As part of the Sustainability theme day on March 19, 2026 Klaus Falkenberg of SEI Automotive Europe GmbH gave a presentation on current practices and challenges in determining the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

PCF determination is currently often performed via mass flow analysis, while initiatives like Catena-X propose a component-based calculation. The data required for this must be provided in a defined format, the specification of which can be viewed on GitHub. Based on this description, the required data set can be systematically determined.

The rules for calculating one's own CO₂ contribution are generally known and applicable. However, in practice, it has become clear that there is currently no simple and widely applicable software solution available that allows for convenient input of the necessary data and automated calculation of the PCF (Product Carbon Footprint).

This article thus clarifies the current state of affairs between methodological clarity and operational feasibility and addresses the resulting challenges for companies.

Further information about SEI Automotive Europe GmbH can be found at: www.sei-ae.com