The initiative falls under the EU Commission (EC) backed Single Market for Green Products policy, which is looking to eliminate the need for multiple green labels and establish an EU-wide method to gauge the environmental performance of products throughout their lifecycle – the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF).
FEFAC recognizes that, in terms of animal products, the feed footprint is crucial.
“The EU feed industry faces the challenge of meeting the growing global demand for animal products with limited availability of resources and with the need to reduce pressure on the environment.
Available studies and various life cycle analysis (LCA) methods have shown the production of feed is a significant contributor to the environmental footprint of animal products and is, therefore, an important element to take into account when considering mitigation options.
Indeed, without a sound analysis of the impacts of animal feed, it is difficult to draw robust conclusions from the LCA of any animal product,” a spokesperson for FEFAC told feednavigator.
New rules to validate a feed product’s environmental performance
A two and half year testing phase of the PEF and development of supporting methodology, the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs), is now underway.
The EU feed, food and drink sector is looking to set PEFCRs for their product categories and FEFAC is leading that process for the feed industry.
It wants feed businesses to get involved:
“The PEFCRs resulting from this process will become the product rules valid under the PEF, to be used by all businesses in the feed sector in the EU.
Becoming a stakeholder in the feed PEF pilot gives companies the opportunity to shape the product rules by providing comments on draft documents and participating in the public consultation meetings,” continued the FEFAC representative.
He said the PEFCRs, when established, will enable the feed sector to have a solid basis for improving formulations and communicating on the life cycle environmental performance of their products.
The Commission has developed guidance for industry on how to calculate a PEF and how to develop PEFCRs.
The procedure to register as stakeholder in the pilot project is described here.