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Establishing a Level Playing Field for Product LCAs
PCRs are the product category-specific requirements for conducting life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and reporting their findings through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), consistent with international standards ISO 14025 and ISO 14044. EPDs are recognized by a growing number of green rating systems, such as LEED v4.1, LEED v5, and Green Globes, and customers who want assurance that products in a particular category are evaluated against consistent criteria. Build greater environmental transparency into your product sector and earn the respect of your stakeholders and customers by establishing carefully crafted Product Category Rules (PCRs).
SCS Credentials
SCS is uniquely qualified to guide you through the exacting, multi-stakeholder PCR development process. Our broad industry expertise stems from four decades as a pioneer in environmental claims certification, and as a leading LCA practitioner and developer of advanced LCA methods. Clients include producers of building and construction products, furnishings, food and agriculture, paper, chemicals, electric power generation, and more. SCS was among the first organizations to be recognized as an eligible EPD Program Operator and independent EPD Verifier.
PCR Sponsorship – Product Category Rule (PCR) development is typically sponsored by a group of stakeholders, including industry associations, groups of manufacturers, or other interested parties. Individual manufacturers may contact SCS for PCR development services, but the process must include a stakeholder group involving multiple parties.
Additional Areas of Expertise – Our knowledgeable LCA team can support you in numerous ways, including:
- Performing a third-party critical review of your LCA.
- Providing verification of your EPD, evaluated against PCRs developed by SCS or by other EPD program operators.
- Conducting LCA studies for your products and preparing EPDs.
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PCRs are prepared in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14025. PCRs for construction products must additionally comply with ISO 21930. Copies of these ISO standards can be downloaded from ANSI: http://www.webstore.ansi.org.
Our job is guide your PCR development process to assure that it fully complies with the requirements of international standards, and that it achieves the transparency, scientific grounding, and comprehensive coverage needed to guarantee credibility in the marketplace. We will assist with organization of the stakeholder group, manage the peer review process, provide expert input based on extensive experience with LCA, and oversee the PCR development.
The PCR development process involves a series of discrete steps:
- Review existing applicable Product Category Rules, if any
- Discuss the scope of the product category to be covered and the LCA methodology to be used
- Assemble a group of stakeholders to participate in the process
- Start work using the PCR template provided by SCS
- Convene the stakeholder group to draft the PCR
- Review public comments and revise the draft PCR as needed
- Send revised draft to a qualified peer review panel
- Make further revisions, then return to panel for final peer review
- Post the draft PCR for public comment
- Publish the final PCR
Once your PCR is completed, you can select among client marketing support services offered by SCS to build recognition for this accomplishment.
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What are Product Category Rules (PCR)
PCRs are the product category-specific requirements for conducting life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and reporting their findings through Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), consistent with international standards ISO 14025 and ISO 14044.
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What is the purpose of a Product Category Rule (PCR)?
PCRs level the playing field when comparing the life cycle assessment (LCA) results or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) of similar products. Their purpose is to provide a consistent set of rules and ensure that the underlying LCA adequately addresses issues relevant to a particular product category.
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What is driving the development of PCRs?
Stakeholders are now demanding more transparency and disclosure of the environmental and human health impacts related to products. Green rating systems such as LEED v4 and LEED v5 now give credit to products for which EPDs have been prepared. These EPDs, and the LCAs upon which they are based, depend on the consistent reporting parameters that PCRs provide.
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Who are the stakeholders in a PCR development process?
The stakeholders for any given PCR may include material suppliers, manufacturers, purchasers, users, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academics and scientists, public agencies, LCA Practitioners, and certification bodies.
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Who can peer review a PCR?
The peer review team consists of individuals with sufficient knowledge of LCA, the relevant ISO standards, and the product category to be able to fairly critique the work and lend credibility to the process. The peer review panel consists of a minimum of three individuals.
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Are PCRs necessary to meet international standards?
PCRs are described in ISO 14025, the international standard for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). That standard, in turn, refers back to ISO 14044, the standard for life cycle assessment (LCA). PCRs for construction products must additionally comply with ISO 21930. These standards are updated through the normal ISO process. SCS can help you select or set up your PCR to comply with the most stringent LCA requirements.
- Establish the basis for products in a category to earn credit under green rating schemes.
- Engage in a process that promotes highly credible, scientifically supported declarations and claims.
- Support the environmental transparency expectations of customers and other stakeholders.
- Build consensus among diverse stakeholders to establish common expectations and promote a roadmap for improvement.
| Document Name | Document |
|---|---|
| EPD Overview | English |
| ISO 14025 | Visit Site |
| ISO 21930 | Visit Site |
| LCIA Methodology for PCR Modules for Roundwood and Pulp/Paper | English |
| PCR for Designated North American Steel Construction Products | English |
| PCR Module for Market Pulp and Paper Products | English |
| PCR Module for Roundwood Products | English |
| Procedure for Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Verification | English |
| SCS Program Operator Manual | Visit Site |
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