End-of-life carbon footprint

The end-of-life carbon footprint quantifies the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the final stage of a product or service: dismantling, post-consumer transport, treatment, recycling, energy recovery, or final disposal in landfill.

It completes the life-cycle perspective by adding to embodied carbon and use-phase carbon.

Stages considered

- Collection and transport: fuel emissions from waste logistics.
- Processing: shredding, sorting, and cleaning.
- Recycling and recovery: energy used and credits for secondary material that replaces virgin material.
- Disposal: methane emissions in landfills, incineration with or without energy recovery.

Calculation models

- EN 15804 / EN 15978 for construction (modules C1–C4 and D).
- ISO 14044 with defined end-of-life scenarios.
- Emission factors: Ecoinvent, EPA WARM, EF Database.

Recycling credits (Module D)

Avoided impacts from substituting primary materials are subtracted, but allocation rules apply (80/20, closed-loop, or 50%).

Reduction strategies

- Design for disassembly: facilitate material separation.
- Mono-materials: single-polymer packaging.
- Take-back programs: optimized reverse logistics.
- Renewable energy in recycling facilities.

Indicators

- kg CO₂e/t of waste treated.
- kg CO₂e/functional unit offset through recycling.

Relation to other concepts

- Completes total carbon footprint alongside embodied carbon and use-phase carbon.
- Informs carbon-neutral labels and PAS 2060 requirements.

Considering end-of-life carbon footprint makes it possible to identify circular-economy opportunities and comply with waste and climate regulations.