SIST EN ISO 14026:2019

Environmental labels and declarations - Principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information (ISO 14026:2017)

ISO 14026:2017 provides principles, requirements and guidelines for footprint communications for products addressing areas of concern relating to the environment.
ISO 14026:2017 also provides requirements and guidelines for footprint communication programmes, as well as requirements for verification procedures.
ISO 14026:2017 does not address the quantification of a footprint, nor does it address the communication of footprints that are not related to the environment, e.g. footprints addressing social or economic issues. In particular, footprint communications relating to the economic and social dimensions of sustainable development are outside the scope of ISO 14026:2017. Footprint communications relating to organizations are also outside the scope of ISO 14026:2017.

Umweltkennzeichnungen und -deklarationen - Grundsätze, Anforderungen und Richtlinien für die Kommunikation von Fußabdruckinformationen (ISO 14026:2017)

Déclarations et étiquettes environnementales - Principes, exigences et lignes directrices pour la communication des informations d'empreinte (ISO 14026:2017)

Le présent document fournit des principes, des exigences et des lignes directrices applicables aux communications d'empreinte pour des produits, traitant de sujets de préoccupation en rapport avec l'environnement.
Le présent document fournit également des exigences et des lignes directrices concernant les programmes de communication d'empreinte, ainsi que des exigences relatives aux procédures de vérification.
Le présent document ne traite pas de la quantification d'une empreinte, ni de la communication d'empreintes sans rapport avec l'environnement, par exemple les empreintes traitant de problèmes économiques et sociaux. Les communications d'empreintes liées aux dimensions économiques et sociales du développement durable, notamment, ne relèvent pas du domaine d'application du présent document. Les communications d'empreintes liées aux organismes ne relèvent pas non plus du domaine d'application du présent document.

Okoljske označbe in deklaracije - Okoljsko samodeklariranje (okoljsko označevanje II. vrste) - Dopolnilo A1 (ISO 14021:1999/Amd 1:2011)

ISO 14026: 2017 podaja načela, zahteve in smernice za okoljsko samodeklariranje izdelkov, ki imajo vpliv na okolje.
ISO 14026:2017 določa tudi zahteve in smernice za programe okoljskega samodeklariranja izdelkov ter zahteve za postopke preverjanja.
ISO 14026:2017 ne obravnava količinske opredelitve ogljičnega odtisa in ne obravnava deklariranja, ki ni povezano z okoljem, npr. odtisa, ki obravnava družbena ali ekonomska vprašanja. Okoljsko samodeklariranje, ki se nanaša na ekonomske in družbene razsežnosti trajnostnega razvoja, ne spada na področje uporabe standarda ISO 14026:2017. Okoljsko samodeklariranje, ki se nanaša na organizacije, ravno tako ne spada na področje uporabe standarda ISO 14026:2017.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Jun-2018
• Publication Date: 12-Dec-2018
• ICS: 13.020.50 - Ecolabelling
• Technical Committee: UZO - Environmental management
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 06-Dec-2018
• Due Date: 10-Feb-2019
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2018
• Ref Project: EN ISO 14026:2018 - Environmental labels and declarations - Principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information (ISO 14026:2017)

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
01-februar-2019
2NROMVNHR]QDþEHLQGHNODUDFLMH2NROMVNRVDPRGHNODULUDQMHRNROMVNR
R]QDþHYDQMH,,YUVWH'RSROQLOR$,62$PG
Environmental labels and declarations - Principles, requirements and guidelines for
communication of footprint information (ISO 14026:2017)
Umweltkennzeichnungen und -deklarationen - Grundsätze, Anforderungen und
Richtlinien für die Kommunikation von Fußabdruckinformationen (ISO 14026:2017)
Déclarations et étiquettes environnementales - Principes, exigences et lignes directrices
pour la communication des informations d'empreinte (ISO 14026:2017)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14026:2018
ICS:
13.020.50 2]QDþHYDQMH]HNRORãNR Ecolabelling
QDOHSNR
SIST EN ISO 14026:2019 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019


EN ISO 14026
EUROPEAN STANDARD

NORME EUROPÉENNE

October 2018
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.020.50
English Version

Environmental labels and declarations - Principles,
requirements and guidelines for communication of
footprint information (ISO 14026:2017)
Déclarations et étiquettes environnementales - Umweltkennzeichnungen und -deklarationen -
Principes, exigences et lignes directrices pour la Grundsätze, Anforderungen und Richtlinien für die
communication des informations d'empreinte (ISO Kommunikation von Fußabdruckinformationen (ISO
14026:2017) 14026:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 6 August 2018.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.





EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14026:2018 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
EN ISO 14026:2018 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3

2

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
EN ISO 14026:2018 (E)
European foreword
The text of ISO 14026:2017 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207 "Environmental
management” of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as
EN ISO 14026:2018 by Technical Committee CEN/SS S26 “Environmental management” the secretariat
of which is held by CCMC.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2019, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14026:2017 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 14026:2018 without any modification.
3

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14026
First edition
2017-12
Environmental labels and
declarations — Principles,
requirements and guidelines
for communication of footprint
information
Déclarations et étiquettes environnementales — Principes, exigences
et lignes directrices pour la communication des informations
d'empreinte
Reference number
ISO 14026:2017(E)
©
ISO 2017

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms relating to footprint communication . 2
3.2 Terms relating to life cycle assessment and data . 2
3.3 Terms relating to organizations and products . 4
3.4 Terms relating to data quality and verification . 4
4 Objectives . 5
5 Principles . 5
5.1 Credibility and reliability . 5
5.2 Life cycle perspective . 6
5.3 Comparability. 6
5.4 Transparency . 6
5.5 Regionality . 6
6 Communication requirements . 6
6.1 Relationship with ISO 14020 . 6
6.2 General requirements . 6
6.3 Intended audience . 7
6.4 Identification of area of concern . 7
6.5 Information to be provided . 7
6.5.1 General. 7
6.5.2 Supporting information . 8
6.5.3 Use of explanatory statements . 9
6.6 Footprint graphics . 9
6.7 Communication of more than one footprint . . 9
6.7.1 General. 9
6.7.2 Graphics . 9
6.8 Access to information .10
6.9 Comparative footprint communications .10
6.9.1 Types of comparative footprint communications .10
6.9.2 Requirements for all comparative footprint communications .10
6.9.3 Comparisons with the products of other organizations .10
6.9.4 Footprint communications suggesting overall superiority .11
6.9.5 Performance tracking .11
7 Requirements for the use of data to support the communication .11
7.1 Acceptable footprint results .11
7.2 Assurance of data quality .12
7.3 Rules for data confidentiality .12
7.4 Data used in comparative footprint communications .12
7.4.1 General.12
7.4.2 PCR for comparative footprint communications .12
8 Footprint communication programme requirements.13
8.1 Scope of the programme .13
8.2 Use of PCR .13
8.3 Footprint communication programme rules .13
8.3.1 Programme instructions .13
8.3.2 Declarations of conformity .13
8.3.3 Monitoring the footprint communication .13
8.4 Communication responsibilities of the footprint communication programme operator .14
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved iii

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

8.5 Establishing data quality requirements .14
9 Verification requirements .14
9.1 Verification of footprint communication .14
9.2 Competence of footprint communication verifiers .14
9.3 Independence of verifiers .15
Annex A (informative) Responsibilities of the footprint communication programme operator .16
Bibliography .17
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management,
Subcommittee SC 3, Environmental labelling.
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved v

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

Introduction
This document belongs to a suite of standards dealing with environmental labels and declarations
for products. It provides requirements and guidelines for how environmental aspects and potential
environmental impacts of a product related to a specific area of concern can be communicated. The aim
of this document is to ensure that only valid, science-based and comparable purchasing information is
provided without any “greenwashing”.
Footprint communication is intended solely to promote the dissemination of credible product
information that is not misleading.
Footprint communications take into consideration the local or regional context relevant to the area where
the potential environmental impacts might occur, including the production, use and end-of-life stages.
This document is intended to ensure that all footprint communications, regardless of the quantification
methodology, follow the same principles and procedures.
This document provides principles, requirements and guidelines for an organization wishing to make a
product footprint communication.
vi © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14026:2017(E)
Environmental labels and declarations — Principles,
requirements and guidelines for communication of
footprint information
1 Scope
This document provides principles, requirements and guidelines for footprint communications for
products addressing areas of concern relating to the environment.
This document also provides requirements and guidelines for footprint communication programmes,
as well as requirements for verification procedures.
This document does not address the quantification of a footprint, nor does it address the communication
of footprints that are not related to the environment, e.g. footprints addressing social or economic
issues. In particular, footprint communications relating to the economic and social dimensions of
sustainable development are outside the scope of this document. Footprint communications relating to
organizations are also outside the scope of this document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14020, Environmental labels and declarations — General principles
ISO 14025:2006, Environmental labels and declarations — Type III environmental declarations —
Principles and procedures
ISO/TS 14027, Environmental labels and declarations — Development of product category rules
ISO 14044:2006, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines
ISO 14046, Environmental management — Water footprint — Principles, requirements and guidelines
ISO/TS 14067, Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for
quantification and communication
ISO/TS 14071, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Critical review processes and
reviewer competencies: Additional requirements and guidelines to ISO 14044:2006
ISO/IEC 17050-1, Conformity assessment — Supplier's declaration of conformity — Part 1: General
requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved 1

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

3.1 Terms relating to footprint communication
3.1.1
footprint communication
result of preparation, provision and dissemination of the footprint (3.2.2), supporting information and
explanatory statement (3.1.7)
3.1.2
comparative footprint communication
footprint communication (3.1.1) regarding the superiority or equivalence of one product (3.3.3) versus
another product, or one product over time, with regard to a single area of concern (3.2.1)
3.1.3
footprint communication programme
programme for the development and use of a footprint communication (3.1.1) based on a set of
operating rules
Note 1 to entry: The footprint communication programme can be voluntary or mandatory, international, regional,
national, local or sectoral.
3.1.4
footprint information module
compilation of data to be used as a basis for a footprint (3.2.2), covering a unit process or a combination
of unit processes that are part of the life cycle (3.2.3) of a product (3.3.3)
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.13, modified — The words “Type III environmental declaration” have been
replaced with “footprint”.]
3.1.5
footprint performance tracking report
report comparing the footprint (3.2.2) for a product (3.3.3) with the footprint for an original or
previous product, or with the same product over time, where the product(s) are marketed by the same
organization and have the same functional unit (3.2.5) or declared unit (3.2.6)
3.1.6
footprint graphic
images or pictograms used when communicating numerical information as part of footprint
communication (3.1.1)
3.1.7
explanatory statement
explanation which is needed or given so that a footprint communication (3.1.1) can be properly
understood by a purchaser, potential purchaser or user of the product (3.3.3)
[SOURCE: ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.7, modified — The words “environmental claim” have been replaced with
“footprint communication”.]
3.2 Terms relating to life cycle assessment and data
3.2.1
area of concern
aspect of the natural environment, human health or resources of interest to society
EXAMPLE Water, climate change, biodiversity.
3.2.2
footprint
metric(s) used to report life cycle assessment (3.2.4) results addressing an area of concern (3.2.1)
2 © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

3.2.3
life cycle
consecutive and interlinked stages of a product system, from raw material acquisition or generation
from natural resources to final disposal
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.1]
3.2.4
life cycle assessment
LCA
compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts (3.2.10) of a
product system throughout its life cycle (3.2.3)
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.2]
3.2.5
functional unit
quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.20]
3.2.6
declared unit
quantity of a product (3.3.3) for use as a reference unit in a footprint communication (3.1.1) based on
life cycle assessment (3.2.4), for the expression of environmental information in footprint information
modules (3.1.4)
3
EXAMPLE 1 kg of primary steel, 1 m of crude oil.
[SOURCE: ISO 21930:2017, 3.1.11, modified — The word “construction” has been deleted before
“product”, the abbreviated term “EPD” (“environmental product declaration”) has been replaced with
“footprint communication”, the word “footprint” has been added before “information modules”, the
example has been modified and the note to entry has been deleted.]
3.2.7
product category rules
PCR
set of specific rules, requirements and guidelines for developing footprint communications (3.1.1) for
one or more product categories (3.3.4)
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.5, modified — The words “Type III environmental declarations” have been
replaced with “footprint communications”.]
3.2.8
weighting
converting and possibly aggregating indicator results across impact categories using numerical factors
based on value-choices
[SOURCE: ISO 14044:2006, 4.4.3.1, bullet c)]
3.2.9
environmental aspect
element of an organization's activities or products (3.3.3) or services that can interact with the
environment
[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.2.2, modified — The words “interacts or” and have been deleted before
“can interact” and the notes to entry have been deleted.]
© ISO 2017 – All rights reserved 3

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

3.2.10
environmental impact
change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an
organization’s environmental aspects (3.2.9)
[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.2.4]
3.3 Terms relating to organizations and products
3.3.1
consumer
individual member of the general public purchasing or using goods, property or services for private
purposes
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.16]
3.3.2
interested party
person or organization that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or
activity
EXAMPLE Customers, communities, suppliers, regulators, non-governmental organizations, investors and
employees.
Note 1 to entry: To “perceive itself to be affected” means the perception has been made known to the organization.
[SOURCE: ISO 14001:2015, 3.1.6]
3.3.3
product
any goods or service
[SOURCE: ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.14]
3.3.4
product category
group of products (3.3.3) that can fulfil equivalent functions
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.12]
3.3.5
footprint communication programme operator
body that conducts a footprint communication programme (3.1.3)
Note 1 to entry: A footprint communication (3.1.1) programme operator can be a company or a group of companies,
industrial sector or trade association, public authorities or agencies, or an independent scientific body or other
organization. An organization that develops footprint communications solely relating to the organization's own
products (3.3.3) is also considered to be a footprint communication programme operator.
3.4 Terms relating to data quality and verification
3.4.1
data quality
characteristics of data that relate to their ability to satisfy stated requirements
[SOURCE: ISO 14040:2006, 3.19]
4 © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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SIST EN ISO 14026:2019
ISO 14026:2017(E)

3.4.2
verification
confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements have been
fulfilled
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2015, 3.8.12, modified — The notes to entry have been deleted.]
3.4.3
verifier
person or body that carries out verification (3.4.2)
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this document, a verifier is also a person or body that carries out an
assessment of data quality (3.4.1) and other aspects of a footprint (3.2.2) study.
[SOURCE: ISO 14025:2006, 3.8, modified — The note to entry has been added.]
3.4.4
competence
ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results
[SOURCE:
...