Market Insight: How CBAM Is Shaping The Future Of Product Carbon Footprinting
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Executive Summary
In January 2026, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive phase. It now requires importers in six carbon-intensive sectors to report emissions embedded in imported goods and to purchase CBAM certificates corresponding to those emissions. This marks a shift from voluntary, customer‑driven product carbon footprints (PCFs) to a regime in which calculation accuracy carries direct financial liability. For software product providers, CBAM offers opportunities to expand their existing carbon management, product carbon footprinting and supplier engagement capabilities. As requirements intensify, the competitive landscape is evolving, with vendors leveraging their diverse heritages to build CBAM‑aligned products for both importers and suppliers.
Figure 1. Main differences between product carbon footprinting and CBAM
Figure 2. Key functional capabilities for CBAM data collection, calculation and reporting
Figure 3. CBAM capability strengths across software vendor categories
About the Authors
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Alessandra Leggieri
Senior Analyst
Alessandra is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, specializing in carbon management and software for product carbon footprints. Her research spans over 100 vendors in the carbon ma...
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Ryan Skinner
Research Director
Ryan is a Research Director at Verdantix, where he leads a team of analysts delivering research, data and advisory services that help clients navigate the fast-evolving landsc...
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