What is primarily assessed by the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)?

The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is primarily focused on assessing the environmental impacts throughout a product's life cycle. This assessment incorporates a comprehensive analysis of various environmental factors, including resource use, emissions, and ecological consequences, that occur at every stage of a product's existence—from raw material extraction to production, distribution, use, and disposal.

By highlighting the full life cycle, PEF provides a clearer picture of how a product interacts with the environment, enabling stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement and make informed decisions that align with sustainability goals. This focus on life cycle impacts distinguishes it from evaluations of marketability, life cycle costs, or consumer satisfaction, which are not the primary intent of the PEF methodology.