Amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by a product over its lifetime. Organizations should use Product Lifetime (PD4587) to capture the lifetime of the product.
Amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted by a product over its lifetime. Organizations should use Product Lifetime (PD4587) to capture the lifetime of the product.
Organizations should footnote all assumptions and tools used in emissions calculation, including source of data.
This metric is intended to capture the potential GHG emissions of a product during its usable lifetime. Its calculation should not include GHG emissions related to a product’s manufacture or transport.
Organizations that wish to report GHG emissions reduced as a result of a product can report against Greenhouse Gas Reductions Due to Products Sold (PI5376).
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on the GHG Protocol, organizations should refer to the following:
In some circumstances, this metric can help describe the CONTRIBUTION an organization likely had to the degree of change (depth) in outcome that the stakeholders experienced, relative to what the market or social system would have done anyway. For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition and usage guidance for clarity.
May 2021 - IRIS v5.2 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to Usage Guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
No change.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language and reporting format for clarity.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Immaterial change. Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Product (PD9427) replaced Lifetime Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Product (PD9427). Minor revision to metric name and definition language for clarity.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
New metric. Lifetime Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Product (PD9427) was developed via the Environment, Energy & Water Working Group.