PCR

Call for Participation: Mass Balance Addenda Working Group

Chain of custody systems are processes by which inputs and outputs with their associated information are transferred, monitored and controlled as they move through each step in a supply chain. ISO 22095 defines 5 distinct chain of custody models. One of the models, credit-based mass balance, allows attribution of specified characteristics to products. Credit-based mass balance is experiencing significant growth in applications via circular economy solutions; however, there is lack of standard guidance for how to approach credit-based mass balance in LCAs and EPDs. The primary goal of the ACLCA mass balance addendum working group is to develop first-of-its-kind recommended guidelines for practitioners on how to deal with credit-based mass balance when performing LCA modeling and in reporting results via EPDs. Recommendations will be made to PCR program operators for how to address product systems involving a credit-based mass balance. A secondary goal is to develop LCA and EPD guidelines for the other chain of custody models as defined in ISO 22095.

If you are interested in getting involved in this effort, please apply to the working group using the Application link.

Call for Participation: Assessing Data Quality of Background Life Cycle Inventory Datasets 
The Assessing Data Quality of Background Life Cycle Inventory Dataset addenda is undergoing a review and potential revision period. This addendum strengthens the standard for usage of Life Cycle Inventory data. Using different background data can lead to drastically different outcomes making EPDs for similar PCRs incomparable. Even with the same foreground data, a choice of different background inventories can create significant differences in the final LCA results. If you are interested in getting involved in this effort, please apply to the working group using the Application link.

The Open Standard Development Working Group is reconvening

The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard.  We expect to see some major updates. ACLCA has received valuable feedback on ways we can improve and increase use of the PCR Open Standard and its addenda and greatly appreciate your continued support and guidance. In response, ACLCA has created a PCR Open Standard development group by reconvening the original authors of the 2022 ACLCA PCR Open Standard as well as other PCR committee members to begin discussions on updates and improvements to the document and checklists. Individuals interested in getting involved with this group are encouraged to apply using the following Application link.

Apply to serve on the Advisory Group
Unable to join as an ACLCA member? ACLCA is launching a PCR Open Standard Advisory Group that will meet regularly to provide an opportunity for non-member involvement and discussion on the ACLCA PCR Open Standard, including the Uncertainty Methodology addendum before the public comment period. Get involved with the Advisory board by applying using the following Application link.

The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard.  We expect to see some major updates.

READ PRESS RELEASE HERE

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE WEBINAR HERE

Published in 2022, the ACLCA PCR Open Standard supports the harmonization of PCR development across Program Operators for the delivery of standardized, consistent, and reliable PCRs and EPDs by providing technical frameworks that support industry wide protocols for developing high quality product category rules (PCRs).

With the increasing demand for using ISO Type III environmental declarations (EPDs) to communicate the potential environmental impacts of products and processes, EPDs are also being used to inform design and procurement decisions (The White House 2021, Buy Clean California 2021, Buy Clean Colorado 2021).

This presents the critical need to create EPDs that are ISO standards-conformant, consistent with life cycle assessment (LCA) best practices and that enable digital communication with construction, accounting, and other reporting tools.

This 2022 version reflects the progress in the use of EPDs and program operators’ experience over the past 9 years. The work to develop this update has been in progress since 2018 and incorporates the outcomes of many stakeholder workshops and formal reviews including the ACLCA PCR committee reviews in 2020-21, and a formal public review in 2022.

A cornerstone of using EPDs successfully in procurement is the quality of the underlying PCR, and conformance to the processes established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ACLCA PCR Open Standard has been the leading reference for program operators’ PCR development process in North America since its publication in 2013. This 2022 version reflects the progress in the use of EPDs and program operators’ experience creating them over the past 9 years. Key to this new version was incorporating results from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded research to assess the quality of PCRs.

The ACLCA PCR Open Standard  is intended to be used for the creation of new PCRs and to determine if updates are needed to existing PCRs for materials impacted by state and federal procurement legislation and policies. The ACLCA PCR Open Standard provides process checklists for each of the key roles in the product category rule creation process for easy implementation by the Program Operator.