PACT’s Conformance Tool

The PACT Conformance Tool is a new service that automatically validates whether a solution conforms with the PACT Technical Specifications.

Instead of manually coordinating peer-to-peer tests, the tool objectively runs a suite of test cases against a solution to check for specification conformance. The primary advantages of the tool are:

• Increase testing rigor through a comprehensive suite of test cases
• Decrease time to conformance through automation
• Increase efficiency by eliminating human errors in manual testing process
• Increase interoperability robustness

You can explore the tool here: PACT Conformance Test Service

How to use the tool?

Getting started is simple. Follow these steps:‍

1. Join the PACT Network: Use this 5-step guide to begin your conformance journey.‍

2. Set Up Your Environment

1. Complete any prerequisites mentioned in the guide.
2. Configure your solution to expose the required API endpoints according to the PACT Technical Specification.

3. Run the Test Suite‍

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Configure the tool to run tests on your solution by providing the Solution API URL and authentication credentials. The tool will automatically run a series of validation tests against the endpoints.‍

4. Review the Results

• ‍‍After running the tests, the tool will indicate which tests passed and which failed.
• This helps you quickly pinpoint and fix any areas of non-conformance.

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How will I know when my solution has passed PACT Conformance?

• Test Reports:
• The tool provides detailed visuals indicating which tests cases have passed, failed, and the corresponding test case information and error message. Use this information to debug your solution and rerun the tool as you make updates to your tool!

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Passing Criteria:

• You must pass all mandatory tests in the suite to be considered PACT Conformant. Once your solution passes , within a few days you’ll receive a confirmation email from the PACT team with next steps and access to the press kit.

Have feedback on the tool?

We are eager to evolve the tool based on community feedback. If you encounter bugs, usability issues, or have ideas for improvement:

• Report bugs and raise issues via GitHub
• Write to us as pact-support@wbscd.org
• Join our monthly “Connect with PACT” sessions for a tool demo and to ask any questions!

Your feedback is critical to helping the PACT team make the tool even better for all solution providers!

The Evolution of PACT Conformance Testing

Interoperability between solutions has always been a core pillar of PACT—and remains so today. In 2023, when the PACT Network was opened to solution providers worldwide, the focus was on proving interoperability through peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange of Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data. To support this, PACT defined a standardized process called: PACT Conformance Testing. To make this process practical and scalable, PACT designed the process to facilitate testing between two solutions. This includes defining key elements required for interoperability—such as the data model, the API, and a detailed Conformance Checklist. As part of this approach, solution providers paired up and tested each other’s solutions based on a checklist of test cases. P2P Conformance Testing was facilitated to verify that a solution can exchange PCF data in an interoperable manner with any other PACT Conformant solution, for the given version of the specifications.

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While the PACT standards continue to evolve, the initial peer-to-peer testing approach was intentionally designed to support a new and emerging standard—a common practice when standards are first introduced. This mirrors early-stage learnings from other initiatives like Open Footprint. Over 40 solutions became PACT Conformant within just two years, reflecting the accessibility and flexibility of the initial approach. As demand continues to grow, introducing a more standardized and automated testing process offers the opportunity to enhance consistency and trust, increase confidence among users, and support greater scalability.

As of April 2025, PACT has retired the peer-to-peer testing process. Going forward, all solution providers must use the PACT Conformance Tool to achieve PACT Conformance.