2022 ACLCA PCR Open Standard – Process and Methods Toolkit
Creating Standardized, Consistent, and Reliable PCRs & EPDs for Transparency, Procurement, and Supply Chain Data
NEW! The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard. We expect to see some major updates. Please see details below.
ACLCA Program Operator Forum. Taking place as an ongoing, bi-monthly event on Zoom, the Program Operator Forum offers a platform for sharing knowledge, resources and increasing connections and collaborations. The next Program Operator Forum will be on Thursday, May 30th from 3:00pm- 4:00pm (EST). Register HERE.
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Announcements for Involvement
NEW! Entering Public Comment Period: Guidance for Determining EPD Types and Calculating/Communicating Data Specificity Through the Supply Chain
ACLCAs Data Specificity working group has released a draft that is ready to receive public comment. The addendum provides a standardized nomenclature for types of EPDs under the scope of ISO21930:2017, as well as prescribing a methodology for calculating supply chain specificity. The public comment period will last 45 days, closing on Monday, May 27th, 2024. The draft can be accessed HERE. All comments must be submitted via the Public Comment form.
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.
Public Comment Period Closed: Digital EPDs and OpenEPD Addendum
ACLCA received many valuable comments during the 45 day public comment period for the Digital/Open EPD addendum of the PCR Open Standard, which closed on February 19th. The working group will begin evaluating the comments for their implementation in the final version of the addendum. The comments received during public comment period can be accessed via the Public Comment form.
Apply to join the Uncertainty Methodology Working Group
Join the ACLCA Uncertainty Methodology Addendum Working Group! The objective of this working group is to develop a guideline for how uncertainty is managed during the Product Category Rule development process and how they are expressed in Environmental Product Declarations. To participate as a member of the Working Group, you need to be an ACLCA member. Apply now!
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.
ACLCA PCR Open Standard
The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard. We expect to see some major updates.
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.
2022 ACLCA PCR Open Standard - Process and Methods Toolkit
The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard. We expect to see some major updates.
2-Part Tool: Process (Checklists) + Methods & Methodologies (Addenda) Download >
Process checklists (.xls) Download >
PCR Open Standard | Methods & Methodologies
The following PCR Open Standard Addenda have been developed to further aid in harmonizing PCRs and EPDs.
The ACLCA Open Standard Working Group has reconvened to update the ACLCA Open Standard. We expect to see some major updates.
Published
Allocating Burdens and Benefits of Materials Shared Across Product Systems
The method of allocation of burdens for materials which cross product system boundaries (i.e recycled or reused materials) can vary based on subjective value choices. The addendum reduces the variance by creating a standard approach. It is important to avoid double counted or uncounted environmental burdens and benefits such as recycled materials. A harmonized method of allocation will: enhance comparability of EPDs; improve consistency across value chains; and avoid twice counted or uncounted environmental burdens. Download >
Assessing Data Quality of Background Life Cycle Inventory Datasets
The Assessing Data Quality of Background Life Cycle Inventory Dataset 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. The updated addendum provides standards for the use of Enhanced Pedigree Matrix as well as to ensure consistent data quality assessments. Download >
Quantifying Renewable Electricity Instruments in Environmental Product Declarations
The Quantifying Renewable Electricity Instruments in EPDs provides a methodology for inclusion and allocation of contractual instruments for renewable electricity procurement (e.g. renewable energy certificate and power purchasing agreements) in LCA and EPDs. The addendum details requirements for modeling, reporting, and ongoing verification for inclusion of contractual instruments in EPD results. This is the first known consensus-based methodology for integration of renewable energy into EPDs in North America.Download> You can watch a recording of the webinar by following this link .
Undergoing Development
The PCR committee has multiple addenda in development to further aid in harmonizing PCRs and EPDs. The following grid has been designed to give a description of each, the working group chair, and where the addendum stands in the developmental process.
| Addendum | Description | WG Chairs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncertainty Methodology | Develop guidance on how Uncertainty is managed during the PCR development process and how they are expressed in EPDs | Amlan Mukherjee, Eleazer Resurreccion | Under development |
|
Digital EPDs / openEPD |
Addresses the need for an open data format for reporting and exchanging EPD information. |
Anna Lasso | Public Comment |
|
Data Specificity in EPDs |
Provides a taxonomy for EPDs related to product specificity, manufacturing specificity, and supply chain specificity. |
Anna Lasso, Danny Macri | Under development |
Get Engaged!
There are multiple ways to get involved in the progression of the PCR Open Standard addenda that are undergoing the developmental process as well as getting involved with ACLCA.
- Become an ACLCA Member and join the PCR Committee
- Join the Program Operator Forum here
- Stay up to date. Sign up for updates, news and events here.
- Interested in participating in an addendum working group or suggesting a topic? Contact ACLCA at info@aclca.org