Smart Innovators: Product Carbon Footprinting

Published 28 March 2025 by Alessandra Leggieri & Ryan Skinner &

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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. 

Table of contents

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

Table of figures

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

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 zero management, covering technologies and services. Prior to joining Verdantix, Alessandra completed an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London.

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 zero strategies, carbon management, climate risk and technology. Prior to joining Verdantix, Ryan was a principal analyst at Forrester Research, where he initiated the research into ESG data and analytics offerings. He also has extensive experience of helping software companies with their messaging, positioning, market and technology strategies. Ryan studied at Duke University, the University of Manchester and the University of Oslo, and speaks Norwegian fluently.

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