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ISO 14067 & the 4 Phases of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

DQS Hong Kong

Founded in 1985 by the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) and the German Society for Quality (DGQ), DQS is one of the world's most established independent management system certification bodies. DQS is a founding member of the International Certification Network (IQNet) and holds accreditations from the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) alongside over 100 international accreditations, operating across more than 60 countries and regions.
Jul 31 , 2025

In the era of carbon neutrality and green supply chains, carbon management is no longer optional for businesses. ISO 14067, the internationally recognized standard for Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), together with the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, provides a scientific approach to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions of a product from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal.

 

With the enforcement of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), national carbon tax regulations, and increasingly strict supply chain audits by multinational brands, companies that fail to understand their product’s carbon footprint risk losing market access and competitiveness. Understanding and implementing the 4 phases of LCA is now a must for sustainable business success.


 

The Role of ISO 14067 and LCA

  • ISO 14067: Specifies the requirements and guidelines for quantifying and reporting product carbon footprints.
  • LCA (Life Cycle Assessment): Established under ISO 14040 / ISO 14044, it is the core methodology for calculating carbon footprints.

Key Benefits:

  1. Meet ESG reporting and investor transparency requirements.
  2. Pass international supply chain carbon audits.
  3. Comply with carbon tax reporting obligations in export markets.
  4. Optimize internal carbon management and develop effective decarbonization strategies.

 

 

The 4 Phases of LCA in ISO 14067


1. Goal & Scope Definition

Define the purpose, system boundaries, and functional units of the LCA study:

Purpose: ESG reporting, supply chain compliance, carbon tax calculation, marketing.

System boundaries:

  1. Cradle-to-Grave: Covers the full product life cycle, from raw materials to disposal.
  2. Cradle-to-Gate: From raw materials to the factory gate (excludes product use and disposal).

Functional unit: For example, “per kg of product” or “per unit of service”.

Tip: Poorly defined goals and boundaries can lead to non-comparable results, reducing credibility in the eyes of clients and regulators.

 

2. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)

Collect and quantify all relevant energy and material inputs and outputs:

Primary data: Direct data from company operations, such as energy use, raw materials, manufacturing emissions, transportation distances.

Secondary data: Industry databases (e.g., ecoinvent, GaBi) or literature-based average values.

Data quality requirements:

  1. Full life cycle coverage.
  2. Strong representativeness (location, time period, technology).
  3. Traceable and verifiable sources.

 

3. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)

Convert inventory data into greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂e):

  1. Use IPCC Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors for conversion.
  2. Aggregate emissions from all life cycle stages to obtain the total product carbon footprint.
  3. Conduct Hotspot Analysis to identify the major sources of emissions.

Example:

A Hong Kong food exporter discovered that 70% of its emissions came from cold-chain logistics. By optimizing logistics routes and refrigeration efficiency, they achieved a 28% reduction in emissions, securing approval from EU buyers.

 

4. Interpretation & Application

Analyze results and develop action plans:

  1. Validate data reliability and assess uncertainties.
  2. Develop decarbonization strategies (material substitution, energy efficiency upgrades, supply chain optimization).
  3. Apply results to ESG reports, CDP disclosures, carbon tax filings.
  4. Obtain third-party verification to enhance credibility and global recognition.



 

Related Standards and Frameworks

  1. ISO 14040 / ISO 14044: LCA principles and framework.
  2. ISO 14064: Organizational carbon footprint accounting.
  3. ESG reporting / CDP / EcoVadis / SBTi: International sustainability disclosure and rating systems.


 

Services Offered by DQS HK

Author

DQS Hong Kong

DQS – Leveraging Quality, Driving Success.

 

DQS empowers organizations worldwide to build trust, drive innovation, and achieve sustainable growth by certifying the future of business. Founded in 1985, DQS has grown into a global leader in the assessment and certification of management systems, with a team of 3,000 highly qualified auditors delivering over 130,000 audit days per year in more than 60 countries. Through internationally recognized certifications across 200+ standards, DQS helps businesses manage risks, ensure compliance, and unlock new opportunities in an evolving regulatory and business landscape.

 

Thinking beyond compliance, DQS is a trusted partner for digitalization, automation, and sustainability leadership. The company’s expertise covers a wide range of areas, spanning from cybersecurity and AI governance to ESG compliance, supply chain management, medical device safety, and future mobility, delivering real value to industries in their pursuit of resilient, sustainable, and intelligent systems. By leveraging advanced auditing methodologies, predictive analytics, and real-time insights, DQS supports organizations to future-proof their operations while demonstrating their commitment to excellence and responsible business practices.

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