To meet climate expectations and stay competitive, automotive companies need reliable product carbon footprints. Sphera helps build standardized, verifiable PCF programs aligned with Catena-X requirements to inform decisions and drive measurable reductions across the value chain.
Why standardized PCF calculation matters
The automotive industry is transforming fast due to global competition, electrification, digitalization and evolving climate policies. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is both a challenge and an opportunity to lead the transition. Based on a life cycle approach, product carbon footprints help automakers measure and manage emissions across the value chain.
A reliable PCF depends on a consistent methodology. Without clear rules, supplier and product comparisons become ineffective. The Catena-X PCF Rulebook V4 defines how PCFs are calculated, enabling transparency and comparability that support credible sustainability strategies.
Verification with TfS and Catena-X frameworks
But calculating a PCF is not enough, because reporting companies and their customers need confidence in the numbers. That is why Together for Sustainability (TfS) and Catena-X developed a framework that defines verification levels to scale assurance to business needs:
- Level 1: Entry-level trust through automated dataset checks for correct PCF data model completion and structural conformity.
- Level 2: Certified internal PCF program, including governance, methodology and data management, audited by a Catena-X-accredited conformity assessment body. (CAB)
- Level 3: Verification of individual PCFs based on a certified program, with first, second or third party assurance.
These levels help balance rigor, cost and trust in carbon data.
The role of IMDS in automotive
While Catena‑X offers a new standard on how to exchange PCF data across the value chain, the International Material Data System (IMDS) has long been the established tool for managing material data in the automotive industry. With IMDS 15.0, companies can integrate and share PCF data with their customers. To ensure comparability, IMDS requires PCFs to be aligned with the Catena‑X PCF Rulebook. This unites compliance reporting and carbon transparency within one workflow. Now, companies simply need to build their know-how and PCF calculation capabilities.
How Sphera supports the automotive industry
At Sphera, we have helped automotive companies build and scale their PCF programs for more than 30 years and understand the complexity of your products and operations. That is why we combine consulting expertise with software and data to deliver end-to-end solutions tailored to your specific needs:
- Consulting services: Align methodology with Catena-X, execute PCF calculations, address regulations such as the EU Batteries Regulation (2023/1542) and prepare PCF programs for CAB verification.
- Software tools: Support supply chain data exchange and automated PCF calculations.
- Comprehensive data repository: Annually updated and DEKRA-verified, Managed LCA Content and curated emission factors provide robust background data for accurate, comparable PCFs used by leading automotive companies.
