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Standards & Compliance

EOS implements rigorous standards and data control measures to ensure accuracy and reliability of environmental impact assessments. The system aligns with major international guidelines and regulatory frameworks.

Emission Scopes​

In environmental impact assessment for the food industry, greenhouse gas emissions are categorized into three scopes:

Scope 1 - Direct Emissions​

Emissions directly controlled by the organization:

  • Cooking equipment and kitchen operations
  • Company-owned vehicles for food transport
  • On-site fuel consumption in food processing facilities

Scope 2 - Indirect Energy Emissions​

Emissions from purchased energy:

  • Electricity for food storage and processing
  • Steam, heating, and cooling in facilities
  • Energy consumption in commercial kitchens and cold storage

Scope 3 - Value Chain Emissions​

All other indirect emissions in the value chain:

  • Agricultural production and farming practices
  • Food processing and packaging by suppliers
  • Transportation and distribution of food products
  • Consumer use and end-of-life
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In the food industry, Scope 3 emissions typically account for the largest portion of an organization's carbon footprint, primarily due to agricultural production and supply chain activities.

International Standards Alignment​

ISO 14040:2006 / ISO 14044:2006+Amd​

The primary international standards for Life Cycle Assessment:

  • ISO 14040:2006: Principles and framework for LCA
  • ISO 14044:2006 + Amd 1:2017 + Amd 2:2020: Requirements and guidelines for conducting LCA studies

EOS calculations follow these standards to ensure:

  • Consistent methodology across assessments
  • Transparent documentation of assumptions
  • Reproducible results

GHG Protocol​

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides standards for quantifying and reporting GHG emissions:

  • Product Life Cycle Accounting Standard (2011): Requirements for product-level GHG inventories
  • Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard (2011): Value chain emissions accounting
  • Land Sector and Removals Guidance (2022): Agricultural and forestry emissions

EOS aligns with GHG Protocol methodology for:

  • Emission factor selection
  • Allocation procedures (economic allocation for multi-output systems like meat and dairy production)
  • Uncertainty assessment

GRI Standard​

The Global Reporting Initiative provides guidelines for sustainability reporting:

  • Standardized reporting structure for comparable sustainability reports
  • Focus on material topics and stakeholder engagement
  • Flexibility for various organization sizes and industries
  • Regular updates to reflect current sustainability trends

EOS data supports GRI reporting by providing:

  • Standardized environmental metrics
  • Transparent calculation methodologies
  • Comparable product-level data

European Union Frameworks​

Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)​

The Product Environmental Footprint is a methodology developed by the European Commission to measure and communicate environmental performance throughout product lifecycles.

Key characteristics:

  • Multi-criteria approach: Considers 16 environmental impact categories including climate change, water use, land use, and resource depletion
  • Life cycle perspective: Covers the entire supply chain from raw material extraction to end-of-life
  • Standardized calculation rules: Enables fair comparison between products within the same category
  • Policy alignment: Officially endorsed by the EU for sustainable product policies and eco-labelling

Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR)​

PEFCRs are product-specific guidelines that complement the PEF methodology. They define how to apply general PEF rules to particular product groups—such as dairy, meat, or prepared meals.

Key features:

  • Sector-specific guidance: Tailored rules reflecting production and supply chain characteristics
  • Harmonized assumptions: Consistent reference systems within each category
  • Improved comparability: Essential for benchmarking and environmental labelling

EOS uses PEFCRs to calibrate Gap-Filling Modules and ensure calculations adhere to EU-recommended methodologies.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)​

The CSRD requires companies to report on sustainability performance. EOS supports CSRD compliance by:

  • Providing Scope 3 environmental data for food-related operations
  • Generating standardized sustainability metrics and KPIs
  • Maintaining detailed documentation for external audits
  • Enabling structured data export for regulatory reporting

Empowering Consumers Directive (EU 2024/825)​

EOS helps businesses comply with the Empowering Consumers Directive requirements (enforcement: September 27, 2026):

  • Substantiated Claims: All environmental claims must be based on scientific evidence — EOS provides the underlying LCA data
  • No Generic Claims: Prohibits vague claims like "eco-friendly" or "green" without substantiation — Eaternity Score provides specific, quantified impacts
  • No Offset-Based Neutrality: Claims of carbon neutrality based solely on offsets are prohibited — EOS focuses on actual emissions data
  • Verified Methodology: Environmental labels must be based on certification schemes or public authorities — EOS methodology aligns with ISO 14040/14044 standards

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)​

Eaternity collaborates with the Carbon Disclosure Project to promote environmental transparency:

  • Data Alignment: EOS provides accurate data for CDP reporting
  • Reporting Support: Detailed carbon footprint analyses for CDP submissions
  • Methodology Sharing: Scientifically-backed methodologies contributing to standardization
  • Continuous Improvement: CDP feedback helps refine assessment tools

UN Sustainable Development Goals​

EOS contributes to multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being​

Target 3.4 – Promote healthy lifestyles and reduce diet-related disease

EOS supports health-promoting food choices through the VitaScore, which quantifies nutritional quality based on Global Burden of Disease risk factors.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation​

Target 6.4 – Increase water-use efficiency across sectors

EOS includes water footprint calculations based on regional agricultural practices, enabling identification of water-intensive products and supply chain optimization.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production​

Target 12.6 – Encourage sustainable practices and reporting

EOS enables automatic generation of Scope 3 environmental reports and product-specific LCAs, supporting compliance with EU directives.

Target 12.8 – Ensure access to information for sustainable consumption

Environmental scores and impact indicators integrated into food service systems empower informed consumer choices.

SDG 13: Climate Action​

Target 13.2 – Integrate climate considerations into planning

EOS helps track and manage GHG emissions across food supply chains, enabling alignment with Science-Based Targets.

Target 13.3 – Build capacity for climate education

Open architecture and transparent models facilitate climate education and behavior change.

SDG 15: Life on Land​

Target 15.3 – Promote sustainable land use

EOS uses land use and transformation data combined with trade information to assess impact on soil health and land degradation.

Target 15.5 – Protect biodiversity

Biodiversity loss risk evaluation accounts for origin, production system, and land transformation patterns.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals​

Target 17.16 – Enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships

EOS integrates with external databases and standard formats (FoodEx2, GADM), encouraging interoperability and knowledge exchange.

Target 17.18 – Improve availability of reliable data

Gap-filling modules and database integration ensure data is actionable and reliable, even in data-poor contexts.

Quality Assurance Measures​

EOS implements comprehensive quality assurance:

MeasureDescription
International StandardsAdherence to ISO, GHG Protocol, PEF methodologies
Verified DatabasesUse of peer-reviewed data from ecoinvent, Agribalyse
Regular UpdatesContinuous database updates with latest scientific data
Internal QCSystematic tests and manual verification checks
External ReviewCollaborations with scientific partners (ZHAW, ETH, FiBL)
TransparencyOpen methodology disclosure and documentation
CertificationOptional annual external certifications upon request

Next Steps​