For a long time, measuring a product's environmental footprint was almost an art form: heterogeneous data, multiple assumptions, and results that were difficult to compare. Today, this measurement is no longer optional but a strategic necessity.

EF 4.0 represents a break with the past by offering a European reference database that is free, structured, and immediately usable in LCA tools and environmental reporting. The aim is to make LCA more reliable, more industrially scalable, and better integrated into decision-making processes.

With the upcoming EF 4.0 database, the European Commission takes a major step forward in harmonising Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and environmental footprint methods. This new generation of the database aims to improve the quality, comparability, and credibility of results. In this article, we explain what EF 4.0 brings, how it differs from EF 2.0 and EF 3.1, the types of data available, and the expected timeline for its deployment.

What are the differences between EF 2.0, EF 3.1, and the upcoming EF 4.0?

---

To understand EF 4.0, it is necessary to briefly look back at the history of the Environmental Footprint (EF) method. Since the early 2000s, Europe has been striving to build a common language to assess the environmental impacts of products and services throughout their entire life cycle. Its history reflects the evolution of European policies regarding environmental footprinting and LCA.

EF 2.0 represented a first structuring step, primarily intended for internal use within the framework of PEF/OEF pilot studies in accordance with PEFCR and OEFSR rules. The goal was clear: to test the method, consolidate sector-specific rules, and lay the foundations for a harmonised European approach. However, access remained limited, and usage was largely confined to expert circles.

EF 3.1 marked a phase of consolidation. Still primarily used internally, this version supported the strengthening of European policies incorporating life cycle assessment: the Green Deal, climate policies, and the first requirements on environmental claims. EF 3.1 improved data consistency, supported the implementation of European policies, and reinforced the scientific credibility of the method. However, it was still perceived as a technical, complex tool, not easily accessible for large-scale deployment.

With EF 4.0, the European Commission is scaling up and specifically aiming to remove these barriers to adoption. The ambition goes beyond improving data quality: it also seeks to make their use simpler and more industrially scalable. EF 4.0, owned by the Commission, is designed as a reference infrastructure for LCA and environmental footprinting in Europe, following a “mainstreaming” logic: easier access (and announced as free), clarification of terms of use, and provision of structured, machine-readable data to enable direct integration into digital workflows: LCA tools, product configurators, automated calculations, and regulatory reporting.

EF 4.0 is therefore no longer merely a technical evolution: it is a strategic pillar designed to sustainably support European policies, enhance the reliability of environmental claims, and strengthen stakeholder trust – while accelerating scaling through more accessible and immediately usable data.

The types of data available in the EF 4.0 database

---

At the heart of EF 4.0 lies a strong ambition: to provide a coherent environmental data foundation broad enough to cover the main European value chains. Specifically, the EF 4.0 database plans the development of around 3,000 “core” datasets, which will then be supplemented by other sources where necessary.

These data are organised by major sectors, reflecting the European Union’s economic and environmental priorities. Energy, for example, occupies a central position with several hundred datasets, essential for modelling the impacts associated with electricity and fuel production and use. Transport, packaging, and product end-of-life are also given detailed coverage, recognising their key role in the overall product footprint.

Particular attention is given to materials and high-priority sectors: metals and minerals, chemicals, food and animal feed, as well as bio-based materials. This diversity enables EF 4.0 to support analyses covering both heavy industry and consumer goods, as well as agri-food systems.

Beyond their volume, the added value of these data lies in their quality and methodological consistency. EF 4.0 datasets are designed to be fully compatible with the Environmental Footprint method: harmonised modelling rules, high data quality requirements, and incorporation of recent scientific advances (biodiversity, circularity, biogenic carbon, regionalisation of impacts). The goal is clear: to reduce uncertainty, limit arbitrary assumptions, and enhance the comparability of results across products, sectors, and countries.

Estimated schedule for the EF 4.0 database 

---

As with any major European-level project, EF 4.0 follows a phased timeline marked by key milestones. The project officially began in early 2023 with a scoping and governance phase. By the end of 2023, an initial interim report laid the foundations for the management of datasets and modelling requirements.

The year 2024 marks an important milestone with the completion of work on the governance and management of EF datasets, as well as the clarification of technical requirements. From 2026 onwards, the first operational releases are expected: certain EF 4.0 datasets will be gradually made available, enabling stakeholders to begin integrating them into their studies.

The final milestone is set for 2027, with the full launch of the EF 4.0 database. This timing coincides with the revision of the European recommendation on EF methods, further strengthening the alignment between data, methodology, and the regulatory framework. For companies, consulting firms, and institutions, this schedule provides valuable foresight to anticipate developments, adapt tools, and build expertise.

Ultimately, EF 4.0 is not simply a new version of a database. It is the next chapter in a European story aimed at making environmental footprinting more reliable, more transparent, and more useful for guiding decisions. A story that is only just beginning, but whose foundations are now clearly established.