The key objectives for Member States focus on the adoption and promotion of the Environmental Footprint (EF) methods, specifically the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) methodologies, to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations.

According to Article 3 of the Recommendation, Member States are encouraged to integrate these methods into voluntary policies, ensuring they do not create obstacles to the free movement of goods, recognize EF-based data as valid in national schemes, contribute to high-quality EF-compliant databases, and support SMEs with tools to measure and improve their environmental performance​.

These objectives are relevant for cities and regions, as they guide local authorities in implementing sustainable policies, improving resource efficiency, and fostering low-impact urban planning. For instance, cities can use the OEF method for assessing public sector environmental performance, while regions can support businesses in adopting PEF to improve sustainability in supply chains.

Furthermore, the data and tools provided by Member States can help local entities transition to greener economies by ensuring that environmental claims are based on standardized, transparent methodologies, aligning with broader EU sustainability goals.

Chapter 4 in the Report "Overview of EU and national public and private initiatives in agro-food" by Wageningen University & Research, presents various examples of national public initiatives that promote Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in environmental footprinting. Countries such as Italy, France, the UK, the Nordic countries, and the Netherlands have implemented these approaches to advance sustainability efforts. More information about the report.

• Date of document: 15/12/2021;
• Date of adoption: 15/12/2021;