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Trusted, supplier‑specific PCF data at scale – powered by Catena‑X

Catena‑X enables trusted, supplier‑specific PCF data at scale – from calculation to verification

Why this works:

  • “Trusted”: addresses verification & credibility
  • “Supplier‑specific”: clear differentiation vs. averages
  • “At scale”: signals multi‑tier, industry readiness
  • “From calculation to verification”: frames the full value chain

A harmonized framework for interoperable PCF calculation, exchange, and verification across the automotive supply chain

Why trusted PCF data matters – and where today’s approaches fall short

Core Challenge

  • Supply‑chain emissions dominate automotive footprints, especially with electrification
  • Companies rely heavily on average and secondary data, limiting accuracy and actionability
  • PCF methodologies and formats differ across companies and tools, reducing comparability
  • Supplier‑specific primary data is hard to collect and reuse across tiers
  • Lack of trustworthy PCF data from suppliers as verification is time and cost intensive 

What is driving urgency now

  • Regulatory requirements (e.g. EU Battery Regulation, CBAM) require auditable PCF data
  • Climate commitments (Paris Agreement, SBTi) extend deep into multi‑tier supply chains
  • Procurement and reporting processes increasingly depend on reliable, comparable PCFs
  • OEMs and suppliers need scalable solutions, not bilateral, tool‑specific integrations

Regulatory requirements, decarbonization targets, and supply‑chain collaboration are accelerating the need for this shift.

The Catena‑X PCF use case is developed collaboratively by the automotive industry.

OEMs, suppliers across all tiers, solution providers, and verification experts jointly define and maintain the PCF methodology, exchange standards, and verification framework within Catena‑X expert groups.

This collaborative governance ensures that PCF standards are practical, interoperable, and aligned with real supply‑chain implementation needs — while remaining open to new participants and continuous improvement.

Status as of March 2026. Recent changes in Expert Group participation and companies with logo usage restrictions may not yet be reflected.

How Catena-X enables this and fills the gaps to calculate and exchange trustworthy PCF values

The Product Carbon Footprint use case in Catena-X establishes a shared and interoperable approach for generating and exchanging PCF values along the entire automotive value chain. Instead of isolated calculations and incompatible formats, Catena-X defines a common rule set, exchange standard, and technical framework so that PCF data can be trusted, compared and reused across partners.

Harmonized product-level PCF calculation based on the Catena-X PCF-Rulebook to ensure comparable and reusable results

 

Catena-X PCF Rulebook
PCF Calculation based on the Catena‑X PCF-Rulebook
   
The Catena‑X PCF Rulebook defines a harmonized methodology for calculating Product Carbon Footprints at product level. It ensures that PCF values are calculated consistently across companies and form a reliable basis for exchange and verification along the supply chain.
  
Common calculation rules  
One shared approach for modeling, quantifying, and documenting product‑level emissions  
  
Aligned system boundaries and data sources  
Consistent treatment of lifecycle stages, primary and secondary data 
Comparable and reusable PCF results
Enables PCF values to be shared without re‑calculation or reinterpretation
Foundation for digital exchange and trust
Provides the methodological basis for interoperable exchange and later verification
 
 

 

PCF Calculation Guidance PDF 

 The PCF Guidance helps companies apply the Catena-X PCF Rulebook correctly and consistently in real-world scenarios.

  • Practical workflows and examples to reduce interpretation effort
  • Clarification of complex and frequently discussed calculation topics
  • Developed and maintained by Catena-X PCF expert group  

 

Practical guidance for complex PCF calculation topics

  • Calculation
  • Allocation
  • Electricity
  • Logistics
  • Waste & Recycling
  • Data Modell
  • …

 

The following illustration from the PCF Guidance Document shows the step-by-step calculation of a PCF using an output shaft as an example, highlighting key process steps, data inputs, and calculation logic required for a comprehensive assessment.

 

Certified Catena-X Solutions for PCF Calculation

Discover the ready-to-use PCF calculation apps on the Cofinity-X Marketplace, built on the foundation of the Catena-X Association Rulebook. These apps provide an easy and reliable way to calculate product carbon footprints, fully aligned with the latest standards and methodologies defined by Catena-X. For additaional information check out the PCF Calculation Apps Pitch Session where the different apps are presented with their features and capabilities.

Marketplace

What is shared in Catena‑X is a structured PCF data set — not just one number

Product‑level PCF value

  • Transparent distinction between primary and secondary data
  • Defined system boundaries and lifecycle scope
  • Allocation and methodological references
  • Data quality and plausibility indicators

This allows PCF data to be reused, aggregated, and improved across tiers over time.

From day one — and for the long term

Catena‑X enables PCF data exchange even where primary data is not yet fully available. Secondary data can be used transparently — while the framework incentivizes a gradual increase of primary data over time.

With a common exchange standard in place, companies can choose different ways to implement PCF calculation and exchange in practice.

 

Primary Data Share — transparency on data origin

Primary Data Share indicates how much of a PCF is based on supplier‑specific primary data and how much relies on secondary data

  • Calculated and shared as part of the PCF data set
  • Makes data origin and data quality visible and comparable
  • Enables PCF exchange even when primary data is not yet fully available
  • Incentivizes a increase of primary data over time as data maturity improves. gradual

Propagation of PCF’s over multi-tier levels

 

A common exchange standard for interoperable PCF data

Once PCF data is calculated, it needs to be exchanged digitally and consistently across company boundaries. Catena‑X defines a common PCF exchange standard to ensure that all partners interpret and reuse PCF data in the same way.

CX-0136 Standard        CX PCF Data Model

 

The exchange standard ensures that PCF data keeps its meaning — regardless of the systems used. Interoperability is ensured with the usage of the PCF data model that includes aspects on the following information:

  • Product‑level PCF data set
  • Primary Data Share
  • System boundaries & lifecycle scope
  • Methodology & allocation references
  • Data quality indicators

To exchange PCF data within the Catena‑X ecosystem, companies connect to the Catena‑X data space.

Catena‑X defines the standards and governance for PCF exchange, while the operational data exchange is hosted by Cofinity‑X as the data space operator. Depending on their technical setup and governance needs, companies can choose different operating models for PCF exchange.

All of the following options require onboarding into the Catena-X data space. You can start your data space onboarding journey here followed by one of the options for implementing PCF Data Exchange.

Option 1: Ready-to-Use PCF Apps

 

The App-Only model provides the fastest and simplest entry into PCF exchange. It is tailored for companies that want to start sharing PCF data quickly without building connector infrastructure.

Ready-to-Use PCF App Option

Details:

  • Hosted connector included in the application
  • No own infrastructure required
  • Lowest operational and IT effort

Typical use case:

Companies that want to start PCF exchange quickly with minimal IT involvement.

Certified Catena-X PCF Exchange Apps

 
 
Further Links:

Option 2: Independent PCF Implementation

 

Looking to implement the use case on your own? With the open Tractus-X documentation, companies can easily get started. Step-by-step guidance, architecture blueprints, and integration tools are available to help you design, configure, and deploy Catena-X-compliant solutions independently. The KITs on Tractus-X are also maintained by the PCF Expert groups of the Catena-X association.

The self-managed implementation option

Details:

  • Own connector and exchange infrastructure
  • Based on open standards and the PCF Exchange KIT (Tractus-X)
  • More flexibility and control over integration and operations

Typical use case:

Companies with higher IT maturity or specific governance requirements.
In addition, organizations can rely on a list of qualified advisors and onboarding partners. These specialized partners support companies throughout their adoption journey — including solution design, technical implementation, parameterization of PCF calculation and exchange systems, and user training. They bring both domain expertise and hands-on Catena-X experience, enabling faster onboarding, higher data quality, and better alignment with the Rulebook and exchange standards.
 

PCF Verification and PCF Programm Certification Framework

To ensure verification and trust for Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data, Together for Sustainability (TfS) and Catena-Xhave jointly developed a comprehensive verification framework.

 

PCF Verification Framework

The TfS & Catena-X Verification and PCF Program Certification Framework establishes a structured approach to ensure that PCF data is reliable, transparent, and aligned with global sustainability standards. It defines how PCF values can be validated and certified across organizations, creating a consistent basis for trusted data exchange within the supply chain.

The underlying PCF data model is fully designed to support these verification and certification processes, enabling companies to document, share, and validate verified PCF information in a standardized and interoperable way. This ensures that verified PCF data can be seamlessly integrated into digital exchange scenarios without losing credibility or traceability.

In addition, organizations can apply to become attestation providers, offering verification and certification services within the ecosystem. By contributing independent assurance, these providers play a key role in strengthening trust, transparency, and the overall credibility of PCF data across Catena-X.

 

Catena-X Qualified Attestation Provider

The Catena-X Attestation Provider Qualification defines the rules and structure for becoming a trusted verifier of PCF data or certifier of PCF Programs, including:

  • Qualification process – Step-by-step requirements for onboarding as an attestation provider
  • Mandatory documentation – Proof of expertise, certifications, and compliance with assurance standards
  • Assessment criteria – Evaluation of technical, procedural, and organizational capabilities
  • Approval and registration – Formal recognition and listing in the Catena-X attestation provider registry
  • Ongoing compliance – Regular audits and performance checks to maintain qualification

Current attestation providers – Qualified Certifier and Verifier authorized to issue PCF attestations within the Catena-X ecosystem

Become an Attestation Providers        List of Attestation Providers

 

1. Stable foundation

Harmonized PCF Rulebook as the methodological baseline
Standardized PCF Exchange (CX-0136) as the interoperable backbone
Verification framework jointly developed with TfS

2. Continuous enhancement

Regular Rulebook updates based on implementation feedback
Expansion of guidance for complex topics (e.g. allocation, electricity, recycling)
Increasing alignment with sector-specific methodologies and regulations

3. Scalable adoption

Solutions for large enterprises and SMEs
Gradual increase of primary data share over time
Growing ecosystem of certified solutions and attestation providers

Catena‑X closes the critical gaps for trustworthy Product Carbon Footprints

A harmonized framework to calculate, exchange, and verify PCF — scalable for companies of all sizes.