Product Impact Calculator: Environmental Cost Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

1. Is the French Environmental Cost only applicable to textiles?
2. How and where will the Environmental Cost be displayed?
3. Who needs to comply with the French Environmental labeling?
4. What is the difference between the terms “Ecoscore” (or “Eco-score” or “Eco-Score”), and “Environmental Cost”?
5. How is the French Environmental Cost related to the PEF score? Are they comparable?
6. How is the Environmental Cost used?
7. What is the unit of the Environmental Cost?
8. In addition to the Environmental Cost, what other environmental impacts will be generated?
9. How is the Environmental Cost calculated?
10. Is an Environmental Cost generated for each impact category?
11. Which impact categories are taken into account when calculating the Environmental Cost?
12. Is there a minimum or maximum number for the Environmental Cost?
13. As a user, I do not have all the mandatory parameters, can I still generate an Eco-score?
14. Can I generate an Environmental for Children sized clothing?
15. Are there any plans to expand the material list options?
16. My product is a mix of textiles and non-textiles - can I still generate an Eco-score?
17. One of the materials in my product does not exist as an option- can I still generate an Eco-score?
18. One of the materials in my product does not exist as an option and I’m not sure which proxy to use, is there guidance on this?
19. My product does not exist as an option as a product category- can I still generate an Eco-score?
20. What background database does Ecobalyse use to calculate the Environmental Cost and the environmental impacts?
21. Is the impact of components/trims added to the Environmental Cost calculation?
22. Is the impact of packaging added in the Environmental Cost calculation?
23. Can MSI materials be used to generate the Eco-score?
24. Does the product weight include packaging?
25. What is included in the results exports?
26. My material constitutes less than X% of the total BOM, can I omit that material from the product’s BOM?
27. In what cases will an Environmental Cost not be generated?
28. How often can I update my Environmental Costs?
29. How does Worldly submit my scores to the French government?
30. Do I need to log into the French portal if I use Worldly?
31. Can I submit scores to the portal myself?
32. What is a GTIN and why do I need one?
33. Can I delete a declaration after Worldly publishes it?
34. I provided my ProConnect ID. Now what?
35. What happens if there's an error when Worldly submits my scores?
36. Can I see a record of what Worldly submitted to the French portal?
37. Who can click Publish to Portal in my account?
38. What information does the French government see about Worldly's involvement?

Is the French Environmental Cost only applicable to textiles?

Yes. At the moment, this feature only applies to textile products. This is in accordance with the Ecobalyse methodology.

How and where will the Environmental Cost be displayed?

The Environmental Cost will appear in several places: on the product itself, on store shelves or on a website using a visual to help consumers make an informed choice. More information here.

Who needs to comply with the French Environmental labeling?

Environmental labeling requirements apply to all manufacturers, importers and distributors offering textile products for sale in France. This includes any clothing company- whether based in France or abroad-that conducts business in the French market, regardless of where it originates.

What is the difference between the terms “Ecoscore” (or “Eco-score” or “Eco-Score”), and “Environmental Cost”?

In the context of the French Government’s environmental labeling initiatives, the terms Eco-Score and Environmental Cost are sometimes used interchangeably and are both aimed at informing consumers about the environmental impacts of products, particularly in the textile sector. The absolute value number that is displayed on labels is referred to as the "Environmental Cost”. In the context of textiles, “Environmental Cost” has replaced the term “Eco-Score” which has broader applicability and is a letter ranking system (ABCDE).

How is the French Environmental Cost related to the PEF score? Are they comparable?

The French Environmental Cost (or Eco-Score) and the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology are both used to assess the environmental impact of products. In fact, the French Environmental Cost methodology builds on the PEF methodology. However, these schemes differ in scope and application. The PEF is a broader European framework for calculating the environmental footprint of products throughout their life cycle, while the French Environmental Cost is a specific application of the PEF framework for textile products in France. While the French Environmental Cost builds upon the PEF, it incorporates additional indicators such as emissions from microfibers and exports outside the US (considered as waste). The French Environmental Cost is driven/mandated by the French Climate & Resilience Law of 2021.

How is the Environmental Cost used?

The Environmental Cost is used for environmental labeling of textile products in the French market.

What is the unit of the Environmental Cost?

Pts or points of impact.

In addition to the Environmental Cost, what other environmental impacts will be generated?

Yes, all 16 PEF impact categories will be available in the csv download.

How is the Environmental Cost calculated?

Please refer to the Environmental Cost methodology for a detailed explanation of the calculations.

Is an Environmental Cost generated for each impact category?

No, there is no Environmental Cost for each impact category. The Environmental Cost itself in an aggregated number. It takes into account 16 environmental impact categories as well as 2 additional metrics: exports outside of Europe and emissions from microfibers.

Which impact categories are taken into account when calculating the Environmental Cost?

The 16 impact categories are summarized in Table 5 (source).

Is there a minimum or maximum number for the Environmental Cost?

The Environmental Cost (number that goes on the product's physical label) does not have a boundary/limit. The unit is points (Pt) with 1 Pt corresponding to the average annual environmental impact of a product as it relates to a European citizen. It can be measured in Points (Pt), in milliPoints (mPt) or in microPoints (µPt) with 1 Pt = 1 000 mPt = 1 000 000 µPt (source).

As a user, I do not have all the mandatory parameters, can I still generate an Eco-score?

No, if one of the mandatory parameters is missing, an Eco-Score cannot be generated and an error message will pop on the screen.

Can I generate an Environmental for Children sized clothing?

The Environmental Cost calculation can be applied to both Adult and Children sized clothing.

Are there any plans to expand the material list options?

The current material options are in alignment with the offerings of the final regulatory Environmental Cost methodology.

My product is a mix of textiles and non-textiles - can I still generate an Eco-score?

At the moment, the Environmental Cost methodology only applies to textiles. If your product contains non-textile materials, an Eco-Score will not be generated.

One of the materials in my product does not exist as an option- can I still generate an Eco-score?

There are 38 predefined representative materials available in PIC. Out of the 38 PIC materials, 12 have a direct mapping to Ecobalyse materials, and 10 have a proxy mapping. Please refer to the material mapping in Appendix 2, Table 2.

One of the materials in my product does not exist as an option and I’m not sure which proxy to use, is there guidance on this?

If a material does not exist in PIC or Ecobalyse, an Eco-Score will not be generated. Here is some additional guidance from the Environmental Cost methodology:

• If your missing material represents less than 20% of the total BOM:
  • Recycled polyester can be used as a proxy for other recycled synthetic materials
  • Recycled cotton can be used as proxy for other recycled natural materials
  • Wool can be used as a proxy for cashmere/mohair/alpaca
  • Farmer’s wool can be used as a proxy for Yak wool
  • Nylon can be used as a proxy for polyamide
  • Wool can be used as a proxy for silk
  • Viscose can be used as a proxy for Lyocell
• If your missing material represents more than 20% of the total BOM:
  • Recycled polyester cannot be used as a proxy for other recycled materials
    • Ecoscore cannot be generated
  • Recycled cotton cannot be used as proxy for other recycled natural materials
    • Ecoscore cannot be generated
  • Wool can be used as a proxy for cashmere/mohair/alpaca
  • Farmer’s wool can be used as a proxy for Yak wool
  • Nylon can be used as a proxy for polyamide
  • Wool cannot be used as a proxy for silk
  • Ecoscore cannot be generated
  • Viscose cannot be used as a proxy for Lyocell
  • Ecoscore cannot be generated

My product does not exist as an option as a product category- can I still generate an Eco-score?

There are 38 predefined product categories available in PIC. Out of the 38 categories, 18 have a direct mapping to Ecobalyse products, and 7 have a proxy mapping. Please refer to the product mapping in Appendix 2, Table 1. If the product does not have a proxy mapping, an Eco-Score will not be generated.

What background database does Ecobalyse use to calculate the Environmental Cost and the environmental impacts?

Ecobalyse uses Ecoinvent as a background database.

Is the impact of components/trims added to the Environmental Cost calculation?

Components/trims are not mandatory parameters the user has to provide. They are however added in the Environmental Cost calculation. The Ecobalyse methodology provides default components/trims for each product category.

Is the impact of packaging added in the Environmental Cost calculation?

No, packaging is not a mandatory parameter the user has to provide. It is currently not added to the Environmental Cost calculation.

Can MSI materials be used to generate the Eco-score?

Not at the moment.

Does the product weight include packaging?

No, the product weight is the net weight, which excludes all packaging.

What is included in the results exports?

The French Eco-Score export includes the Environmental Cost as well as the results of the 16 impact categories.

My material constitutes less than X% of the total BOM, can I omit that material from the product’s BOM?

The Ecobalyse methodology does not provide guidance on this.

In what cases will an Environmental Cost not be generated?

There are several instances where an Environmental Cost will not be generated:

• Material and proxy not available
• Material % do not add up to 100%
• Product category and proxy not available
• Exact product weight not provided
• Geographies not provided
• Unit of weight not provided

How often can I update my Environmental Costs?

You can update an environmental cost score once every three months per product. This is set by French regulation (Décret n.2025-957, art. D.541-243). If you need to update a product more frequently, you'll need to contact the French government portal directly to discuss your situation.

To update a score that's already been published, change the product information in PIC and click Publish to Portal again. Worldly will submit the updated score to the French portal.

How does Worldly submit my scores to the French government?

When you click `Declare to Portal` in PIC, Worldly submits your environmental cost scores directly to the French government's declaration portal using a secure API connection. This is the same method the French government uses for third-party declarations. The submission is encrypted and authenticated, and your data goes directly to the government's official system.

You don't have to worry about formatting, file uploads, or manual submission. Worldly handles all of that behind the scenes.

Do I need to log in to the French portal if I use Worldly?

No. Once you've delegated declaration rights to Worldly, you don't need to log in unless you want to check the status of your declarations or view how your scores appear on the public portal.

All your declarations happen through Worldly. Your scores are submitted automatically when you click Publish to Portal in PIC, and they appear on the French government's public portal within a few minutes.

Can I submit scores to the portal myself?

You can. Even after delegating to Worldly, you can still log in to the French portal and submit declarations manually if you want. You might do this if:

• You have products Worldly isn't publishing
• You want to manage some declarations separately
• You are testing the portal process

Keep in mind that once a score is declared (whether by you or by Worldly), it cannot be deleted. It can only be updated, and you can only update it once every three months per product.

What is a GTIN and why do I need one?

A GTIN is a Global Trade Item Number, also known as a product barcode or UPC code. It is a unique identifier for your product that retailers and the government use to track items.

The French government's portal requires a GTIN for each product you declare by default. If your company has GTINs, you must use them.

If your company is small or does not have GTINs, you may qualify for a waiver. Contact the French government portal directly to request an exception and discuss your situation.

To add GTINs to your products in Worldly, see our article on product information requirements.

Can I delete a declaration after Worldly publishes it?

No. Once a declaration is published to the French government portal, it cannot be deleted. This is a government requirement, not a Worldly limitation.

You can update a declaration by changing the product information in PIC and republishing. However, you can only update the same product once every three months.

If you need to make multiple updates within that window or need to handle a deletion, contact your Worldly customer success team.

I provided my ProConnect ID. Now what?

Your Worldly Customer Success contact has entered your ProConnect ID into our system. 

Next steps:

• Make sure your products have environmental cost scores in PIC
• Add GTINs to your products (if required for your company size)
• Click `Declare to Portal` when you are ready to declare

Your scores will be submitted to the French government portal automatically, and they will appear on the public portal within a few minutes.

What happens if there is an error when Worldly submits my scores?

Worldly submits to the French government's API in real time. If there is an issue (for example, missing required information on your products), the submission will fail and you will be notified.

Common reasons for failed submissions include:

• Missing or incomplete GTIN
• Missing country information (fabric country, dyeing country, or manufacturing country)
• Incomplete product information in PIC

Fix the product information and try publishing again. If you continue to have issues, contact your Customer Success team.

Can I see a record of what Worldly submitted to the French portal?

Yes. Log in to the French government portal using your ProConnect ID. You will see a record of all declarations submitted under your organization, including those submitted by Worldly.

You can also check your product library in Worldly to see which products have been published to the portal.

Who can click Publish to Portal in my account?

Anyone with Editor or Admin access to your Worldly account can click "Publish to Portal" and submit declarations on your behalf. Make sure you trust who you provide access to.

If you want to restrict who can publish, adjust the role and permissions in your Worldly account settings.

What information does the French government see about Worldly's involvement?

The French government knows that Worldly is your delegated third party and that Worldly is submitting scores on your behalf. Your organization remains the entity responsible for the declaration.

The public portal shows your company name and the environmental cost score. It does not show that Worldly submitted the declaration or display Worldly's name.