The Catena-X automotive network has achieved a significant milestone in standardizing the requirements for CO₂ footprints in the automotive industry with the release of the PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) Rulebook. This lays the foundation for a global standard in measuring and reporting along the supply chain, making CO₂ emission data comparable and shareable. The Catena-X PCF Rulebook includes WBCSD CO₂ calculation schemes and methods.
Catena-X PCF Rulebook: Key Facts at a Glance
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The Catena-X PCF Rulebook establishes a global standard for measuring and reporting CO₂ emissions across the automotive supply chain.
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It incorporates WBCSD CO₂ calculation schemes, making emission data comparable and shareable across companies of all sizes.
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IMDS 15.0 (live since July 7, 2025) integrates PCF data directly into material and component datasets, aligning with the Rulebook's requirements.
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The integration supports upcoming CSRD compliance by leveraging existing IMDS data infrastructures, significantly reducing future reporting efforts.
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IPOINT Product Sustainability connects IMDS, PCF, and LCA data in one system, enabling automated data flows for OEMs and suppliers of all sizes.
What is Catena-X?
Catena-X is a data ecosystem that enables more resilient and flexible supply chain management. Thanks to comprehensive digital documentation, for instance, the integral CO₂ footprint can be determined, or traceability can be ensured in accordance with supply chain legislation. Standardized data exchange and the ability to use cross-company applications provide investment security for all companies, from SMEs to large enterprises, and strengthen their competitiveness in the long run.
What is IMDS?
IMDS (International Material Data System) is a globally standardized exchange and management system for material data in the automotive industry. IMDS material data declare the material and chemical compositions of components, semi-finished products, and materials. The primary benefit of IMDS material data is to secure and prove compliance with legal substance regulations for complete vehicles and their spare parts.
What is a Product Carbon Footprint?
A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) is a measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions caused directly and indirectly by activities. In addition to carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases are taken into account, usually calculated in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (t CO₂-eq for short).
Integration of the CX-PCF Rules into IMDS
The adoption of CX-PCF Rules into IMDS adds further emphasis to standardization, not least because IMDS itself has held a standard status in the automotive manufacturing and supply industry for decades.
"The combination of the newly released CX-PCF Rules and their integration into IMDS aligns precisely with our vision of transparent, collaborative, and, above all, efficient use of CO₂ data. It's a crucial and significant step towards the necessary standardization, which our products address," comments Andreas Schiffleitner, Productmanager Sustainability at IPOINT.
The integration of IMDS data including the future collected Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and PCF data enables companies to directly use essential compliance and sustainability data within IPOINT Product Sustainability. In combination with a high degree of automation, this allows relevant information to be efficiently processed, shared, and utilized by stakeholders inside and outside the organization.
IMDS 15.0 Release – PCF Integration Now Live
With the go-live of IMDS 15.0 on July 7, 2025, companies can now access extended functionality for CO₂ and compliance data. The new release introduces the ability to record Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) information directly within material and component datasets, supporting both the Catena-X PCF Rulebook requirements and upcoming ESG and CSRD reporting needs.
Outlook: Alignment with Upcoming CSRD Requirements
Integrating Catena-X PCF Rules into IMDS also prepares companies for upcoming regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Leveraging existing standards and data infrastructures like IMDS reduces future compliance efforts significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PCF and how does it work?
A Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product across its entire life cycle — from raw material extraction through manufacturing, transport, use, and end of life. All greenhouse gases are converted into CO₂ equivalents (CO₂-eq) to produce a single, comparable figure. PCF calculations follow recognized methodologies such as ISO 14067 or the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol Product Standard.
What is the standard for PCF?
The primary international standards for calculating and reporting Product Carbon Footprints are ISO 14067 (Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products) and the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard. In the automotive industry, the Catena-X PCF Rulebook builds on these standards to create a sector-specific framework for consistent CO₂ data reporting across the supply chain.
What is PCF in IMDS?
With the release of IMDS 15.0 in July 2025, the International Material Data System now supports recording Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data directly within material and component datasets. This allows automotive suppliers and OEMs to manage both material compliance and sustainability data within a single, standardized system — fully aligned with the Catena-X PCF Rulebook.
Who created Catena-X?
Catena-X was initiated by a consortium of major automotive and technology companies, including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, SAP, Volkswagen, and Bosch. It is governed by the Catena-X Automotive Network e.V., an open membership association that oversees the development of standards and the data ecosystem for the automotive industry.
Will scope 3 reporting become mandatory?
Yes — scope 3 emissions reporting is increasingly becoming a legal requirement. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies and listed SMEs to disclose scope 3 emissions as part of their sustainability reports, with phased implementation beginning with the 2024 financial year. For the automotive sector, initiatives like the Catena-X PCF Rulebook help companies prepare for these obligations by establishing standardized data exchange processes.
