We help organizations organize responsibilities, methods and traceable evidence for the functional or declared unit, system boundary, life-cycle data, allocation and carbon-footprint report.
Service classification and standard position
Validation and verification (V&V)
A product carbon footprint addresses climate-change impact; it does not represent a product's complete environmental performance. Confirm the applicable product-category rules, data scope and intended use of verification.
Who should consider this and when
This service is suitable for organizations establishing product carbon footprint processes, responding to customer requirements or preparing for external review. Confirm the intended use, organizational role, sites and reporting scope before selecting criteria.
Advisory focus
- Functional or declared unit: identify the owner, data source, method and review record.
- System boundary: document included and excluded life-cycle stages and the reasons for exclusions.
- Life-cycle data: identify primary and secondary data, sources, time periods and quality limits.
- Allocation and reporting: document allocation choices, assumptions and the resulting footprint report.
Support approach
- Confirm scope and criteria. Discuss the purpose, applicable edition, system boundary and stakeholder requirements; record assumptions and exclusions.
- Review current state and gaps. Examine inventories, source records and procedures related to the functional unit, boundary, life-cycle data, allocation and reporting.
- Prepare documents and pilot. Organize procedures, forms and an evidence index, then test the approach on a real product and correct gaps in execution or traceability.
- Simulate review and improve. Check data consistency and evidence sufficiency against agreed criteria and track improvements. Confirm any independent review provider and scope separately.
Information to prepare
- Organization and site information, product scope and intended use.
- Product description, functional or declared unit, process map and life-cycle inventory.
- Customer, regulatory or program requirements, and prior audit or verification findings.
- Responsible departments, available staff, known data gaps and target schedule.
Possible deliverables
Depending on project scope: a gap list, work procedures, responsibility assignments, record forms, evidence index and improvement tracking. Technical reports and independent third-party review are agreed separately at project start.
Timing and fees
Assessment depends on the number of sites, data quality, product complexity and review scope. Existing information is reviewed first, followed by agreement on deliverables, resources and milestones.
Frequently asked questions
Does advisory support result in a certificate or assurance statement?
Advisory support helps prepare systems and evidence. Any certificate, verification or validation opinion is decided by a qualified and independent body under the applicable program. This guidance standard does not itself target management-system certification.
Must an existing system be rewritten?
First check whether existing procedures and evidence remain applicable. Retain effective practices and revise the identified gaps.