Initiatives

ACLCA PCR Open Standard

Ensuring transparency and reliability in procurement and supply chain data.

About

The ACLCA PCR Open Standard is the authoritative framework for developing high-quality Product Category Rules (PCRs) ensuring consistency and reliability in PCRs and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which are critical tools for assessing and communicating environmental impacts of products and processes.

The Open Standard provides process checklists for each of the key roles in the product category rule creation process and methods and methodologies addenda on areas related to PCR development.

Process & Methods Toolkit

Download Full Toolkit

Process Checklists & Methods & Methodologies

Download Checklists Only

Process Checklists (.xls)

Methods & Methodologies

The following PCR Open Standard Addenda have been developed to further aid in harmonizing PCRs and EPDs.

Published

Allocating burdens and benefits of materials shared across product systems.

The addendum standardizes allocation for materials crossing product system boundaries, reducing subjective variance and preventing double counting of environmental burdens. A harmonized approach enhances EPD comparability, value chain consistency, and avoids miscounted impacts.

Download

Assessing data quality of background life cycle inventory datasets.

The addendum strengthens standards for Life Cycle Inventory data, ensuring consistent data quality. It addresses discrepancies in LCA outcomes caused by varying background data, enhancing EPD comparability. Standards for using the Enhanced Pedigree Matrix are also provided.

Download

Quantifying renewable electricity instruments in environmental product declarations.

The addendum provides a methodology for including and allocating renewable electricity instruments (e.g. RECs, PPAs) in LCA and EPDs, detailing modeling, reporting, and verification requirements. It is the first consensus-based approach for integrating renewable energy into EPDs in North America.

Download

Under Development

The PCR committee has multiple addenda in development to further aid in harmonizing PCRs and EPDs.

Uncertainty Methodology

Develop guidance on how Uncertainty is managed during the PCR development process and how they are expressed in EPDs

Digital EPDs / OpenEPD

Addresses the need for an open data format for reporting and exchanging EPD information.

Data Specificity in EPDs

Provides a taxonomy for EPDs related to product specificity, manufacturing specificity, and supply chain specificity.

Get Involved

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
Apply and Participate in PCR Open Standard Working Groups (must be an ACLCA member)
Join the Program Operator Forum
Stay up to date - sign up for PCR Open Standard updates, news, and events

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:

Apply to Group

Call for Participation

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.

If you are interested in getting involved in this effort, please apply to the working group:

Apply to Group

PCR Repository

Our one-stop shop for searchable PCRs.

The ACLCA PCR Repository provides a centralized, easy-to-navigate database where you can quickly find, filter, and access PCR documents. Search across multiple Program Operators’ PCRs by technical specifications, industry sectors, or product categories to locate exactly what you need.

Results are available for download in an Excel file, or you can view individual PCRs as PDFs. This streamlined tool saves you time in LCA and EPD development by eliminating the hassle of searching multiple sources.

Program operators interested in adding or updating PCRs can reach out to us at support@aclca.org.

LCA Skills & Competency Framework

The LCA Skills & Competency Framework provides a structured pathway to build expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

As organizations and governments seek quantifiable ways to measure and reduce environmental impacts for meeting sustainability goals, this initiative develops clear proficiency levels and skill benchmarks. The framework enables professionals to confidently apply LCA methods, strengthening data-driven environmental decision-making across sectors.

CIP Code

The ACLCA CIP Code Initiative represents a groundbreaking effort to strengthen sustainability education across engineering, business, environmental science, and other disciplines.

The Initiative will strengthen LCA education and accelerate the development of professionals equipped to drive metrics-based sustainable development across global industrial sectors.

Join ACLCA today and help us build a more sustainable tomorrow!

ACLCA provides the platform to learn, connect, and make a lasting impact. Be part of a community that's revolutionizing how we approach environmental decision-making and sustainable development.

Join ACLCA

Our Initiatives

ACLCA PCR Open Standard

PCR Repository

LCA Skills & Competency Framework

CIP Code