TfS Unveils Game-Changing Emissions Tracking Platform

Together for Sustainability (TfS) is pushing the boundaries of environmental accountability within the chemical industry.

The global initiative, which includes major names like BASF, Bayer and Henkel, is on a mission to create more sustainable supply chains. With more than 50 member companies, TfS represents a combined global turnover of €800bn (US$864bn) and an expenditure of more than €500bn (US$540bn).

The group’s Chief Procurement Officers form the TfS General Assembly, which sets the organisation’s direction and develops practical, sustainable solutions. One of the group's standout efforts to date is the newly launched Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Exchange, a platform designed to reshape emissions tracking across the industry.

Jennifer Jewson, President of TfS and Chief Procurement Officer at LyondellBasell, describes the new development as pivotal: “The PCF Exchange solution is a key component of our Scope 3 GHG emissions programme.

"With this addition, TfS offers a truly end-to-end solution for calculating PCFs across the chemical supply chain.”

How the PCF exchange tackles emissions

Global industries are grappling with the increasing demand for decarbonisation, driven by the urgency to meet the Paris Agreement targets. TfS is addressing these challenges head-on with its PCF Exchange.

The platform is powered by Siemens’ advanced SiGREEN technology, which enables chemical companies to efficiently track and exchange emissions data along their supply chains.

A critical challenge in reducing emissions is managing Scope 3 emissions, which are the indirect emissions arising from a company’s value chain. These account for a significant proportion of the carbon footprint of most businesses.

The PCF Exchange offers companies a secure way to access detailed carbon data from their suppliers, thereby simplifying the process of calculating product carbon footprints across global supply chains.

Jennifer adds that the platform, along with TfS' established PCF Guideline and White Paper, "equips TfS members and suppliers with the necessary tools to generate accurate, consistent data and seamlessly exchange it.”

This move, she emphasises, is a “significant step forward in helping the industry reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions with greater transparency and precision.”

Addressing critical challenges in carbon management

The PCF Exchange from TfS tackles three fundamental issues in the industry:

1. Scale: The platform allows companies to request emissions data from multiple suppliers simultaneously, cutting down processing times and reducing the risk of errors.
2. Comparability: Using a standardised PCF Guideline, the platform ensures consistent and comparable carbon footprint calculations. This enables companies to pinpoint areas for improvement.
3. Connection: The collaboration with Siemens ensures a secure data exchange environment where supply chain information remains accurate and confidential.

Maria Valentina Giraldo Martinez, Co-Chair of the TfS Workstream ‘GHG Scope 3 Emissions – Data Collection and Sharing,’ highlights the importance of the PCF Exchange: “For the first time, companies will have a reliable, standardised platform to manage carbon data from across their supply chains.

"By facilitating the secure exchange of carbon data, this solution is not just improving how the industry manages emissions; it’s enabling proactive steps towards transparency.”

By rolling out this platform, TfS members can tackle existing gaps in carbon data exchange within the industry, particularly in regions where sustainability adoption is still evolving.

This step forward positions TfS members as leaders in creating a more accountable supply chain, enhancing both sustainability efforts and stakeholder confidence.

Broadening horizons and future impact

Although initially tailored for the chemical sector, the PCF Exchange platform has the potential to extend its reach into other industries, such as automotive, adhesives and manufacturing.

This cross-sector capability could amplify its environmental impact, fostering broader decarbonisation efforts.

To support its members and their suppliers in adopting the new platform, TfS is offering training and onboarding through the TfS Academy.

This initiative aims to build global capacity for sustainability and strengthen the industry’s overall commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Gunter Beitinger, SVP Manufacturing, Head of Factory Digitalisation and Head of Product Carbon Footprint at Siemens, expresses confidence in the solution’s value: “We’re proud to partner with TfS on the launch of the PCF Exchange solution, which leverages Siemens’ SiGREEN technology to enable efficient data handling, reduce manual effort and errors and ensure secure, trusted data exchange.

"Its robust security and compliance with global privacy regulations make it a reliable platform for companies to confidently exchange emissions data and integrate it into their greenhouse gas accounting systems.”

With the launch of the PCF Exchange, TfS is reinforcing its role as a leader in driving sustainability within the chemical industry and beyond.

The platform sets a new standard for transparency and collaboration in carbon management, paving the way for more industries to adopt similar approaches.

As Jennifer asserts, “This marks a significant step forward in helping the industry reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions with greater transparency and precision.”

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