Product-related Emissions Reduction Framework (PERF)

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The Carbon Trust is developing a Product-related Emissions Reduction Framework. The purpose of this document is to support the continuous reduction of product life cycle GHG emissions. This is achieved by establishing the basis for robust and consistent information about reduction achievements and commitments, from which consumers, companies and other stakeholders can make purchasing and business decisions.

The product-related emissions reduction framework (PERF) is being developed by the Carbon Trust, with the help of consultants Arup, OneWorldStandards, the Pacific Institute and E4Tech. The Product-related Emissions Reduction Framework builds on the BSI Publicly Available Specification to assess the lifecycle GHG emissions of goods and services (PAS 2050) but is separate from it.

The Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust are also developing a Product-related Emissions Communications Guidance (PECG) document to support companies implementing either or both of the PAS 2050 or PERF to communicate the product-related lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and reductions in these emissions consistently to stakeholders. 

This work-in-progress draft has been provided to aid understanding but is still under development.

Principles

The Carbon Trust is developing the product-related emissions framework (PERF) through an open, consultative, multi-stakeholder process. In order to achieve this it has committed to ensuring that the process complies with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Developing Social and Environmental Standards.

The following principles will guide the process:

  • Clear and transparent procedures and governance
  • Broad, open, multi-stakeholder consultation, including international input from all affected groups
  • Balanced, consensus-based decision making, by an independent multi-stakeholder steering group.

Procedures and Governance

The standard development process is being overseen and guided by a multi-stakeholder Reduction and Communication Steering Group (RCSG) which focuses on the reduction framework and communication guidance. The development work is being carried out by a project team consisting of Carbon Trust staff and experts in the development of social and environmental standards including Arup, OneWorldStandards and the Pacific Institute. Consultants E4Tech are supporting the technical development. Advice was sought from a selected group of expert stakeholders on the draft Procedures and Governance and on the options for developing the PERF. Comments on the draft Procedures and Governance can be downloaded here.
The Procedures and Governance have now been finalised and can be downloaded here.

Developing the PERF

A paper setting out options for developing the PERF was sent to a selected group of expert stakeholders on December 21st 2007. The comments received can be downloaded here. The project team has analysed the responses and developed a first draft of the PERF, which has been reviewed by the Reduction and Communication Steering Group.

Comment on the PERF

The first draft of the PERF was released for consultation on 3 March 2008. Comments can be submitted online until Friday 4 April 2008.

The project team will review the comments received and develop a second draft of the PERF. After review by the Reduction and Communication Steering Group, the second draft of the PERF will be released for comment in May 2008.