ISO TR 21916-2021 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TR 21916:2021 – Technical report providing guidance on the use of biogenic carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of products and services, including approaches for reporting, calculation principles and illustrative examples to help practitioners integrate biogenic carbon flows into product-level GHG assessments.

Abstract

This technical report gives guidance on the treatment of biogenic carbon in life cycle assessment and related greenhouse gas accounting for products and services. It clarifies definitions, describes calculation options for biogenic carbon storage and emissions, and presents reporting recommendations and examples to ensure consistent and transparent treatment of biogenic carbon across LCA studies and product GHG declarations.

General information

• Status: Published, Technical Report (ISO/TR)
• Publication date: 2021
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 13.020 (Environment protection engineering), 13.040 (Environmental management)
• Edition / version: 1st edition (2021)
• Number of pages: Approximately 42 pages

Scope

ISO/TR 21916:2021 provides guidance for the assessment and reporting of biogenic carbon and associated greenhouse gas flows in life cycle assessments and product-level GHG accounting. It addresses definitions and principles, alternatives for handling temporary carbon storage, accounting for emissions from biomass combustion and degradation, and reporting to improve consistency and comparability of studies. The report is intended for practitioners conducting LCA, product environmental footprinting, carbon footprinting, and related life-cycle based GHG assessments.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and terminology related to biogenic carbon, carbon storage, and related GHG flows.
• Options for accounting for biogenic carbon in LCA and GHG calculations, including instantaneous release, delayed release, and long-term storage approaches.
• Guidance on allocation and system boundary choices when biomass is a feedstock or energy source.
• Recommendations for reporting assumptions, time horizons and justification of chosen approaches to ensure transparency.
• Illustrative examples demonstrating application of methods to different product types and scenarios.
• Considerations for interactions with land-use change, carbon pools in ecosystems, and carbon removals.

Typical use and users

Used by LCA practitioners, environmental consultants, product developers, sustainability managers, auditors, and policymakers who need consistent guidance on how to treat biogenic carbon in product GHG assessments. It is useful for preparing environmental product declarations (EPDs), carbon footprint studies, corporate product sustainability reporting, and for researchers developing or comparing LCA methodologies.

Related standards

Closely related to ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 (life cycle assessment principles and requirements), ISO 14067 (carbon footprint of products), ISO 14025 (environmental labels and declarations — EPDs), and other ISO guidance on climate-related accounting and carbon removals. It supplements product-level GHG reporting standards and may be referenced alongside national or sector-specific LCA guidance.

Keywords

biogenic carbon, carbon storage, greenhouse gas accounting, life cycle assessment, LCA, carbon footprint, product GHG, carbon removals, biomass, reporting guidance

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TR 21916:2021 is a technical report providing guidance on the treatment and reporting of biogenic carbon in life cycle assessments and product-level greenhouse gas accounting.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers definitions, methodological options for accounting for biogenic carbon (instantaneous vs delayed vs long-term storage), allocation and boundary choices, reporting recommendations, and examples to improve transparency and comparability of results.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: LCA practitioners, environmental consultants, product sustainability teams, EPD developers, auditors and researchers working on product carbon footprints and life-cycle based GHG assessments.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: It was published in 2021 as a current technical report; users should check for any later revisions or related new ISO publications that may update or extend the guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It complements the ISO 14040/14044 series on life cycle assessment and ISO 14067 on product carbon footprints, serving as focused guidance on biogenic carbon within that broader family of standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Biogenic carbon, carbon storage, carbon footprint, life cycle assessment, GHG accounting, biomass, product GHG, reporting guidance.