Carbon Footprint or EPD: Which One Should You Order

A customer has asked for “product emissions data” or “environmental data.” The email is vague, and you need to decide whether to order a carbon footprint or an EPD. The wrong choice means either underbudgeting or unnecessary work. This article helps you choose correctly from the start.

The One-Sentence Answer

A carbon footprint (PCF) is your own calculated CO2 figure for a product. An EPD is a standardised, third-party verified product declaration in which the carbon footprint is just one of many impact categories. An EPD is more demanding, more expensive, and takes longer, but it is more official and enables direct comparisons.

Quick decision rule: if the customer is a single company that needs a CO2 figure for its Scope 3 accounting, produce a PCF. If the customer is a designer, contractor, or public procurer, produce an EPD. If the customer is unclear, ask which standard-based report they require.

How They Differ: Scope, Standard, Verification

Feature	Carbon Footprint (PCF)	EPD
Measures	Climate impact only (CO2-eq)	Multiple impact categories (GWP, AP, EP, ODP, POCP, ADP)
Standard	ISO 14067	ISO 14025, EN 15804 (construction products)
PCR required	No	Yes
Third-party verification	Voluntary	Mandatory
Publication in a registry	No	Yes (EPD International, RTS EPD, IBU, etc.)
Validity period	No formal limit	Typically 5 years
Typical timeline	6–12 weeks	16–24 weeks
Cost level	Lower	Higher

For more detail on EPD content, see the article EPD: What It Is and Why It Is Requested.

Typical Use Cases: When to Use Which

Use a carbon footprint when:

A B2B customer needs a product CO2 figure for its own Scope 3 accounting.
You want to identify the main emission sources of a product internally and target reduction efforts.
You need a single communicable number for marketing or a sales presentation.
The customer is satisfied with a report conforming to ISO 14067.
The product does not go into the construction sector or public procurement.
You want to see what the results look like before committing to an EPD process.

Use an EPD when:

The product is sold into construction and a designer needs it for a building carbon footprint calculation.
Public procurement requires an environmental product declaration or awards points for one.
A retailer, retail chain, or large B2B customer specifically requires a verified EPD.
You need a comparable document that is publicly searchable in a registry.
The customer’s request references the standards EN 15804 or ISO 14025.
The product competes in tenders where environmental documentation is scored.
You want to use the results publicly in marketing or investor communications.

A rule that works most of the time: if the request says “hiilijalanjälki” or “carbon footprint,” it is a PCF. If it says “ympäristöseloste,” “Environmental Product Declaration,” or references EN 15804 / ISO 14025, it is an EPD. When in doubt, ask the customer to clarify before you place the order. It saves months and tens of thousands of euros.

Cost, Timeline, and Workload

A PCF is typically completed in 6–12 weeks, provided data collection goes smoothly. Costs start from a few thousand euros and can reach the range of several tens of thousands if the product is complex or data collection requires supplier surveys.

An EPD is a larger project: typically 4–6 months from kick-off to publication. The price is influenced by the LCA work, verification (verifier’s fee), and programme operator publication fees. It is worth asking for a project-specific quote, because product-category-specific PCRs affect the workload considerably.

The workload on the customer’s side is similar for both: refining the product recipe, attributing energy measurements, and gathering transport data. An EPD adds PCR interpretation and handling of verifier comments on top of that, but these are managed through the consultant.

The comparison between PCF and LCA is covered separately: PCF vs LCA.

Can an EPD Be Done Later, Starting with a Carbon Footprint?

Yes, provided data collection is designed to be broader from the outset. The information gathered during a PCF project (recipe, energy, transport) is directly usable for an LCA and EPD. The additional work relates to impact assessment, PCR interpretation, and report formatting.

A common approach is to produce a PCF now, use it for customer requests and internal development, and add an EPD later when a construction project, public procurement process, or a major customer requires it. This saves costs when the need for an EPD is uncertain.

The reverse also works: an EPD automatically provides a PCF as well, because the EPD includes a GWP figure calculated using the same methodology. An EPD is therefore the “comprehensive package” that answers both questions.

Practical recommendation: if you already know that an EPD will be needed within 6–12 months, it is worth starting with an LCA or even going straight into the EPD process. If the need is uncertain or distant, a PCF is a good starting point. Either way, data collection should be structured to serve an EPD as well as possible, even if the decision to produce one is made later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the customer actually mean when they ask for a “carbon footprint”?

Most often, an ISO 14067-compliant PCF reporting the product’s CO2-equivalent emissions per functional unit. Sometimes the customer means a broader report or an EPD by “carbon footprint.” In that case, clarify by asking which standard-based report they require.

Is an EPD always better than a carbon footprint?

No. An EPD is more official and enables direct comparisons, but it is also more expensive and takes more time. If the customer only needs a CO2 figure for their Scope 3 accounting, an EPD is overkill. A PCF is often a faster and more appropriate answer.

Can I use an EPD in marketing as well?

Yes. An EPD is a public document, and its results can be presented in sales materials and on websites. Because an EPD is verified and standardised, using it in communications is safe from greenwashing allegations.

Does a carbon footprint need to be verified?

ISO 14067 does not require verification, but clients, procurement processes, and regulations are increasingly demanding it. Verification increases credibility and reduces follow-up questions. It can be carried out separately or as part of the calculation project.

Which is suitable as an input for Scope 3 accounting?

Both are suitable when available. A PCF is the most straightforward: one CO2 figure per product unit goes directly into the customer’s Scope 3 Category 1 (purchased goods and services). An EPD’s GWP figure works in the same way but adds value if the customer wants to report a broader environmental profile.

Can a PCF be used in sales materials without verification?

In internal communications and proposals, yes. For public comparative claims (e.g., “our product has the lowest emissions on the market”), ISO 14067 requires a critical review. In the EPD process, verification is already built in, so EPD results can be used publicly without additional steps.

What should I do if the customer’s request is vague?

Ask the customer to clarify with three questions: (1) Which standard-based report do you require? (2) What will the result be used for? (3) Is external verification required? The answers almost always resolve which option, PCF or EPD, is the right choice.

Ask the right question from the start

Send us the customer’s request and we will tell you directly: carbon footprint or EPD, which standard, what timeline, and what budget. No commitment, no overselling. Before you order, ask the customer one clarifying question: “Which standard-based report do you require?” The answer will almost always resolve the question for you.

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