Norway takes lead on PEF project aiming to simplify compliance
Outdoor brand Bergans of Norway is teaming up with Trimco Group, Green Score Capital and three other clothing brands to overcome the challenges of Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) calculations.
Supported by the cluster for the fashion and textile industry in Norway (NF&TA), this two-year initiative aims to develop a framework for reliable PEF calculations in line with EU guidelines.
Gisle Mariani, head of development at NF&TA, said: “While PEFs are not yet mandatory, they are central to many EU policies and upcoming legislation, so to support its members as well as the wider apparel and textile community, the NF&TA recognises it is essential to address the challenges and potential barriers sooner rather than later.”
Since 2023, trims and traceability provider Trimco Group and Green Score Capital, an expert in environmental metrics, have joined forces to assist brands with PEF calculations. While the PEF method is critical to standardising environmental footprint measurement, the volume and complexity of data required have created significant hurdles for brands. Recognising this, the NF&TA, supported by Innovation Norway, is funding a project designed to simplify the process and empower the textile industry.
Camilla Mjelde, compliance and sustainability director at Trimco Group, explained: “Brands are willing to commit to PEF, but the barriers lie in accessing and managing the necessary data. This initiative aims to streamline data gathering and improve transparency.”
Yngvill Ofstad, sustainability manager at Bergans, added: “Bergans is participating in the PEF project to assess the availability and gaps in our data in order to comply with the EU’s upcoming requirements for textile products. Our aim is to leverage these insights to make increasingly informed choices in our product development. Collaboration is key in sustainability, and we are certain that we will gain valuable knowledge from all participants in this project.”
The other brands involved in the project are Camilla Pihl, Holzweiler and Sverre W Monsen.
The team will share findings through regular reports, webinars and articles. The first webinar takes place on June 3.
