More manufacturers than ever are being asked one critical question by customers:
“What is the carbon footprint of your product?”
From food and drink to electronics, building materials, plastics, packaging, and engineered components, supply chains across the UK and Europe are demanding transparency.
That’s where ISO 14067, the international standard for quantifying the carbon footprint of products (CFP), becomes a powerful tool for factories.
The standard doesn’t just measure emissions – it helps factories understand the environmental impact of their products across the entire life cycle.
And for manufacturers competing in carbon conscious markets, this can be the difference between winning and losing major contracts.
What does ISO 14067 Do
It sets out the rules and methods for calculating and communicating the cradle to gate or cradle to grave carbon footprint of a product.
This includes emissions generated from:
1. Raw materials
2. Transportation
3. Energy use in production
4. Packaging
5. Waste and scrap
6. Distribution
7. Product usage
8. End of life treatment
The standard provides a clear and credible way to measure emissions and compare products on a like for like basis.
Factories gain a transparent view of exactly where carbon hotspots occur – and where cost and energy improvements can be made.
Why ISO 14067 Matters for Factories
Manufacturers adopting ISO 14067 typically benefit in several ways:
1. Stronger Supply Chain Confidence
Large buyers want low-carbon products. ISO 14067 gives factories a world recognised method to prove environmental performance and secure preferred supplier status.
2. Competitive Tendering Advantage
More tenders now require product level carbon data. Factories with ISO 14067 can submit credible figures that outperform competitors relying on estimates or generic assumptions.
3. Cost Reduction Through Insight
By mapping carbon flows, factories inevitably uncover energy and material inefficiencies within production – often areas that have quietly cost money for years.
4. Better Strategic Decision Making
ISO 14067 becomes a tool for deciding:
A. Which materials to switch
B. Which processes to optimise
C. Which energy sources to replace
D. Where investment will have the biggest impact
E. Enhanced Brand and Customer Trust
A product with verified carbon data signals responsibility, innovation, and environmental leadership.
The Energy Link: Carbon Footprints Reveal Hidden Costs
For many factories, the biggest contributor to product carbon footprint is Scope 2 emissions – electricity from the grid. ISO 14067 draws a straight line between:
‘electricity consumption → carbon footprint → product competitiveness’
This is why factories pursuing ISO 14067 often end up prioritising renewable energy.
Where Rooftop Solar Fits In
Rooftop solar is one of the most effective ways to cut product carbon footprints quickly and credibly.
Solar helps manufacturers:
1. Reduce the carbon intensity of each product made
2. Lower the CFP per unit – a huge tender advantage
3. Demonstrate measurable improvements year on year
4 Achieve lower emissions without altering materials or processes
5. Strengthen sustainability claims with real, quantifiable data
Plus, with cash positive finance or rental, factories can install solar panels with no upfront investment, while enjoying immediate reductions in both energy bills and carbon footprint.
Solar becomes one of the most visible and impactful improvements for ISO 14067 compliance.
The Takeaway
ISO 14067 gives factories the tools to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of their products – a requirement that is rapidly becoming standard in modern supply chains.
When paired with rooftop solar, manufacturers can dramatically lower emissions, reduce costs, and gain a powerful competitive edge.
1. Low carbon products win more contracts.
2. Solar helps you create them.
3. ISO 14067 ensures you can prove it.
