TACK: Tape and adhesives calculation kit for product carbon footprint (PCF)

Simplifying PCF calculations

with TACK

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A game changer for the industry

Developed by Afera and IVK in collaboration with Sphera, TACK:

Provides accurate sustainability data to meet industry and regulatory requirements
Empowers manufacturers with validated calculations using high-quality databases
Supports Scope 3 reporting, making environmental assessments simpler & more credible

Position Paper on PCF

Key features of TACK

Standarised and third-party verified: Alignes with ISO 14067, ISO 14040, and TfS PCF Guidelines - third party verified by DEKRA
User-friendly interface: No LCA expertise needed! Get accurate results with simple inputs
Customable reporting: Generate detailed reports for regulatory compliance & optimisation

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Testimonials

"TACK simplifies PCF measurement and saves valuable time in sustainability reporting." – IKEA >>

An affordable solution for all member companies.

TACK (Tape and Adhesives Calculation Kit), designed for B2B utilisation by adhesive tape manufacturers, converters and raw materials suppliers, is now ready for use! Companies who are Afera member can obtain a license to access the collaboratively developed tool.

Why the PCF calculation tool is critically important: Don’t miss out!

It will be required in the (near) future! Currently PCF information is already required under the Battery Regulation. Under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), which is still under negotiation, PCF measurement will most likely be extended to other sectors, in some cases to be included in Digital Product Passports (DPPs). Nevertheless, customers are increasingly asking for PCF data.

TACK will become the aligned approach. It is compatible with existing Industry data and calculation methods for raw materials (e.g. the TfS methodology for chemicals) and broadly applicable to all kinds of adhesive tapes, surface protection films and analogous products. The methodology includes the impact of tape manufacturing process operations and defined system boundaries (e.g., waste, logistics, energy, etc.).

It will ensure compliance with E.U. regulations. DEKRA will validate the methodology, documentation and training requirements. This allows businesses to meet future legal requirements as well as the demands of the supply chain. This is good for customers and authorities and ultimately makes the tape industry more credible and resilient. Afera has ensured that the collaborative development of the PCF calculation tool complies with European Union competition law.

TACK will help Afera tape manufacturer Members navigate the complexities of Scope 3 reporting and become more sustainable. The established methodology for calculation can be used to monitor a company’s own progress towards reducing environmental impact. With the availability of consistent PCF data across the supply chain, companies will be able to track their Scope 3 emissions, aiding their efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

The calculation method can be used internally in R&D processes to develop novel products with reduced environmental impact. TACK does not require a high level of expertise for use. It will be accessible to non-LCA experts to produce PCF values confidently.

It will be updated and expanded. Afera will have the possibility to develop a common methodology to validate data from upstream suppliers. In the future, more sustainability aspects, such as Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), may be incorporated into TACK.

For more details, please visit: Afera PCF calculation tool: The what, why, how, and when.

FAQ

Technical Aspect

: TACK stands for Tape and Adhesive Calculation Kit. Launched in May 2025, the PCF calculation tool has been jointly developed by Afera – The European Adhesive Tape Association and the German Adhesives Association, Industrieverband Klebstoffe e.V. (IVK). TACK is a web-based tool that empowers manufacturers, converters and raw material suppliers to assess environmental impact with transparent, standardised methodologies aligned with ISO 14067 and TfS PCF guidelines. Designed by Sphera, the user‑friendly tool provides access to a high‑quality, curated database, enabling users without LCA expertise to generate accurate PCF values with confidence.
: TACK helps meet growing sustainability reporting demands by providing a standardised, transparent, and industry‑aligned method for calculating Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs). It is built to support upcoming EU regulations and broader climate‑reporting expectations by giving manufacturers a consistent framework for measuring cradle‑to‑gate greenhouse gas emissions.

The third-party verified tool is aligned with ISO 14040 and ISO 14067 standards, as well as the Together for Sustainability (TfS) PCF guidelines. This alignment ensures that the PCF results generated through TACK are credible, comparable, and suitable for use in regulatory disclosures, customer reporting, and voluntary sustainability initiatives.

By streamlining data collection and calculation, TACK enables companies across the adhesive and tape value chain to produce reliable, repeatable PCF results, strengthening the quality and transparency of their sustainability reporting.

Verification

: Yes. To increase the credibility of self-declaration of carbon indicators for adhesive and tape products, Afera and IVK engaged DEKRA Assurance Services GmbH, a highly regarded auditing firm. As part of the third-party verification process, DEKRA conducted a pre-verification of the software model and the correct functionality of the web-based tools. Furthermore, DEKRA evaluated the documentation and software tool against the TfS PCF Guideline, providing a comprehensive review report.
: Yes. TACK’s calculation methodology and tool functionality are already third‑party verified. Any additional verification applies only to the data you enter, and a qualified third‑party verifier can complete this step with relative ease.

Access TACK

: Yes. Members of Afera and IVK can obtain a license to access TACK, a collaboratively developed tool designed to ensure accessibility and affordability for both new and existing members. More than 80 Afera and IVK members played an integral role in TACK’s development by participating in scoping exercises, workshops, and discussions. Developing the tool as a group resulted in it being more cost-effective than doing it as individual companies.

Access to TACK requires contributions beyond the standard Afera Membership fee: a €5K one-time development fee and a yearly licensing fee for unlimited access to the TACK online platform. The costs also apply to all new users of the tool down the line, i.e. those who join Afera in the future. Licensing fee pricing is available upon request. Reach out to us at mail@afera.com for more information.
: The first step is to fill in this form. Here is stated a detailed process of the purchase order.
: Access to TACK requires contributions beyond the standard Afera Membership fee: a €5K one-time development fee and a yearly licensing fee for unlimited access to the TACK online platform. The costs also apply to all new users of the tool down the line, i.e. those who join Afera in the future. Licensing fee pricing is available upon request. Reach out to us at mail@afera.com for more information.
: Attempts to secure trial licenses to access TACK are ongoing. In the meantime, member companies can opt for extended demos, where they submit product data and view PCF calculations live. Two member companies have completed a demo with positive feedback. Reach out to us at mail@afera.com for more information.

: TACK will be updated periodically to incorporate critical updates such as inclusion of new raw materials and generic formulations, alignment with latest versions of TfS PCF guidelines, and revision of underlying secondary database.

Afera and IVK are currently working to define the scope and priorities for the next maintenance update of TACK. Based on discussions with member companies using the tool, a list of priorities has been prepared and will be finalised soon. The goal is to initiate the update early next year for a targeted release of the new updated version of TACK before summer 2026.

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: TACK Order Process

PCF calculation using TACK vs. Alternative tool one-pager

Afera PCF calculation tool: The what, why, how and when

Launching TACK, a unified PCF calculation tool for adhesives and tapes

Successful completion of the workshop series hosted by Afera and IVK paves the way for the development of the PCF tool in 2024

Joint workshop hosted by Afera and IVK facilitates discussions on calculation methodology, scope, and features of the new PCF tool

More than 165 participants attend Afera and IVK Webinar on new PCF calculation tool

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