[IMDS]IMDS update: Recommendation 027 (Rules & Guidelines for Reporting of PCF) published
29 Jun 2025
With IMDS Release 15, the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reporting feature will be integrated into the IMDS system. To support this new functionality, Recommendation 027 has been published, providing instructions on how to enter PCF data.
[Download: IMDS menu “Help > Recommendation”]
In this article, we will first review the key terms in section 7. Glossary, and then take a look at the main points of section 6. Data entry into IMDS.
Table of Contents: 7. Glossary
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF): Total carbon emissions generated throughout the life cycle of a product. According to the Catena-X PCF Rulebook, the carbon emissions from the use and end-of-life phases of the product are excluded, while biogenic carbon emissions are included.
Transport Carbon Footprint (TCF): Carbon emissions generated during logistics activities, including biogenic emissions.
Biogenic carbon: All carbon (absorbed/stored/released) derived from biomass.
Cut-off criteria: Criteria used to determine which elements are excluded from the PCF calculation.
Exempted emissions: Emissions excluded based on cut-off criteria(* Catena-X PCF Rulebook allows a maximum of 3%).
Outbound gate: The supplier’s shipping point, where the product leaves the production site and is ready for delivery to the customer.
Inhouse gate: The point at which goods are received from external suppliers.
Table of Contents: 6. Data entry into IMDS
6.1 General
PCF data is entered into IMDS after being calculated using external tools such as the Catena-X PCF Rulebook.
Rule 6.1.2.A: PCF data must be reviewed at least once a year and kept up to date.
Standard Material MDS: PCF data is not provided and cannot be entered by users (PCF data cab be added at a higher node after data is collected).
Published MDS: The owner can enter PCF data, and all production sites are visible.
6.2 Data Entry into Ingredients Section – Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
Rule 6.2.2.A: Only PCF data based on selectable standard/rulebook sources via the system is accepted.
Rule 6.2.2.B: Catena-X can be used for components, semi-components, and materials. Other rulebooks can be used only for semi-components and materials.
Rule 6.2.2.C: Certification/verification must be based on the Catena-X PCF Rulebook or the TfS PCF Verification Framework.
Rule 6.2.3.A: Both Total PCF (including biogenic) and Total PCF (excluding biogenic) must be entered. If detailed information is unavailable, identical values may be used.
Rule 6.2.5.A: Exempted emissions can be entered between 0 and 3%.
Rule 6.2.8.A: For Detailed GHG emissions (subsets of total PCF), the default value “0” may be used if detailed information is unavailable.
6.3 Data Entry into Recipient Section – Transport Carbon Footprint (TCF)
Only includes carbon emissions from transport between the supplier’s outbound gate and the customer’s inhouse gate.
Coverage – Customer responsibility: The customer assumes control of the product after it leaves the supplier’s outbound gate.
Coverage – Supplier responsibility: The supplier retains control of the product until it reaches the customer’s inhouse gate.
Coverage – Split responsibility: Control is shared based on an agreement between supplier and customer.
Rule 6.3.4.A: Both TCF (including biogenic) and TCF (excluding biogenic) must be entered. If detailed data is unavailable, identical values may be used.
Rule 6.3.5.A: For Detailed GHG emissions (a subset of total TCF), the default value “0” may be used if detailed information is unavailable.
IMDS Recommendation 027
Rules and Guidelines for Reporting of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF):
With IMDS Release 15, the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reporting feature will be integrated into the IMDS system. To support this new functionality, Recommendation 027 has been published, providing instructions on how to enter PCF data.
In this article, we will first review the key terms in section 7. Glossary, and then take a look at the main points of section 6. Data entry into IMDS.
Table of Contents: 7. Glossary
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF): Total carbon emissions generated throughout the life cycle of a product. According to the Catena-X PCF Rulebook, the carbon emissions from the use and end-of-life phases of the product are excluded, while biogenic carbon emissions are included.
Transport Carbon Footprint (TCF): Carbon emissions generated during logistics activities, including biogenic emissions.
Biogenic carbon: All carbon (absorbed/stored/released) derived from biomass.
Cut-off criteria: Criteria used to determine which elements are excluded from the PCF calculation.
Exempted emissions: Emissions excluded based on cut-off criteria(* Catena-X PCF Rulebook allows a maximum of 3%).
Outbound gate: The supplier’s shipping point, where the product leaves the production site and is ready for delivery to the customer.
Inhouse gate: The point at which goods are received from external suppliers.
Table of Contents: 6. Data entry into IMDS
6.1 General
PCF data is entered into IMDS after being calculated using external tools such as the Catena-X PCF Rulebook.
Rule 6.1.2.A: PCF data must be reviewed at least once a year and kept up to date.
Standard Material MDS: PCF data is not provided and cannot be entered by users (PCF data cab be added at a higher node after data is collected).
Published MDS: The owner can enter PCF data, and all production sites are visible.
6.2 Data Entry into Ingredients Section – Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
Rule 6.2.2.A: Only PCF data based on selectable standard/rulebook sources via the system is accepted.
Rule 6.2.2.B: Catena-X can be used for components, semi-components, and materials. Other rulebooks can be used only for semi-components and materials.
Rule 6.2.2.C: Certification/verification must be based on the Catena-X PCF Rulebook or the TfS PCF Verification Framework.
Rule 6.2.3.A: Both Total PCF (including biogenic) and Total PCF (excluding biogenic) must be entered. If detailed information is unavailable, identical values may be used.
Rule 6.2.5.A: Exempted emissions can be entered between 0 and 3%.
Rule 6.2.8.A: For Detailed GHG emissions (subsets of total PCF), the default value “0” may be used if detailed information is unavailable.
6.3 Data Entry into Recipient Section – Transport Carbon Footprint (TCF)
Only includes carbon emissions from transport between the supplier’s outbound gate and the customer’s inhouse gate.
Coverage – Customer responsibility: The customer assumes control of the product after it leaves the supplier’s outbound gate.
Coverage – Supplier responsibility: The supplier retains control of the product until it reaches the customer’s inhouse gate.
Coverage – Split responsibility: Control is shared based on an agreement between supplier and customer.
Rule 6.3.4.A: Both TCF (including biogenic) and TCF (excluding biogenic) must be entered. If detailed data is unavailable, identical values may be used.
Rule 6.3.5.A: For Detailed GHG emissions (a subset of total TCF), the default value “0” may be used if detailed information is unavailable.
IMDS Recommendation 027
Rules and Guidelines for Reporting of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF):