PEFCR Update – February 2025
The Pet Food Sector was selected with ten others to take part in the pilot phase (2013-2018) leading to the development of the first set of Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR).
In line with the learnings of the EF pilot phase, a new Commission Recommendation was published in December 2021, leading to the update of the pet Food PEFCR published in February 2025.
The updated version currently remains valid until 31 December 2025.
Additional Documents are available upon request.
The PEFCR for Pet Food
The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for pet food establish a standardized framework for assessing the environmental impact of prepared pet food for cats and dogs. This PEFCR applies to complete meals sold in the EU market and covers the entire life cycle of pet food, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life disposal.
Applicable Product Categories
The PEFCR for pet food includes four key sub-categories:
- Wet cat food
- Dry cat food
- Wet dog food
- Dry dog food
Each of these categories underwent comprehensive screening studies to develop virtual representative products, which serve as benchmarks for environmental impact assessments. Further supporting studies, based on real-world pet food products from multiple manufacturers, were conducted to refine the PEFCR methodology.
Life Cycle Stages Covered
The PEFCR evaluates the entire life cycle (cradle-to-grave) of pet food, including:
✔ Ingredients sourcing
✔ Packaging production
✔ Pet food manufacturing
✔ Distribution
✔ Use phase
✔ Packaging end-of-life (EOL) disposal
Primary data from pet food manufacturers, combined with EU market statistics, were used to define the bills of ingredients (BOI) and packaging composition for each representative product.
Key Features of the PEFCR
- Guidance on Data Use: Specifies requirements for primary and secondary data collection.
- Data Quality Standards: Defines expectations for accuracy and reliability.
- Allocation Rules: Establishes methodologies for impact distribution across processes.
- Impact Category Selection: Outlines which environmental impact categories must be included in PEF assessments.
- Updated Emission Factors & Process Modelling: Integrates the latest scientific data for more precise environmental impact evaluation.
Comparative Assessments & Compliance
The PEFCR enables the comparative evaluation of different pet food products within the same sub-category.
- Optional Use: For internal PEF applications within a company.
- Mandatory Use: When PEF study results are publicly communicated.
By following this updated PEFCR, pet food manufacturers can ensure transparent, consistent, and reliable environmental footprint assessments, helping both businesses and consumers make informed, eco-conscious choices.