Methodological Frameworks and Challenges in Product Carbon Footprint Assessment: A Critical Review

Abstract

This paper discusses current methodologies for measuring carbon footprints within the food industry, with a particular focus on seafood and seafood-based products. Key approaches, including life cycle assessment, are discussed. The carbon footprint methodology estimates total greenhouse gas emissions across the entire life cycle of a product, from the initial extraction of the raw materials up until the final disposal and serves as an essential tool for evaluating environmental consequences and supporting sustainable practices. However, several obstacles exist, including discrepancies in system boundaries, functional units, regionality, time frames, data availability and reliance on emission factors. These issues complicate the identification of hotspots, framework standardization, and limit comparability of results across studies. This review further evaluates major carbon accounting standards at both organisational and product levels, such as ISO 14064, the GHG Protocol, PAS 2050, and ISO 14067. In addition, it highlights key factors influencing carbon footprint assessments, including greenhouse gas selection, system boundary definition, data collection, and emission quantification. Hence, the study emphasises the need for greater consistency, transparency, and standardisation in carbon footprint methodologies to improve reliability and support effective emission reduction strategies in the seafood sector.