ISO 14046 — Standard

About the Standard

Scope title: water footprint

ISO 14046 is a standard published by International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The international standards organisation; it publishes the widest body of management system, test method and product standards.

See the other 310 codes from ISO

Verification — What Does This Activity Do?

The section below describes the field that code ISO 14046 belongs to; it is not the text of the standard or the regime itself. The scope title of the code is given above, and technical requirements are shared at the quotation stage.

Verification activities independently confirm that the data an organisation declares is accurate and complete. Greenhouse gas declarations, carbon footprint calculations, sustainability reports, recycled content claims and energy saving declarations are assessed within this scope.

Verification is NOT a test; it is an EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE. The verifier does not make measurements in a laboratory; they examine the organisation's data collection method, calculation boundaries, the emission factors used, internal controls and the traceability of the calculation. The result is an opinion on whether the declaration is presented accurately at a defined level of assurance.

THE LEVEL OF ASSURANCE is the most important technical concept in the field. Reasonable assurance requires deeper examination and more evidence than limited assurance and results in a stronger statement. The two levels differ in cost and duration; which one is required comes from legislation or from the context in which the declaration will be used.

THE DEFINITION OF SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES determines the result in this field. In a greenhouse gas calculation, Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (purchased energy) and Scope 3 (value chain) produce very different magnitudes; a carbon footprint figure is meaningless without stating which scopes are included. In most organisations the bulk of emissions sits in Scope 3, and that is the hardest part for data collection.

The body of standards is layered: corporate-level greenhouse gas accounting falls under ISO 14064-1, project-level reductions under ISO 14064-2, the verification process under ISO 14064-3 and the competence of the verification body under ISO 14065. Product-level carbon footprint runs through ISO 14067, life cycle assessment through ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, and environmental product declarations through ISO 14025.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the most labour-intensive part of the field: the environmental impacts of a product at every stage from raw material to disposal are calculated. The result is sensitive to the chosen system boundary, the functional unit and the database; two LCAs made for the same product under different assumptions cannot be compared.

On the regulatory side the obligations are increasing rapidly. The carbon border adjustment mechanism requires declaration of the embedded emissions of imported products; sustainability reporting regulations make assurance of corporate declarations mandatory; the battery regulation introduces a carbon footprint declaration. This turns verification from a voluntary practice into a regulatory requirement.

Greenwashing risk shapes the commercial side of the field. An unsupported environmental claim now carries not only reputational risk but also the risk of enforcement under consumer legislation. Verified data has therefore become part of a legal defence rather than of a marketing claim.

Method groups in this field

Defining scope and boundaries
Definition of the system boundary, functional unit and included scopes at corporate or product level.
Data and calculation review
Verification of the source of activity data, the measurement method, emission factors and the traceability of calculation steps.
Internal control assessment
Examination of the controls, responsibilities and approval mechanisms in the data collection process.
Site verification
On-site confirmation of significant emission sources and measurement points.
Materiality assessment
Assessment of whether errors and omissions materially affect the declaration.
Forming an opinion
Writing the verification opinion at the defined level of assurance and stating any qualifications.

Commonly confused in this field

A carbon footprint figure without a stated scope is meaningless; Scopes 1, 2 and 3 produce very different magnitudes.
Verification is not a test; projects that begin with an expectation of laboratory measurement run into a mismatch of scope.
The level of assurance determines cost and duration; limited assurance and reasonable assurance are not the same thing.
Two LCAs made with different system boundaries cannot be compared; a comparative claim requires the same assumptions.
The choice of emission factor changes the result markedly; its source and year must be documented.
An unsupported environmental claim carries the risk of enforcement under consumer legislation; marketing copy must stay within verified data.

Which decisions these results support

Assurance of greenhouse gas declarations and carbon footprints
Meeting sustainability reporting obligations
Responding to customer, investor and tender requests
Supporting recycled content and green claims
Preparing declarations under the carbon border adjustment mechanism

Structure of the Code

Published by: ISO
Serial number: 14046
Part: without partition

Codes in the library without release year is kept. The current version changes over time; If the year is specified in your specification, that version is taken as basis, if not specified, the most current version is applied.

Scope

Verification

Related Tests and Services

Of the 1 pieces of content this code is referenced in, the 1 with their own published page are listed below.

Verification · 1

Water Footprint – ISO 14046

Technical Requirements

Standard texts are copyright of the relevant organization; test condition, sample and acceptance criteria cannot be fitted here.

Technical requirements specific to your product, once we clarify the scope At offer stage shared in writing.

Relevant Product Groups and Legislation

This code is included in the standard tag of the product pages below.

These product pages carry notes for the following markets: European Union, United Kingdom, USA. Whether the standard is mandatory in the relevant market varies depending on the product group and the applicable legislation.

Regulations published with this code on the same product pages:

(AB) 2018/858Vehicle Type-Approval FrameworkApproval of motor vehicles and their components. Component and separate technical unit approval run under this framework; the E mark arises from it.
UNECEUNECE 1958 AgreementType-approval under component-specific UNECE regulations (e.g. R10 EMC, R30/R54 tyres, R43 glazing).
UNECE R10UNECE R10Electromagnetic compatibility approval for vehicles and their components.
2011/65/EURoHSRestriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
2000/53/ATELVEnd-of-life vehicles. Sets heavy-metal restrictions and recoverability targets.
(EU) 2017/745MDRThe Medical Device Regulation. Classification (I, IIa, IIb, III), clinical evaluation, technical documentation and post-market surveillance obligations; the notified body's role grows as the class rises.
(EU) 2017/746IVDRThe In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation. In vitro diagnostic devices fall under this regulation instead of the MDR.
(AB) 2017/745 art. 33EUDAMEDThe European medical device database. From 28 May 2026, the actor registration, UDI/device, certificate and market surveillance modules are mandatory; placing on the market is not possible without a valid SRN.
2006/42/ATMachinery Directive (overlap)Relevant essential requirements also apply to medical devices that also qualify as machinery.
(EC) 1907/2006REACHRegistration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals; SVHC notification.
(EU) 2023/1230Machinery RegulationReplaces 2006/42/EC and becomes mandatory on 20 January 2027 with no further transition period. Requires notified-body involvement for Annex I high-risk machinery.
2014/35/EULVDThe Low Voltage Directive. Governs electrical safety in the 50–1000 V AC range.
2014/30/EUEMCThe Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive. Emission and immunity are covered together.
2014/34/ABATEXEquipment and protective systems used in explosive atmospheres. The category and conformity route are determined by zone classification.
2000/14/ATNoise EmissionNoise emitted into the environment by outdoor equipment. Machinery within scope requires a sound-power-level declaration and marking.
2014/68/EUPEDThe Pressure Equipment Directive for pressurised parts; the category is determined by pressure and volume.
(EU) 2024/573F-GasRefrigerant type, GWP value and leak-tightness obligations for systems containing a refrigerant.
(AB) 547/2012Ecodesign (water pumps)Ecodesign requirements for water pumps. Sets minimum efficiency index and product-information requirements.
(AB) 2019/1781Ecodesign (electric motors)Efficiency class requirements for electric motors and variable-speed drives.
(AT) 1935/2004Food Contact MaterialsGeneral requirements for equipment in contact with food; material conformity is required for valves in food lines.
(AB) 2020/2184Drinking Water Contact ProductsHygiene requirements for materials in contact with water under the Drinking Water Directive.
2014/29/ABSimple Pressure VesselsA separate directive for series-produced simple pressure vessels; its scope must be distinguished from the PED.
2010/35/ABTransportable Pressure EquipmentThe pi mark and periodic inspection regime for transportable pressure equipment.
2009/48/ECToy SafetyThe Toy Safety Directive. Regulates mechanical, physical, flammability, chemical and electrical safety requirements together; a technical file and safety assessment are mandatory.
EN 62115Electrical toysSafety for electric toys; applies to mains-connected or battery-powered toys.
(AT) 1907/2006 Annex XVII item 51-52Phthalate RestrictionRestriction of certain phthalates in toys and childcare articles.
(EU) 2023/1542Batteries RegulationBattery obligations and a removability requirement for toys containing a battery.
(AB) 1007/2011Textile LabellingTextile fibre names and labelling. Declaration of fibre composition and regulation of the label language.
(AT) 1907/2006 Annex XVII item 43Azo Dye RestrictionRestriction of certain azo dyes in textiles in contact with skin.
(AB) 2019/1021PFAS / PFOA RestrictionRestriction of PFOA and its derivatives under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulation.
(EU) 2023/988GPSRThe General Product Safety Regulation. The safety framework for consumer products not covered by sector-specific legislation.
(EU) 2016/425Personal Protective Equipment (overlap)The PPE Regulation's scope and category are determined for textiles with a protective function.
(AB) 10/2011Plastics in Food ContactPlastic materials in contact with food. The list of authorised substances, and overall and specific migration limits.
(AT) 2023/2006Good Manufacturing PracticeGood manufacturing practice (GMP) for food-contact materials.
(AB) 2025/40Packaging and Packaging WasteThe Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Recyclability, recycled-content and packaging-reduction obligations; replaces 94/62/EC.
(AB) 2022/1616Recycled PlasticRecycled plastic materials in contact with food.
(EU) 2024/3110Construction Products RegulationDeclaration of performance and CE marking for construction products. Most provisions apply from 8 January 2026; it progressively replaces (EU) 305/2011.
(AB) 305/2011CPR (transition)Continues to apply during the transition period for product groups where a new harmonised standard has not been published.
EN 13501-1Reaction-to-Fire ClassificationReaction-to-fire class for construction products; a mandatory item of the declaration of performance.
(EU) 2023/1115Deforestation (wood-based)A deforestation-free supply declaration for wood and derived construction materials.
(AT) 1223/2009Cosmetic Products RegulationThe Cosmetic Products Regulation. Appointing a responsible person, the product information file (PIF), the safety assessment (CPSR) and CPNP notification are mandatory; there is no product approval, and responsibility rests with the manufacturer.
(AT) 1223/2009 Annexes II-VIProhibited and Restricted SubstancesLists of prohibited substances, restricted substances, and permitted preservatives, colorants and UV filters.
(AT) 1223/2009 art. 16Nanomaterial NotificationA separate notification six months before placing on the market for products containing nanomaterials.
(AT) 1223/2009 art. 18Animal Testing BanA ban on animal testing of finished products and ingredients, and on placing animal-tested products on the market.
(AT) 178/2002General Food LawThe general principles of food law, traceability and food safety responsibility.
(AT) 852/2004Food HygieneHygiene rules for food businesses and the obligation for a HACCP-based system.
(AB) 1169/2011Food Information to ConsumersFood labelling; nutrition declaration, allergen information and origin information.
(AB) 2023/915ContaminantsMaximum levels of contaminants in food.
(AT) 396/2005Pesticide residuesMaximum residue limits in food of plant and animal origin.
(AT) 2073/2005Microbiological CriteriaMicrobiological criteria for foodstuffs.

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