The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Apparel define how to measure and communicate the environmental impacts of garments such as T-shirts, trousers, jackets, and dresses sold in the EU. It follows the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)’s full-life cycle approach – from raw material sourcing to disposal – and is recommended when substantiating comparative claims.

Key elements:

• Scope: Focuses on typical consumer garments (excluding bespoke or artisan items). Analysis includes materials, production, transport, consumer use (washing, drying, ironing), and disposal.
• Functional unit: One use of the garment, accounting for typical lifespan and number of washes based on product type.
• Impact hotspots: Greatest impacts often stem from fibre production (e.g. cotton, polyester), consumer care (especially energy-intensive drying), and end-of-life treatment.
• Durability scoring: Garments are assessed for intrinsic durability (e.g. material strength, pilling) to reflect how long they last and how often they can be used.
• Repairability factors: Considers spare parts availability, serviceability, and repair cost ratio.
• No single score for consumers: Brands must report at least four specific impact categories (e.g. climate change, water use), avoiding oversimplified ratings.
   

The Apparel PEFCRs are voluntary for internal use but recommended when substantiating environmental claims. They support informed design and transparent B2B reporting.