Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are making Catena-X the new standard for supply chain data exchange. Product Carbon Footprints are increasingly a sourcing requirement, and the pressure has moved past Tier-1. Manufacturing SMEs, particularly in plastics processing, are now in scope.
The good news: getting set up is faster than most teams expect. This article covers exactly what is involved and how to get your first compliant PCF exchange done within days of starting.
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What is Catena-X? Catena-X is the automotive industry’s shared data ecosystem. It defines standards for how companies exchange supply chain data, including product carbon footprints (PCF) via a certified connector network. Participation requires compliance with Catena-X use case standard PCF Rulebook (CX-NFR-PCF). |
Why Catena-X Onboarding Takes Longer Than It Should
The requirements are real and arriving now. BMW, Volkswagen, and other OEMs are already requesting PCF data from suppliers through Catena-X. Company certificates are following the same path, with formal supplier questionnaires already in circulation.
The onboarding process involves several distinct steps: registering with Cofinity-X (the operating company for Catena-X), obtaining a Business Partner Number, configuring a certified EDC connector, and then implementing the specific use case standards. For PCF exchange, that means the Catena-X PCF Rulebook.Most suppliers only discover how involved this is once an OEM deadline is already close. The registration, connector setup, and use case implementation each have their own requirements. Miss one, and the whole exchange stalls.
The 3-Layer PACIFIC Method: From Onboarding to First Exchange
PACIFIC is the platform for calculating, managing, and exchanging Product Carbon Footprints and company certificates via Catena-X. Developed in partnership with BASF and Catena-X certified, it is available directly on the Cofinity-X Marketplace. It covers the two use cases OEMs are requesting first and qualifies for the public funding programme.
Here is how each layer works.
Layer 1: Cofinity-X Onboarding, Handled for You
Joining the Catena-X network starts with Cofinity-X registration: identity verification, participant agreement sign-off, and Business Partner Number issuance. It is procedural rather than technically difficult, but it requires familiarity with the process.
PACIFIC’s onboarding team manages this end to end. You provide company details, sign the participant agreement, and the connector setup is handled for you. No internal IT resource required, no need to understand EDC infrastructure in detail. Typical timeline from kickoff to live connector: five to ten business days.
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Funding available: Click here to learn more |
Layer 2: PCF Data That Meets the Catena-X PCF Rulebook
Sharing product carbon footprint data via Catena-X is not just a matter of sending a number. The Catena-X PCF Rulebook (standard CX-NFR-PCF) defines the exact methodology: how emission values must be calculated and structured, which data quality indicators are required and what the declared unit and reference period rules are.
PACIFIC enforces all of this at the point of data entry. Biogenic carbon declarations, and other mandatory fields are generated based on your inputs. The platform validates compliance before transmission, so the data your customer receives will not be rejected by their system.
Once your PCF is ready, PACIFIC initiates a connector-to-connector exchange using your customer’s Business Partner Number. They receive the PCF data directly into their system. No email, no spreadsheet, no re-entry on their side.
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The PACIFIC dashboard: manage PCF requests, track exchange status, and handle company certificates in one place |
Layer 3: Your First Compliant PCF Transmission
Once the connector is live and your PCF data is entered and validated in PACIFIC, the first transmission typically happens within the same week as onboarding completion.
Your customer receives a Rulebook-compliant PCF directly into their system. No manual re-entry, no format conversion, no follow-up to check if the data arrived. The exchange is logged in PACIFIC so you have a full record of what was sent and when.
What to Do Next
Catena-X PCF exchange has a defined process. Onboarding through Cofinity-X, calculation to the PCF Rulebook, connector-to-connector transmission. Each step is manageable. The challenge is doing all three correctly and quickly, which is where most independent attempts stall.
PACIFIC handles all three layers. OEMs are requesting this data now. The suppliers who get set up first are the ones who start before the deadline lands in their inbox.
Wichtigste Erkenntnisse:
- OEMs including BMW and Volkswagen are already requesting PCF data via Catena-X from Tier-2 suppliers and manufacturing SMEs
- Catena-X PCF exchange requires Cofinity-X registration, a certified EDC connector, and PCF data formatted to the Catena-X PCF Rulebook
- PACIFIC covers all three: onboarding, Rulebook-compliant calculation, and connector-to-connector transmission
Continue reading:
→ Scope 3: Why 80% of Your Carbon Footprint Hides in Your BOM
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Ready to start? Book a PACIFIC demo | Catnena- X funding | |
About PACIFIC
PACIFIC is developed in partnership with BASF, powered by CircularTree. Catena-X certified, available on the Cofinity-X Marketplace. Learn more at circulartree.com/pacific.
