Key criteria
The following key criteria guide the PAS process:
- Open and consultative, led by BSI, supported by the PAS Steering Group and two stakeholder consultation elements, i.e. the Key Stakeholders and the Review Panel
- Encouraging development of an accurate, robust, verifiable method which is feasible for organisations to use along the supply chain
Where and as relevant, the PAS strives to achieve:
- Consistency with existing related standards and initiatives
- Links to existing and proposed product-focused sustainability initiatives
- Encourages involvement of UK and internationally recognised standardisation and certification structures to support the use of the PAS
- Accessibility of the PAS for use by organisations
Existing best practice in developing the PAS
Existing methods relevant to measuring embodied GHG emissions in goods and services are being considered for their suitability to the PAS requirements and to ensure consistency. In order to achieve this, assessment of existing methods are undertaken in a manner determined by the Sponsors.
One aspect of this is a Defra sponsored review of the current methods relevant to measuring the embodied GHG of goods and services to inform the PAS draft. (Defra methods review specification). For further information on other Defra work in this area please consult consumer products and the environment.
In parallel the Carbon Trust technical author is establishing a series of working groups engaging industry, NGOs and academia to address specific technical issues. The Carbon Trust is also conducting some pilots with companies to further test and refine the method. Learnings from the working groups and the pilots are fed to the PAS Steering Group for consideration during the process. For more information on these initiatives. Please visit the Carbon Trust website
Issues for consideration regarding the application of the PAS
In developing the PAS method, consideration is given to how it may be applied in practice. Areas of focus include:
- Existing evidence on goods and services that have the most significant environmental impacts and hence are priorities. The use of the method for goods and service groups which have the most significant GHG-related impacts and for the GHGs that are relevant to these should be considered (e.g. food, buildings, transport, Energy Using Products)
- Verification of the method - the method lends itself to verification in a way that is feasible for those organisations using it, e.g. business, and in order to avoid misinformation being proliferated
- The suitability of the method for use in existing business sustainability-focused supports/toolkit, e.g. EMS, Green Supply Chain Management,
Sustainable Procurement and Ecodesign
