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The method for measuring the greenhouse gases (GHG) embodied in products requires further development before the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) can be finalised. The technical development is being supported through three main mechanisms: working groups, desk-top studies, and pilot studies.
Working groups
The need for further work in several key areas has been identified. To fulfil this need, and to build on current best practice in each area, we are in the process of assembling several small expert working groups. Each group will support development in the way most appropriate for the area: for example, through giving advice on best practice based on other methods, considering options developed by the project team.
Key areas which require further development, and will be covered by working groups are:
- LCA topics: this area covers all of the topics that relate to lifecycle analysis (LCA) theory, and will require input from experts in this area. The most important immediate question concerns setting the limits of analysis: how many of the materials or processes involved in a product’s production should be taken into account? Linked to this is the need for a robust definition of the process boundary that would ensure the scope of assessments would be uniform for different products, and the results comparable.
- Data: when will companies be required to use actual data collected from their own supply chains and when will secondary data be acceptable? Secondary data requirements: what characteristics must secondary data references have, and what are some accepted secondary references? Should the method identify particular datasets in order to establish common baseline data for similar materials and processes?
- Use: determining whether and how emissions produced as a result of use of a product should be included.
- Product definition: a short review of what constitutes a product i.e. when a product requires a separate analysis.
- Waste: defining boundaries of analysis and secondary data sources for waste, including recycling and re-use. In addition, considering the allocation of GHG emissions arising from waste streams.
- Agriculture: defining boundaries of analysis and secondary data sources for crops and animals.
- Transport: primary data availability and secondary data sources, including assumptions regarding allocation of emissions for mixed loads and return journeys.
- Services: consideration of what constitutes a service, and where the boundaries for services are, for example the definition of direct and indirect processes, or the boundaries to an entertainment service.
- Electricity and renewable energy: to consider rules that fairly reflect the emission fom different sources of electricity generation, including issues relating to the role of tradable certificates and specific tariffs for electricity consumption.
- Sensitivity: analysis of the sensitivity of result obtained in the pilots.
- Certification: facilitating certification of the method, and considering whether the method should place particular requirements on certification.
- Feedback and updating: planning for future development of the method.
The priority areas for development are LCA topics, data, use and product definition. Work will begin immediately on these topics, with the aim to include further details on these areas in the draft which will be sent to Key Stakeholders in September. Details of how working groups in these areas will be run are given in the table below. Work on the other areas will run until December, for inclusion in the second draft.
Pilots
Alongside the working groups, the Carbon Trust will be working with a number of companies to test the draft PAS method to measure the GHG emissions embodied in products and services in a range of product and service categories. Where this pilot programme identifies questions, methods or other information that may be relevant to the development of the PAS, this information will be provided to the Steering Group.
Methods Review
As part of the method development process, Defra has undertaken to prepare a review of existing methods that may be relevant to product carbon labelling. The review will draw on existing relevant knowledge, methods and tools relevant to measuring embodied GHG of products and services, and will further inform the PAS team and Steering Group.
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