What is the Project Footprint?

The Project Footprint, Empreinte Projet in French, is a method inspired by consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) (1). Created by the ADEME, The French Agency for Ecological Transition, it is increasingly required in the agency’s tenders and calls for projects.

What is the Project Footprint?

This innovative method allows for the assessment of the environmental impacts of a project undertaken by an organisation, in comparison to a reference scenario.

Its application is particularly relevant when implementing new technology, business models, or even public policies, whether on a company or industrial sector scale.

How does the Project Footprint differ from attributional life cycle assessment?

Attributional life cycle assessment (A-LCA) and the Project Footprint are two distinct yet complementary methods. The key differences are as follows: 

• A-LCA: This is the "classic" LCA, the most commonly used method. It evaluates the environmental impacts of specific products or services, providing a snapshot at a given moment in time. For example, it might compare the environmental impact of a traditional PET (2) bottle with that of a biosourced, single-use PET bottle produced in France in 2022.  
• Project Footprint: This method quantifies the environmental impacts resulting from an overall change in a project compared to an initial or reference situation. For instance, it could assess the impact of switching a production line from fossil-based plastic bottles to biosourced plastic.  

In summary, the Project Footprint focuses on evaluating the impacts of changes linked to the implementation of a project compared to the reference situation, while A-LCA focuses on assessing impacts at a specific point in time.

Who is the Project Footprint for?

The Project Footprint is particularly relevant for a wide variety of projects, such as:  

• Projects on a sector, industry, regional, or company scale, especially those involving long-term business model innovations.  
• R&D projects, to assess the environmental impacts of new technologies or products.  
• Material or energy flow optimisation.  
• The deployment of new behaviours, through incentives or training.
• ADEME-funded projects, as a significant number of those supported by ADEME benefit from this method.  

The key stakeholders include:

• The organisations  
• The companies  
• The local authorities  

The Added Value of the Project Footprint

The Project Footprint offers several additional advantages:  

• Accounting for rebound effects: Rebound effects are indirect consequences that may cancel out or diminish the anticipated environmental benefits. For instance, an improvement in energy efficiency may enable an increase in production volume, which in turn leads to higher energy consumption.
• Social and societal consequences: The Project Footprint can incorporate social, societal, and socio-economic impacts, providing a more comprehensive view of a project’s outcomes. Social footprints are an area in which EVEA has extensive expertise, supported by a team specialising in these challenges.

EVEA: Your Partner for the Project Footprint

EVEA specialises in conducting Project Footprint assessments. We can support you throughout the entire process, from design to implementation, and even provide training on the method. Our expertise ensures a precise and comprehensive assessment of the environmental and social impacts of your projects. To learn more about our services and how we can help you integrate the Project Footprint into your initiatives, do not hesitate to contact us. ■

Maïwenn Hochet and Lisa Tauzin, LCA and Eco-Design Consultants at EVEA

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For further reading:

• Empreinte projet : évaluer l'empreinte environnementale d'un projet (guide méthodologique) (in French), sept. 2021, ADEME
• ADEME’s Guide for selecting environmental assessment methods (in French), Sept. 2021
• ADEME's Case studies review for Project Footprint (in French), Sept. 2022

(1) Consequential Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is particularly used for research purposes, aiding in political or strategic decision-making for specific sectors. It analyzes the impacts resulting from a change in the product or service lifecycle compared to a reference lifecycle, taking market dynamics into account. It differs from Attributional LCA, which, conversely, analyzes the impacts of a "static" system, such as a material good or service, at a given time without considering changes over time in the lifecycle.

(2) Polyethylene Terephthalate : PET or PETE is a type of plastic widely used for manufacturing bottles and containers due to is lightness, strength, and transparency. It is commonly used fro water, soft drink, and other liquid containers.