How to Use the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) During the Bidding Process?

Carbon emissions are now emerging as a key decision-making factor in purchasing, on par with price and quality. This was demonstrated by the speakers at the webinar co-organized by Global Climate Initiatives (GCI) and ObsAR, which focused on the use of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) in competitive bidding processes.

From Carbon Footprint Assessment to Decarbonizing Procurement

As Philippe Mangeard, GCI’s founding president, pointed out, most companies that have conducted a carbon assessment then run into the complexity of Scope 3, which accounts for the majority of emissions. However, the key lies in supplier engagement: understanding the carbon footprint of the products and services purchased enables companies to take concrete action across their supply chain.

Decarbonizing Public Procurement: The Example of Bordeaux Métropole

Bordeaux Métropole shared a concrete example of best practices: in a procurement process for office furniture, the local government incorporated a carbon criterion weighted at 20% using the Decarbo’Tender®tool, developed by GCI. This approach made it possible to prioritize the most environmentally responsible bids while ensuring equal treatment of all bidders.

“The PCF allowed us to objectively compare bids and identify those with the best environmental performance,” explained Moustapha Elouajidi, Deputy Director of Purchasing and Public Procurement.

A standardized, transparent, and collaborative approach

The PCF calculation, which complies with ISO 14067, provides a robust and audited methodological foundation. When combined with Decarbo’Solution® —the winning trio consisting of Decarbo’Tender®, Decarbo’Target®, and Decarbo’Supply® —it enables companies to effectively engage suppliers and transform regulatory requirements (such as the Climate and Resilience Act and SBTi targets) into drivers of sustainable performance.

👉 For more information:

• Decarbonizing Procurement with Decarbo’Supply®
• Chart Your Path to a Low-Carbon Future with Decarbo’Target®

Toward a New Form of Carbon Competitiveness

Testimonials from public entities such as Bordeaux Métropole, as well as from private companies such asAuchan Retail or Schmidt Groupe, show that the PCF is becoming a key tool for carbon competitiveness.
Through Decarbo’Solution®, GCI supports organizations in achieving measurable, collaborative, and economically viable decarbonization.

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