Product Carbon Footprint
Standardized calculation and exchange of CO₂ footprint data across the supply chain.
Quick facts
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The Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) use case enables the precise calculation and secure exchange of product-related greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1-3) along the entire automotive supply chain. It creates transparency, data sovereignty, and comparability by basing itself on internationally recognized standards such as ISO, as well as the WBCSD's PACT Guidance and the Catena-X PCF Rulebook. The focus is on a cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis that begins with raw material extraction and ends at the factory gate.
A key objective of the use case is the progressive shift from secondary to primary data: while secondary data is based on generic databases or industry averages, primary data comes directly from the real production and supplier processes of individual companies. This gradual transition significantly increases the accuracy of CO₂ calculations, improves the quality of sustainability reporting, and at the same time promotes targeted decarbonization measures in industry.
The Catena-X PCF use case distinguishes between applications capable of calculating PCF data, and applications that facilitate cross‑company data exchange, as well as such such solutions that are capable of doing both.
Key Features
- More accurate Scope 1‑3 PCF measurements
- Better comparability across the supply chain
- Reliable CO₂ reporting & compliance readiness
- Reduced manual supplier communication
- Faster, data‑driven decarbonization decisions
• No LCA expertise needed
• Predefined model covers Scope 1, 2 & 3 out of the box
• Compliant with Catena-X Rulebook & IMDS PCF reporting
• Scale PCF calculations across your product portfolio
• Predefined VDA-classified materials for fast BOM setup
• Hotspot analysis to identify emission reduction levers
• Scenario comparison for design-for-sustainability
• Ready to use from day one — minimal onboarding effort
• Streamlines product data exchange across the entire supply chain.
• Reduces the administrative burden of managing multiple customers.
• Ensures secure, reliable, and trusted data sharing via standards.
• Automates validation to eliminate manual processing errors.
• Lowers operational costs through standardized digital workflows.
• Enhances transparency and compliance for all business partners.
• All Catena-X Use Cases in one interface.
-Eliminate manual spreadsheets and simplify Product Carbon Footprint calculations
-Continuously maintain accurate PCFs as products, materials, and production processes change
-Exchange trusted emissions data securely through the Catena-X ecosystem
-Accelerate compliance with ISO 14067, CBAM, the EU Battery Regulation, and EPD requirements
-Identify carbon hotspots and prioritize opportunities to reduce emissions
-Improve data quality and traceability with automated, standards-based PCF generation
- Generate audit-ready PCFs.
- Maximize supplier engagement with free, easy onboarding.
- Automate supplier requests to close Scope 3 gaps.
- Connect natively to Catena-X, TfS, and PACT networks.
- Ensure complete data sovereignty via peer-to-peer sharing.
• Management of your company certificates to share them with your business partners easily
• Management: of your PCFs - request, create, calculate and share PCFs along your value chain
• Higher PCF accuracy: Primary data replaces estimates, resulting in more reliable carbon footprint values
• Reduced manual effort: Automated data ingestion and standardized validation replace error-prone manual processes
• Faster reporting cycles: Structured, machine-readable PCF data accelerates internal and external reporting
• Strong supply-chain collaboration: Share and receive PCF data with partners in a standardized, interoperable way
• Regulatory readiness: Stay ahead of upcoming sustainability requirements with a compliant, auditable data foundation
• Scalable infrastructure: Built on Quintari Connect, adding new Use Cases requires minimal additional effort
• No PCF calculator in place yet? sovity cooperates with strong partners with scalable solutions for you and is happy to guide you
Worldwide, the fastest Catena-X BPN Release
- Provides a dedicated link to issueBPN via Cofinity-X ecosystem
- Issue BPN quickly through a simplified process at no additional cost
Global OEM data submission requirements fully addressed
- Global-standard data exchange, Catena-X certified solution provider (data exchange between certified solutions)
- Cofinity-X’ use case marketplace updates via Cofinity-X (provides customers with the latest information)
The only single-platform among Catena-X certified applications
- Core Setup from ECOPASS(DPP & BatteryPass) / PCF Exchange / CCM and more
- Diverse Usecaseapplications provided on a single platform
Enterprise data security
- To protect sensitive manufacturing data, on-premises or DMZ deployment is available
• Exchange PCF data securely through Catena-X
• Easy-to-use interface for PCF data exchange
• Support sustainability and reporting requirements
• Maintain control over your company data
• Reduce manual supplier communication
• Efficient exchange across the value chain
• Request and share PCF data at scale
The guidance represents an example reference process. Depending on your specific requirements, existing system landscape, level of maturity, and business objectives, certain steps may be skipped, additional activities may be required, or a different sequence may be more appropriate. The guidance is therefore intended for orientation purposes only.
1. Join the Catena-X ecosystem
To getting started with PCF in Catena-X, your company first needs to have an active registration to the Catena-X dataspace through Cofinity-X.
What you'll need
- Register with Cofinity-X
- Complete company verification
- Receive your Business Partner Number (BPN) and the required Catena-X credentials
CTA:Register now
2. Choose your products and your scope
Identify your products or components for which you want to collect, calculate and exchange PCF data. Most companies start with selected products before scaling across their portfolio.
3. Select your PCF journey and find your app
The Catena-X PCF Use Case distinguishes between
- The calculation of your Products Carbon Footprints,
- and the exchange of PCF data sets across company borders
Decide where your PCF journey begins based on your company's requirements. Either with measuring and calculating your PCF or, if you already have a calculation tool in place, start exchanging data with your partner.
The Cofinity-X Marketplace hosts more than 15 certified PCF solutions. Choose the app that meets your business needs:
We recommend contacting several solution providers and requesting more information and a demo.
Depending on your selected PCF journey, you can possibly skip Step 5.
4. Calculate your Product Carbon Footprint
Determine the PCF according to the Catena-X PCF Rulebook by combining:
- Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions)
- Scope 2 emissions (purchased energy)
- Scope 3 emissions (upstream supply chain emissions)
Primary data (measured data from production line) is preferred, while secondary data (estimated based on industry benchmarks) may be used where primary data is not available.
5. Connect your systems
Before you can exchange data within the ecosystem, you need to set up your technical environment.
What you'll need
- An EDC connector (dataspace connector)
- Registration of your EDC connector in the Catena-X ecosystem
Many PCF solutions in the Cofinity-X Marketplace already include an integrated EDC connector. Please reach out to your provider if you are unsure or check our provider overview.
Explore EDC connectors on the Cofinity-X Marketplace
6. Create and publish PCF data
Transform the calculation results into the standardized Catena-X PCF data model and make them available for exchange within the dataspace with the help of your PCF app.Depending on the selected application this can happen trough
- Manual data entry
- Data import
- Data interface
7. Exchange PCF data with your partners
Receive and respond to PCF requests from customers and suppliers or make PCF information available through Catena-X data sharing mechanisms. If necessary, establish specific terms of use for your data and create a data offering (Which customers are allowed to receive which of my data?).
8. Scale across your supply chain
Expand PCF data exchange to additional products, suppliers and business partners, and increase sustainability across the supply chain. More accurate and comparable data helps the automotive industry move toward a more sustainable future.
1. Join the Catena-X ecosystem
Need help?
Further questions can be addressed either through our Help Center or through qualified consultants available in the Cofinity-X Marketplace. For technical details, standards and implementation guidance, please refer to the Catena-X Developer Kit.