The expanded certification applies to the methodology Arkema uses to calculate product-level carbon footprint information shared with customers.

Expanding the Calculation Framework

Arkema's methodology uses a cradle-to-gate assessment boundary.

This approach accounts for greenhouse gas emissions associated with the stages of a product's life cycle through manufacturing and its departure from the production facility.

It does not represent a complete cradle-to-grave assessment of the product's use and end-of-life impacts.

According to the company, the calculations incorporate site-specific internal manufacturing data, primary raw-material information received from suppliers and secondary information obtained from external databases.

The certification covers both manual calculations and automated calculations performed through Arkema's proprietary digital tool.

TÜV Rheinland's expanded certification confirms the methodology's alignment with the chemical-industry guidance developed through Together for Sustainability.

Supporting Product-Level Reporting

For chemical suppliers and downstream manufacturers, product carbon footprint information can support lifecycle assessment, supply-chain reporting and customer evaluations of raw-material emissions.

Arkema said the expanded certification strengthens transparency and alignment with other companies using the TfS methodology.

The announcement concerns the calculation process used to generate product carbon footprint data. It does not certify that every Arkema product has a low carbon footprint or independently verify emissions reductions across the company's portfolio.

The updated certification also builds on an existing methodology rather than introducing a completely new calculation system.

For coatings manufacturers purchasing resins, additives and other specialty materials, consistent supplier carbon footprint calculations may help support more comparable material assessments.

PCI has previously covered similar third-party verification efforts, including Syensqo's certification of its digital product carbon footprint tool and PPG's certification of environmental impact measurement tools.

Coatings manufacturers increasingly rely on supplier data when calculating product emissions and evaluating material options. Follow related developments in sustainable coatings and materials.