European Commission Recommendation on the use of Environmental Footprint methods

The European Commission has issued a recommendation on the use of Environmental Footprint methods to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations. The recommendation emphasizes the importance of reliable environmental information for decision-making and competitiveness. The Environmental Footprint methods include Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) methods, along with specific rules for different product categories and sectors, as laid down in the Annexes. The recommendation encourages Member States, companies, and organizations to use these methods voluntarily, provides guidelines for data quality, and calls for support to SMEs. It aims to contribute to a clean and circular economy, align with the European Green Deal, and integrate with other policy tools. The document also highlights the ongoing development and potential integration of the Environmental Footprint methods in various EU policies and initiatives. The recommendation replaces a previous one from 2013 and includes provisions for reporting on its implementation.

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