New Global Initiative to Harmonise PCRs and EPDs

17th Jun 2020

EPD Australasia is participating in a new initiative to harmonise PCRs globally, led by EPD International.

With the increasing recognition of EPDs there has been a proliferation of EPD Programme Operators, particularly in Europe and North America. While the Product Category Rules (PCR) for building and construction materials are increasingly based on EN15804 this is not the case with other product PCRs.

Harmonisation of PCRs is at the heart of meeting global market expectations to make lifecycle-based environmental performance data of manufacturers’ products and services consistent and comparable.

EPD International has initiated the PCR Partnership Programme and has called for collaboration and coordination in PCR development processes amongst EPD Programme Operators. The specific objectives of this initiative are to:

• initiate constructive co-operation between EPD Programme Operators leading to full consistency of PCR and EPD work according to ISO 14025 and ISO/TS 14027
• minimise misuse and market failure of PCRs and EPDs
• avoid proliferation of PCRs in the same product category
• gain market acceptance to harmonise PCRs. EPD Australia, as a regional hub of EPD International is participating in this initiative.