ISO 14067 is the international standard for quantifying and reporting the carbon footprint of products (CFP). It provides a clear, science-based framework for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a product across its entire lifecycle.
ISO 14067 helps organisations calculate, communicate, and compare product-level carbon footprints in a consistent and credible way.
What is ISO 14067?
ISO 14067 is published by the International Organization for Standardization. It specifies principles, requirements, and guidelines for the carbon footprint of products, based on lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology.
The standard builds on ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 (lifecycle assessment) and aligns with ISO 14064 for greenhouse gas accounting.
What does ISO 14067 cover?
ISO 14067 focuses on product-level emissions, rather than organisational footprints. It covers:
- Definition of product systems and functional units
- Lifecycle stages (raw materials, production, distribution, use, end of life)
- Identification and quantification of GHG emissions and removals
- Data quality, assumptions, and allocation rules
- Calculation and interpretation of results
- Communication of carbon footprint information
The emphasis is on transparency, consistency, and comparability.
Lifecycle approach explained
ISO 14067 requires a cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-gate assessment, depending on the goal and scope.
Typical lifecycle stages include:
- Raw material extraction and processing
- Manufacturing and assembly
- Packaging and distribution
- Product use (where relevant)
- End-of-life treatment (reuse, recycling, disposal)
All significant greenhouse gas emissions must be included unless exclusions are clearly justified.
Who is ISO 14067 for?
ISO 14067 is suitable for organisations that:
- Manufacture physical products
- Sell consumer or industrial goods
- Want to quantify and reduce product emissions
- Make carbon or environmental claims
- Support sustainability, ESG, or eco-design initiatives
It is widely used by manufacturers, retailers, brand owners, and supply-chain partners.
ISO 14067 vs organisational carbon footprints
| ISO 14067 | ISO 14064-1 |
|---|---|
| Product-level emissions | Organisation-level emissions |
| Lifecycle-based | Boundary-based |
| Used for product comparison | Used for corporate reporting |
| Supports product labelling | Supports corporate disclosure |
Many organisations use both standards together to manage carbon at different levels.
Carbon footprint communication and claims
ISO 14067 provides rules for communicating product carbon footprints, including:
- Conditions for making CFP claims
- Requirements for transparency and documentation
- Use of comparison only when methodology is consistent
- Avoidance of misleading or selective reporting
Where public claims are made, independent verification is strongly recommended.
Is ISO 14067 certifiable?
ISO 14067 is not a management system certification.
However:
- Product carbon footprints can be verified against ISO 14067
- Independent verification statements can be issued
- Verified CFPs provide greater credibility with customers and stakeholders
Verification is often expected where carbon labelling or public claims are used.
Benefits of using ISO 14067
Organisations that apply ISO 14067 effectively often achieve:
- Clear understanding of product-level emissions
- Identification of high-impact lifecycle stages
- Better eco-design and material decisions
- Increased credibility of carbon claims
- Stronger customer and stakeholder trust
- Improved readiness for carbon reporting and regulation
Product-level insights often reveal reduction opportunities not visible at organisational level.
Common ISO 14067 mistakes to avoid
- Poor definition of the functional unit
- Inconsistent system boundaries between products
- Weak data quality or undocumented assumptions
- Comparing products with different methodologies
- Treating carbon footprinting as a one-off exercise
Transparency and consistency are critical for credibility.
How ISO 14067 fits with other ISO standards
ISO 14067 integrates well with:
- ISO 14064 (greenhouse gas accounting and verification)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management systems)
- ISO 14040 / 14044 (lifecycle assessment)
- ISO 14020–14025 (environmental labels and declarations)
Together, these standards support robust, lifecycle-based environmental management.
Common misunderstandings about ISO 14067
- “ISO 14067 is a product certification” – it supports verification, not certification
- “Only manufacturers can use it” – retailers and brand owners can apply it
- “It guarantees low-carbon products” – it measures, not judges
- “Estimates are unacceptable” – estimates are allowed if transparent
Understanding scope and limits helps organisations apply the standard correctly.
Next steps
If you are planning to measure product carbon footprints:
- Define the product system and functional unit
- Decide on cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave scope
- Collect high-quality lifecycle data
- Apply ISO 14067 calculation and reporting rules
- Consider independent verification for public claims
ISOcertified.net provides practical guidance on ISO 14067, including lifecycle scoping, data collection, verification, costs, and how product carbon footprints support wider sustainability and net-zero strategies.