilot phase
• Guidance for the implementation of the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) during the Environmental
Footprint (EF) pilot phase
• Materials of the PEF training for piloters (January 2014)
• Other
• Background document for the testing of communication vehicles in the Environmental Footprint Pilot Phase
2013-2016
• SME Tools http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/smgp/pef_pilots.htm
• COTACE’s project page: http://www.euroleather.com/index.php/eu-pilot-project

31. Thank you!
anna.virolainen@visia.fi
+358 400 987 805