ISO 14026-2017 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 14026-2017 — Environmental labels and declarations — Principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information. This International Standard specifies principles, requirements and guidance for how footprint information (environmental footprints) of products should be communicated to ensure accuracy, comparability and to avoid misleading claims.

Abstract

ISO 14026:2017 provides principles, requirements and guidelines for footprint communications for products, including requirements for footprint communication programmes and for verification procedures. It does not address the quantification methodologies for footprints (these rely on LCA standards such as ISO 14044), nor does it cover footprints that are not environmental (for example social or economic footprints) or footprints of organizations.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed in ISO review process).
• Publication date: December 2017 (2017-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.020.50 (Ecolabelling) — listed under environmental labelling and declarations.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017).
• Number of pages: 17 pages (ISO published length).

Scope

ISO 14026:2017 is limited to the communication of environmental footprint information for products. It defines principles and requirements for footprint communications and for footprint communication programmes, and gives guidance on verification. The standard explicitly excludes the quantification methodology for footprints (these are handled by LCA and footprint-specific standards such as ISO 14044 and ISO 14046) and excludes non-environmental footprints and organization-level footprint communications.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for credible footprint communication: accuracy, relevance, transparency, and avoidance of misleading claims (credibility and reliability).
• Requirements for footprint communications: must be based on a footprint study (LCA-based), be product- and scope-specific, state included life cycle stages, present uncertainties, and avoid implying wider environmental benefits than supported.
• Modular presentation: footprint information modules and clear delimitation when reporting subsystems or components.
• Programme and PCR linkage: footprint communications should follow product category rules (PCR) developed in accordance with ISO/TS 14027 when required.
• Verification and conformity: requirements and guidance for verification procedures to support trustworthy footprint claims.
• Relationship with other ISO environmental labelling standards (ISO 14020 series, ISO 14025) and LCA standards (ISO 14044).

Typical use and users

Manufacturers and brand owners preparing product footprint communications, programme operators and developers of PCRs, conformity assessment and verification bodies, sustainability consultants, procurement professionals, retailers and policy makers who need guidance on communicating verified, non-misleading product footprint information. The standard is primarily aimed at product-level communications (business-to-business and business-to-consumer contexts where applicable).

Related standards

Key related documents include: ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations / EPD principles and procedures), ISO 14044 (LCA requirements and guidelines), ISO/TS 14027 (development of product category rules), ISO 14046 (water footprint), and other ISO 14020-series guidance on environmental labels and claims. These standards provide the methodological and programme context for ISO 14026 communications.

Keywords

footprint communication, environmental labels and declarations, product footprint, product category rules (PCR), verification, life cycle assessment (LCA), transparency, ecolabelling.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 14026:2017 is an international standard that sets principles, requirements and guidance for the communication of environmental footprint information of products — i.e., how footprint results should be presented and verified so they are accurate, comparable and not misleading.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the communication aspects of product environmental footprints (presentation, required supporting information, programme and verification requirements), but does not prescribe how footprints are calculated — that is covered by LCA and footprint assessment standards such as ISO 14044 and ISO 14046.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Product manufacturers, EPD/footprint programme operators, PCR developers, verifiers and sustainability consultants, as well as buyers and regulators needing reliable product footprint information.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 14026 was published in December 2017 (Edition 1). According to ISO metadata it is published and has been subject to ISO's systematic review process; users should check ISO or their national standards body for any confirmed revisions or replacement publications since 2017.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it belongs to the ISO environmental labels and declarations family and relates closely to the ISO 14020 series, ISO 14025 (Type III declarations / EPDs), ISO/TS 14027 (PCR development) and LCA standards like ISO 14044. It should be used alongside those documents when preparing and verifying footprint communications.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Footprint communication, environmental footprint, ecolabelling, product category rules (PCR), verification, life cycle assessment (LCA), transparency, environmental declaration.