TfS -Together for Sustainability
What is TfS?
TfS (Together for Sustainability) is the most influential sustainable procurement initiative in the chemical industry. It was jointly launched by six chemical industry giants—BASF, Bayer, Evonik, Henkel, LANXESS, and Solvay—and has grown to include over 50 major chemical companies. TfS is dedicated to building a sustainable, low-carbon chemical supply chain.
TfS has developed a globally applicable framework and tool kit—TfS Assessments and Audits—to measure the sustainability performance of chemical supply chain leaders and their suppliers. TfS member companies conduct sustainable procurement assessments of their upstream partners, with Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data being a mandatory component.
TfS Requirements
The chemical industry accounts for approximately 7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with 77% falling under Scope 3. As a result, supply chain leaders in the chemical sector increasingly require detailed and comparable emission data, making high-quality PCF data from upstream suppliers critically important.
If you wish to become a supplier to a TfS member company, you must undergo a TfS audit and submit PCF data that meets their requirements.
Which emission sources are of particular concern to lead enterprises?
Scope 1: Direct emissions, such as those from the use of coal, diesel, and other fuels
Scope 2: Indirect emissions, such as those from electricity and steam consumption
Scope 3: Emissions from sources not owned or directly controlled by the reporting entity, but related to its value chain
Scope 3, Category 1: TfS places particular emphasis on Scope 3, Category 1—Purchased goods and services. This category is also the key to calculating the PCF of chemical end products.
How should supplier companies calculate PCF?
System boundary: Suppliers typically provide intermediate products rather than final products, so the usual boundary is “cradle-to-gate”.
Declared Unit (DU) of PCF: Typically 1 kg of product.
Steps of PCF calculation:
Cut-off: Strive for completeness, but exclusions are allowed for practical reasons. For example, all energy inputs that cumulatively account for more than 95% must be included.
Priority hierarchy: TfS regularly updates the list of “TfS Accepted Product Category Rules (PCRs)”.
To submit high-quality PCF data, you need to
Identify differences between the PCF Guideline and other standards
While the PCF Guideline follows and draws on international calculation standards such as ISO 14067, there are certain differences. It is recommended to conduct the PCF calculation with support from professional service providers to ensure alignment with TfS requirements and submit qualified data.
Ensure data quality and efficiency
Accurate PCF calculation requires collecting a large volume of relevant data, sometimes involving tracing back to upstream sources for primary data.
Precise modeling helps enhance both calculation efficiency and compliance.
Identify GHG reduction opportunities
Through PCF calculation, you can gain clarity on the emission sources of a product’s carbon footprint and develop actionable decarbonization targets and roadmaps.
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