Expansion of the OECD Trade Facilitation Indicators in the area of environment: A trade facilitation lens on product environmental lifecycles

Traceability is a key interface between trade facilitation and environmental performance, expanding from origin tracking to supply chain information needs. Using a product environmental lifecycle lens, this paper assesses trade facilitation’s enabling role across production, usage and end-of-life segments, identifying where arrangements align with environmental objectives and where challenges concentrate. Environment-related Trade Facilitation Indicators (env-TFIs) structure the analysis by mapping practices in transparency, digitalised procedures, risk management and border-agency co-operation to observe how environmental requirements are operationalised at the border. Across OECD economies, 55% of trade facilitation efforts appear to address environmental traceability challenges, with readiness higher in production and usage than in end-of-life segments. Progress is concentrated in streamlining formalities and information availability, while other technical levers - appeals, fees and charges, or consultation mechanisms - lag. Waste movements remain the most challenging due to complex controls, multiple authorities and limited interoperability. Strengthening transparency and co-ordination through interoperable, single-entry data exchange emerge as cross-cutting priorities.