We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Carbon footprint of
product claims verification
Verified carbon footprint claims build
trust and credibility with consumers
Businesses around the world are facing pressure to show
that they actively contribute to lowering their carbon
footprint and produce sustainable goods. The IEC Quality
Assessment System, IECQ, can help them back up their
claims.
People are increasingly conscious of the environment
including the need to tackle climate change. Several surveys
have shown that in addition to modifying their lifestyle to
make it more sustainable, they also tend to buy goods from
brands that claim they have environmentally sustainable
and ethical practices and values.

Eco-conscious consumers
A growing number of consumers have adopted a more
sustainable lifestyle in recent years. Their contribution takes
the form of recycling or composting household waste,
reducing food waste, limiting the purchase of new products,
opting for second-hand or refurbished items and repairing
instead of buying new goods. The restrictions imposed
during the COVID-19 pandemic also forced people to shop
more locally and seasonally. This may have incited them to
change their behaviour in the long run as well. The inflation
surge of the early 2020s also brought the need for many to
spend less and more judiciously on durable goods.

2 IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification

Deciphering claims
How do consumers know that a brand is sustainable?
that a company is actively working on reducing its carbon
emissions? How can they be sure that the claims made
by manufacturers are verified and reflect their true status
regarding carbon footprint, circularity, and so forth?
It is sometimes difficult to decipher what hides behind
the claims brands are making. Carbon neutrality, carbon
footprint, carbon offset, carbon free are terms that may be
confusing for the consumers.
For example, to be carbon neutral doesn’t mean that the
product or company is carbon free. Carbon free goods or
services don’t produce any carbon emissions during their
whole lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal. Carbon
neutral allows for carbon emissions, but they have to be
offset to reach neutrality.
Carbon offset refers to a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG) to make up for emissions that occur
elsewhere. This usually takes the form of land restoration or
the planting of trees. Companies can buy offset credits to
compensate their own carbon emissions and thus become
carbon neutral.
Risk of greenwashing
Mid or long term, resorting to carbon offset credits is the
easy way out for companies not wishing to make the
appropriate efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. The risk
is that companies use carbon offsetting instead of taking
real measures to curb their emissions.
In addition, it is often impossible to find out how companies
calculate their carbon footprint. For marketing reasons,
they may exaggerate their climate action and mislead
consumers. The temptation to put forward a “green”
message, even if unsubstantiated, may be the easy way to
beat the competition on a certain market, but in the long
run, it does more harm than good, both to the public and to
the company. Unsubstantiated or false claims will eventually
be exposed as government agencies develop regulations
and sophisticated ways of measuring them.
IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification 3
IECQ used to verify carbon
footprint of product claims

The IEC Quality Assessment System, IECQ, is going one
step further to ensure that carbon footprint claims made by
companies are not exaggerated or outright false.
Since 2018, manufacturers have had at their disposal
an international standard, ISO 14067, that defines the
principles, requirements and guidelines for the quantification
of the carbon footprint of products throughout their lifecycle
stages, from resource extraction and raw material sourcing
to production, use and disposal.
Based on ISO 14067, IECQ has launched a new service
under its approved process (AP) scheme: the issuing of
an IECQ carbon footprint of product claims verification.
The verification statement will give independent assurance
that a company has prepared its carbon footprint claim in
accordance with ISO 14067.

4 IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification

What is carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is a measure of the total GHG emissions
caused by an individual, an organization, an event, or
a product, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent.
Measuring and reducing a carbon footprint is one way
to act on climate change, and many manufacturers and
companies, conscious of the impact their products may
have on the environment, are making the necessary
adjustments to that end.
Governments, regulators, and public interest groups are
now requesting independent assurance (no greenwashing)
that manufacturers and companies have prepared carbon
footprint reports in accordance with an international
standard, ISO 14067, thus providing confidence in their
claims regarding their environmental performance.
The carbon footprint of a product or service can be divided
into three main stages:
 Direct emissions from the manufacturing process,
including the production of the product components,
assembly, and packaging
 Indirect emissions from the energy used during the
product’s use, such as electricity consumption during
operation
 Emissions associated with the end-of-life stage,
including transportation, disposal, and recycling
To calculate the carbon footprint of a product, ISO 14067
provides a standardized methodology for assessing the
GHG emissions associated with each stage of the product’s
lifecycle. This includes using established data sources and
calculation methods to estimate emissions from different
processes and activities, as well as considering relevant
factors such as product use patterns and end-of-life
management practices.
IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification 5
What is the role of IECQ in
measuring the footprint of product?

The IECQ Carbon footprint of product claims verification By quantifying the carbon footprint of products,
service provides independent verification that companies manufacturers can identify opportunities to reduce
use the correct process, methodology, and registers to emissions and improve the sustainability of their operations.
calculate the carbon footprint of a given product. Additionally, consumers can use this information to make
more informed purchasing decisions and choose products
Independent verification refers to the process of having an that have a lower environmental impact.
independent third-party assess and confirm a company’s
process used to arrive at a carbon footprint claim. The peer- The benefits of independent verification include:
assessed IECQ certification bodies (CBs) issue international  Increased credibility and transparency
IECQ Carbon footprint of product claims verifications Independent verification provides assurance that the
through the IECQ online certificate system, confirming that carbon footprint calculation and reduction efforts are
the company is transparent in disclosing that they have accurate, reliable, and trustworthy
been audited to ISO 14067.

6 IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification

 Improved efficiency  Increased accountability
Independent verification helps identify areas for Independent verification provides a higher level of
improvement in a company’s carbon management and accountability and helps ensure that manufacturers and
reduce the risk of over or underestimating emissions companies are meeting their commitments to reducing
 Enhanced reputation their carbon footprint and addressing climate change
Companies that have undergone independent
verification of their carbon footprint of product claims
often see an improvement in their reputation as
responsible environmental stewards

IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification 7

8 IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification
IECQ contributes to UN SDGs
The IECQ carbon footprint of product claims verification
contributes to several of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (UN SDGs). First and foremost, it
can play an essential role in SDG 13 which aims to take
action to combat climate change and its impacts. The
service instills confidence that supply chains continue
to develop, manufacture and offer products that meet
stated specifications by providing a harmonized system of
evaluating and monitoring suppliers. There is an increasing
demand – in line with SDG 13 – to verify supplier and
manufacturer claims on the lowering of carbon emissions,
thereby avoiding accusations of greenwashing.
The IECQ carbon footprint of product claims verification
can also have an impact on SDG 11 which aims to make
cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable, and play a role in SDG 12 to ensure sustainable
consumption and production patterns.
Standards and conformity assessment can really help make
the world a better place for everyone and when both join
forces and collaborate on a specific project, it shows that
one doesn’t work without the other.
IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification 9
About the IECQ
The IEC Quality Assessment System, IECQ, offers industry-
specific global certification schemes for specialized services
that support environmental sustainability, supply chain
management, and manufacturing of component products,
through its IECQ accepted and accredited certification
bodies (IECQ CBs). These certification schemes provide
manufacturers and service providers with independent
verification that their suppliers comply with component/
process specifications and/or IEC and ISO International
Standards.
IECQ operates industry-specific global certification schemes
that are used across the following markets/areas:
 Environmental services supporting the circular economy
 Specialized services supporting supply chain management
 Specialized services supporting the manufacturing of
component products.
IECQ provides manufacturers with independent verification
that IEC or ISO International Standards and other
specifications have been met by suppliers who hold an
IECQ certification.
The aerospace, defense, and high-performance sector and
increasingly other industries depend on the IECQ electronic
component management plan (ECMP) to assess suppliers
and safely manage their components’ supply chain also to
avoid counterfeit merchandise.
IECQ environmental services supporting
a circular economy
The three services are IECQ hazardous substance process
management, ecodesign certification and carbon footprint
of product claims verification. The IECQ green portfolio
of services is aimed at all industry sectors and offers
manufacturers a one-stop shop that helps them provide
accurate information and avoid greenwashing accusations.
10 IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification
IECQ operates the following schemes and
services:
 IECQ circular economy services
− IECQ Carbon footprint of product claims verification
(CFP)
− IECQ Environmentally conscious design or ecodesign
− IECQ Hazardous substance process management
(HSPM)
 IECQ Approved process (AP)
− Specialized process (SP)
− IECQ Distributor (D)
− IECQ Counterfeit avoidance programme (CAP)
− IECQ Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
− IECQ Products and services important to nuclear
safety according to ISO 19443 (INTS)
− IECQ Information security management system
according to ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS)
 IECQ Approved component (AC)
Provides certification of electronic components, parts
and assemblies according to international standards
and manufacturing specifications, thereby providing a
crucial procurement tool for supply chain management
 IECQ Aerospace, defense, and high-performance –
Electronic component management plans
(ADHP-ECMP)
 IECQ Independent testing laboratory (ITL approval)
More information:
Please visit the IECQ website at www.iecq.org or contact
IECQ at info@iecq.org
Further information

For further information, please visit the IEC IEC-LARC − Latin America Regional IEC Conformity Assessment
website at www.iec.ch. In the “Who we are” Centre Systems
section, you can contact your local IEC Rua Maranhão, 554 – Sala 71 Higienópolis
IECEE / IECRE Secretariat
National Committee directly. Alternatively, São Paulo – SP – CEP 01240-904
c/o IEC − International Electrotechnical
please contact the IEC Secretariat in Brazil
Commission
Geneva, Switzerland or the nearest IEC
3 rue de Varembé
Regional Centre. T +55 11 3666 0131
PO Box 131
as@iec.ch
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
IEC Secretariat
IEC-ReCNA − Regional Centre for
IEC − International Electrotechnical T +41 22 919 0211
North America
Commission secretariat@iecee.org / secretariat@iecre.org
446 Main Street, 16th Floor
3 rue de Varembé www.iecee.org / www.iecre.org
Worcester, MA 01608
PO Box 131
USA
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland IECEx / IECQ Secretariat
T +1 508 755 5663
Angel Place, Office 1721, Level 17
Fax +1 508 755 5669
T +41 22 919 0211 123 Pitt Street
pjl@iec.ch
info@iec.ch Sydney NSW 2000
www.iec.ch Australia

T +61 2 4628 4690

IEC-AFRC − Africa Regional Centre info@iecex.com / info@iecq.org
7th Floor, Block One, Eden Square www.iecex.com / www.iecq.org
Chiromo Road, Westlands
PO Box 856
00606 Nairobi
Kenya

T +254 20 367 3000

M +254 791 010 491 / +254 704 937 706
Fax +254 20 374 0913
fya@iec.ch

IEC-APRC − Asia-Pacific Regional

Centre
2 Bukit Merah Central #15-02
Singapore 159835

T +65 6377 5173

dch@iec.ch

IECQ | Carbon footprint of product claims verification 11

 IECQ Carbon footprint verification:2023-10(en)

® Registered trademark of the

International Electrotechnical Commission
Copyright © IEC, Geneva, Switzerland