Knowing the Carbon Footprint of Products

Carbon Footprint of Products (CFP) is defined as Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) of a product through its life cycle stages, including material acquisition, production process, distribution, usage and waste management at its end of life as well as relevant transportation in each stage of the product. The CFP quantifies the GHG emissions terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq) and could be used as labeling information disclosed on products and services for facilitating decision in choosing products and services for consumers that are concerned about their global warming and climate change impacts.

The Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) or TGO initiated the Carbon Footprint of Products promotion project to raise consumer awareness and disseminate CFP labeling information from producers through their products in the market.  This would help the consumer to understand which products managed their GHG emissions to reduce global warming impacts and use this CFP label as information for their purchasing decision.  Furthermore, this CFP can be used by business partners through their supply chain; the buyers can request for CF information of purchased raw materials from suppliers to be used in quantifying their CFP through their products’ life cycle. Thus, the final manufacturers can disclose their CFP on products to express their consideration and awareness on global warming and climate change.  This effort can also increase the competitiveness of Thai producers in the global market where the concern on importance of global warming and climate change is continually increasing.  

Which products can quantify their Carbon Footprint

All products and services can quantify their Carbon Footprint for both finished products (Business to Consumer; B2C) and products used as raw materials or intermediates and distributed to other producers to be used in their production processes (Business to Business; B2B).  Finished products that have their Carbon Footprint quantified based on their life cycle are eligible use the CF label on their products after certification. However, the products used as raw materials or intermediates cannot use the CF label on their products but can disseminate GHG emission information to their buyers to be used in quantification the life cycle-based CFP of the finished products.

The Thai CFP quantification standard

TGOin collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSDTA) developed requirements and guidelines for quantification of the Carbon Footprint of Products. The guidelines aim to disseminate a standardized approach to Thai producers to quantify their CFP. TGO has developed the CFP certification and registration scheme for Thai producers in accordance with ISO 14067: 2018 Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products – Requirements and guidelines for quantification, and also developed a third party verification system to increase the credibility and reliability of the Thai CFP scheme to meet the International Standardization.

Producers who intend to quantify their CFP shall comply with the assigned Product Category Rule (PCR) and the requirements and guidelines for the quantification of the Carbon Footprint of Products.