Today, there is no common agreement on space sector-specific rules for life cycle-based assessment shared along the value chain, nor on reference systems for space systems, space projects or space programmes. Therefore, a specific PEFCR for the space sector will be developed to promote the manufacturing and deployment of environmentally sound and sustainable space activities and products, and to enable space actors to provide and access reliable information in a transparent manner.
This work will follow the EU recommended Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) methodologies as set out in EU Commission Recommendation 2021/2279.
The role of PEFCR in the space sector
Standardising environmental impact assessments
Over the last decade, several actors in the European space industry have been working on the life cycle environmental impact assessment of space activities. The development of a PEFCR for the space sector provides a consistent approach to assessing the environmental impacts of space activities, which is crucial for comparing the performance of complex supply chains and technologies. A space PEFCR will provide companies with a systematic method to assess the environmental footprint of their products, promote informed decision making and foster a market that prioritises sustainability.
Project overview
The Space PEFCR initiative focuses on the development of PEFCRs and Environmental Footprint (EF)-compliant datasets for the EU space sector, enabling tailored environmental assessments that address sector-specific needs.
Key objectives:
- Develop space sector specific PEFCRs based on the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method.
- Define and acquire EF-compliant data sets to ensure reliability and comparability.
- Engage stakeholders to promote green and sustainable products and services.
Stakeholder engagement and outreach
The engagement of industry representatives and experts will be crucial for the development of a space PEFCR and for the successful implementation of this project. Broad stakeholder engagement will ensure the involvement of field experts in the technical development of the PEFCR, in supporting studies and dataset creation to reflect stakeholder needs, and finally in broad dissemination activities to inform about the benefits of the space PEFCR.
The role of VITO and our partners
The PEFCR Space project, commissioned by the European Commision (DG DEFIS), is implemented by an external consortium coordinated by VITO, together with other PEFCR and technical experts from PRé Sustainability, Ecomatters, Ecoinnovazione, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Novaspace.
