The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Footwear provide a standardised method to measure environmental impacts of shoes and boots 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 aspects:

• Scope: Applies to typical footwear products, including open-toed shoes (e.g. sandals), closed-toed shoes (e.g. sneakers), and boots (e.g. hiking or dress boots). Sports, safety, and artisan footwear are excluded.
• Functional unit: One use of one pair of shoes in good condition, adjusted for expected lifetime (duration of service).
• Hotspots: Environmental impacts mainly stem from material extraction (e.g. leather, rubber), production processes, and end-of-life treatment.
• Durability and repairability: Evaluates physical strength, material quality, and ability to repair soles, uppers, or components. Both contribute to reduced per-use impacts.
• Data quality: Brands must provide key company-specific data (e.g. air freight share, unsold stock) to ensure robustness.
• No single-score for consumers: Results must include at least four impact categories (e.g. climate change, land use).
   

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