ISO 14067 vs GHG Protocol Product Standard: A Practical Comparison for MSME Exporters

Published 2026-05-06.

Most MSMEs hear "product carbon footprint" and assume one global rulebook exists. There are two, and they disagree on subtle but expensive details.

What each standard actually covers

ISO 14067:2018 defines how to quantify a product carbon footprint and is widely referenced by buyers and verifiers. The GHG Protocol Product Standard, published by WRI/WBCSD, is older, freely available, and more prescriptive on data quality scoring.

Dimension	ISO 14067	GHG Protocol Product
Scope	Single impact (climate)	Single impact (climate)
Boundary defaults	Cradle-to-grave; cradle-to-gate allowed if justified	Cradle-to-grave preferred
Allocation hierarchy	Subdivision → system expansion → physical → economic	Same hierarchy, more examples
Biogenic carbon	Reported separately	Reported separately
Verification	ISO 14064-3	Independent assurance recommended

Where MSMEs get tripped up

Some EU buyers ask for "ISO 14067 compliant" PCFs by name. A GHG Protocol PCF is not automatically rejected, but you will be asked to map it.

Practical rule

If you export to the EU, default to ISO 14067 cradle-to-gate with a documented allocation method. Use our Product Carbon Footprint calculator; the engine is aligned to both standards and outputs a buyer-ready breakdown.

What to document either way

Functional unit (e.g. 1 kg of finished steel rod)
System boundary diagram with included and excluded processes
Primary vs secondary data percentage
Emission factor source for every line
Allocation method and the share applied

Keep this in one PDF next to your invoice template. Auditors do not want to chase files.