NSF P352 establishes requirements for the content of an eco-efficiency analysis to ensure consistency, objectivity and transparency in all eco-efficiency analyses. The protocol is intended to be an objective and universal method for companies to analyze the sustainability of their products and services. It is also designed to discourage greenwashing—making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service.
It also validates BASF’s own Eco-Efficiency Analysis (EEA) methodology. The EEA tool quantifies the sustainability of products or processes throughout the entire lifecycle, beginning with the extraction of raw materials through end-of-life disposal or recycling. It compares two or more products and creates data on the total cost of ownership and the impact on the environment.
NSF is a nonprofit organization committed to improving and protecting public health and the environment.
“BASF saw the need to raise the bar for eco-efficiency analysis and looked to NSF and others to help establish the new protocol. We are glad that NSF P352 is now available for widespread adoption and will help eliminate greenwashing, the act of making a misleading claim regarding the environmental benefits of a product or service,” says Edward Madzy, BASF’s director of product stewardship and regulations. “At BASF, we embrace sustainability, and the achievement of being the first company to have an eco-efficiency analysis validated by NSF International demonstrates our leadership in sustainable development practices.”