Smart Innovators: Product Carbon Footprinting
28 Mar, 2025
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Executive Summary
Decarbonizing products has become a top priority for sustainability, procurement, product and supply chain professionals. To comply with emerging regulations such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and gain a competitive edge, firms must transition from estimated product carbon footprints (PCFs) to bottom-up supplier data, or at least accurate secondary data estimations. Simultaneously, suppliers are increasingly being asked to fulfil numerous product carbon footprinting requests from their customers, driving the adoption of specialized software solutions. This report benchmarks innovation across 16 providers from LCA, carbon management and supply chain sustainability backgrounds, covering three key areas: data collection and management, PCF calculation, and performance analysis and reporting. Software providers offering PCF functionality can use this report to understand the competitive landscape in which they operate. Sustainability, procurement and supply chain leaders and product managers can use the analysis to navigate the diverse landscape of solutions, assess their current and future product carbon footprinting needs, explore emerging capabilities, and compare vendors to inform their software selection process.
Summary for decision-makers
Carbon embodied in supply chains threatens product decarbonization
Accurate product emissions data are key to competing in the low-carbon economy
Rising demand for product carbon footprinting creates internal and external challenges
Product carbon footprinting is one of the fastest-growing areas in lifecycle assessment (LCA) and carbon management
Vendors’ product carbon footprinting offers hinge on three core capabilities
Vendors exhibit differentiated strengths, based on their legacies
Innovation focuses on supplier engagement, scenario modelling and AI
Factors firms should consider when purchasing software for product carbon footprinting
Carbon embodied in supply chains threatens product decarbonization
Accurate product emissions data are key to competing in the low-carbon economy
Rising demand for product carbon footprinting creates internal and external challenges
Product carbon footprinting is one of the fastest-growing areas in lifecycle assessment (LCA) and carbon management
Vendors’ product carbon footprinting offers hinge on three core capabilities
Vendors exhibit differentiated strengths, based on their legacies
Innovation focuses on supplier engagement, scenario modelling and AI
Factors firms should consider when purchasing software for product carbon footprinting
Figure 1. Measuring PCFs is a standard practice
Figure 2. Background information on vendors included in the report
Figure 3. Evaluated firms and selection criteria
Figure 4. Three distinct types of capabilities support product carbon footprinting
Figure 5. Four software categories support PCF management
Figure 6. PCF solution providers: capabilities assessment
Figure 2. Background information on vendors included in the report
Figure 3. Evaluated firms and selection criteria
Figure 4. Three distinct types of capabilities support product carbon footprinting
Figure 5. Four software categories support PCF management
Figure 6. PCF solution providers: capabilities assessment
BMW Group, ASDA, IKEA, Together For Sustainability (TfS), PRé Sustainability, Dow, CDP, Makersite, GHG Protocol, Catena-X, CO2 AI, Cozero, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Apple, ProtoTech Solutions, Carbmee, Emitwise, IFF, One Click LCA, Tanso, Ecochain, SAP, Altruistiq, Arbor, OPTEL Group, CarbonChain, Sphera, Terrascope, P6 Technologies, MuirAI, Siemens, Autodesk, AllocNow, iPoint-systems, Unilever, HSBC, Partnership for Carbon Transparency (PACT), PwC
About the Authors

Alessandra Leggieri
Industry Analyst
Alessandra Leggieri is an Industry Analyst in the Verdantix Net Zero & Climate Risk practice. Her current research agenda focuses on solutions for GHG emissions and net ze…
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Ryan Skinner
Research Director, Net Zero & Climate Risk
Ryan is the Research Director for the Verdantix Net Zero & Climate Risk practice. He guides the research team to develop compelling research at the intersection of net zer…
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