What is Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC)?
Preferred by Nature’s Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) is a credible, streamlined solution that helps organisations measure, verify, and communicate their climate impact. The demand for reliable climate data is skyrocketing, and many farmers, foresters, and companies struggle to quantify emissions and removals accurately. Our CFC service addresses this gap by offering independent certification and support, ensuring that carbon footprint figures are robust and trustworthy. We offer these services in the agriculture, forestry, and travel sectors, helping companies make credible claims and demonstrate their commitment to climate responsibility.
The CFC standard clearly outlines the requirements for calculating and reporting product carbon footprints. It covers both emissions and removals, providing a comprehensive overview of climate performance.
The CFC service is available to two main target groups:
1. CFC for Farms and Forests (Land Managers)
- The service allows land managers, including smallholders, to measure and report verified carbon data directly from the source.
- It employs practical tools, such as the Cool Farm Platform, to calculate the carbon footprint of the product, with our experts verifying that all data is accurate, correctly reported, and aligned with actual activities, ensuring reliable results.
2. CFC for Supply Chain
- This service is intended for companies in the agriculture, forestry, and travel sectors that process, trade, or sell products & services and wish to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint of their products.
- It helps guarantee that reliable climate data flows smoothly from farmers and foresters to buyers, fostering trust and transparency throughout the supply chain.
By covering both land management and supply chain levels, the service builds trust, strengthens market confidence, reduces the risk of misleading claims, and helps organisations in meeting growing sustainability demands.
The Carbon Footprint Certification is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing sustainability certifications, such as Rainforest Alliance, UEBT, FSC, and Preferred by Nature Certification. It has been developed as a PBN+ module that can be used together with the PBN Sustainability Framework by land managers and companies in the supply chain to measure and communicate the footprint of their products. The certification can also be obtained as a standalone service.
Benefits of choosing our CFC
- Strengthen reporting and disclosures: Manage your carbon footprint emissions in accordance with global standards, enhancing your credibility in reporting efforts.
- Market advantage: Gain a competitive edge with independently verified carbon data.
- Regulatory compliance: Meet and exceed legal requirements related to reporting the climate impacts of your products.
- Sustainability leadership: Showcase your commitment to the environment.
- Identify opportunities: Understand where emissions can be reduced and carbon sequestration enhanced.
- Prepare for the future: As mandatory reporting requirements and new climate regulations emerge, we help businesses stay ahead in a changing landscape. By partnering with us, organisations can meet client expectations, demonstrate leadership, and unlock new opportunities for innovation.
If you are interested in learning more about this service, please contact our team at carbon_footprint@preferredbynature.org.
Our Carbon Footprint Certification follows a clear stepwise approach, tailored for both land managers and supply chain actors:
 Process |  Farms & forests |  Supply chain |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Preparation & data collection | You will get access to calculation tools to input activity data for emissions and potential removals. Our team can guide you through the calculation process. Once this is done, we will review your scope, activity data, emission factors, and calculations to prepare for the assessment. | To initiate the process, we will verify your activity data based on your selected or custom-developed tool. After this, we will review your scope, activity data, emission factors, and calculations to prepare for the assessment. |
| Step 2: Assessment | Our auditors conduct field evaluations to verify the data submitted. | We carry out an assessment to verify activity data and check the accuracy of calculations. |
| Step 3: Final review & reporting | Our carbon experts evaluate the final footprint and related calculations. Based on the results, an audit report will be shared with you. | Based on the results, an audit report will be shared with you. |
| Step 4: Certification | Once approved, you receive a third-party certification statement for reporting your climate impacts. Independently verified carbon footprint information will also be made available on our website along with your certificate. | |
Interested to learn more?
Feel free to fill out the contact form below or write to us at carbon_footprint@preferredbynature.org.
We will connect with you to discuss further.
Carbon Footprint Certification Standard
The Carbon Footprint Certification Standard has been designed to align with leading product carbon footprint standards and methods, including GHG Protocol standards, PAS standards, and ISO 14067 requirements. The standard aims to ensure accurate quantification and reporting of GHG emissions. We are also monitoring the regulatory landscape to ensure the programme supports your alignment with national and international regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and related expectations for third-party verification.
You can download the CFC Standard here.
Your input matters: Share your feedback on the CFC service and standard
Feel free to contact us or write to us at carbon_footprint@preferredbynature.org with any comments or questions you may have. Your input will help us improve the usability of the standard and the service.
Resources
Carbon Footprint Certification Standard
The Preferred by Nature Carbon Footprint Certification Standard aims to help organisations consistently measure their product carbon footprint and allow communication and reportin...
The Preferred by Nature Carbon Footprint Certification Standard aims to help organisations consistently measure their product carbon footprint and allow communication and reportin...
Carbon Footprint Certification for Farms and Forests - Info Sheet
An infosheet covering information on the Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) service.
An infosheet covering information on the Carbon Footprint Certification (CFC) service.
Carbon Footprint Certification for Supply Chain - Info sheet
An infosheet covering information on the Carbon Footprint Certification for Supply Chain.
An infosheet covering information on the Carbon Footprint Certification for Supply Chain.
Carbon Footprint Certification for Farms and Forests - Service Flyer
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification for Farm and Foresters — a one-stop solution for farmers to measure and communicate their climate impact.
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification for Farm and Foresters — a one-stop solution for farmers to measure and communicate their climate impact.
Carbon Footprint Certification for Supply Chain - Service Flyer
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification service for Supply Chains — a comprehensive solution that helps companies calculate and communicate independently verified carbon fo...
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification service for Supply Chains — a comprehensive solution that helps companies calculate and communicate independently verified carbon fo...
Resources
Carbon Footprint Certification for Supply Chain - Service Flyer
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification service for Supply Chains — a comprehensive solution that helps companies calculate and communicate independently verified carbon fo...
Learn about our Carbon Footprint Certification service for Supply Chains — a comprehensive solution that helps companies calculate and communicate independently verified carbon fo...
How the Preferred by Nature Sustainability Framework Certification scheme is governed
The Preferred by Nature Sustainability Framework Certification (PBN SFC) scheme operates under a governance system designed to support transparency, impartiality, accountability and stakeholder participation.
The system defines how the scheme is managed, how standards and procedures are developed and revised, and how certification activities are independently assessed and overseen.
The scheme owner and the certification body are separate legal entities, with different staff, reporting lines and responsibilities. The scheme is owned by Preferred by Nature F.M.B.A. in Denmark, while certification is carried out by Preferred by Nature OÜ in Estonia, which holds the accreditation under which all certification activities are performed and takes certification decisions independently. Both entities sit within the Preferred by Nature organisational umbrella.
The scheme's governance structure also includes internal decision-making bodies, external stakeholder representation and mechanisms for stakeholder engagement and dispute resolution.
Scheme governance documents
The following documents describe the governance structure, procedures and requirements supporting the operation and integrity of the PBN SFC scheme.
Governance structure, roles and responsibilities
Explains how the PBN SFC scheme is governed, including the responsibilities of its governance bodies, decision-making processes, stakeholder participation and dispute handling.
Standard development and revision
Describes how PBN SFC standards are developed, reviewed and revised, including stakeholder consultations, approval processes and transition arrangements.
Development and revision of SFC scheme documents
Sets out the procedures for developing, reviewing, approving and publishing scheme documents other than normative standards, including governance procedures and supporting documents.
Requirements for accreditation bodies
Defines the requirements for accreditation bodies overseeing certification bodies operating under Preferred by Nature Sustainability Framework Certification, including competence, impartiality, information sharing and cooperation with the scheme owner.
Assurance requirements
Establishes the requirements for certification bodies conducting PBN SFC audits and certification activities, including auditor competence, certification decisions, surveillance, impartiality and quality assurance.
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