DG Environment is working, in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability, on the development of two methodological guides for the calculation of the environmental footprint of products and companies.

This activity is the answer of the Commission to the call by Member States and other stakeholders to develop a common European methodology for quantitative assessment of environmental performance of products and companies. These methodological guides will be a basis for coherent application of life-cycle assessment in the existing and future policy instruments at European level.

The Commission will test the draft methodology by carrying out a series of pilot projectsThe call for volunteers is now open for EU organisations with life cycle assessment experience (companies or consortia of companies, trade unions, professional bodies, etc.) of all sizes and from any sector to participate in the pilot studies.

The call for volunteers is open until 13 May 2011.

You can find background information including objectives, timelines and applications at the following links:

Product Environmental Footprint:  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/product_footprint.htm

Corporate Environmental Footprint: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/corporate_footprint.htm


If you need any further information please contact the DG environment by email at: env-environmental-footprint@ec.europa.eu