What a PCR contains

A PCR specifies, for one product category, exactly what an LCA has to calculate and what the resulting EPD has to disclose: the functional unit, the system boundary, which life-cycle modules are mandatory versus optional, which impact categories must be reported beyond the core set required by EN 15804 or ISO 21930, and any category-specific use-stage or end-of-life scenarios and assumptions. Without a PCR, two manufacturers' LCAs for the same product type could make different assumptions and produce results that aren't actually comparable — the PCR is what prevents that.

Who develops and publishes PCRs

Program operators publish and maintain PCRs, typically developed through working groups that include industry representatives, LCA practitioners, and technical committee members, with a public consultation period before finalization. Some PCRs are developed independently by a single program operator; others are harmonized across multiple operators through cross-industry initiatives, which helps EPDs published through different operators remain comparable.

How to find the right PCR for a product

Program operators publish searchable PCR registries — checking the specific operator you intend to publish through is the most direct route. It's worth checking more than one operator's registry, since PCR coverage varies, and confirming the PCR's current status (active vs. expired) before starting an LCA against it, since building a model against an outdated PCR means redoing work later.

Core PCR vs. product-specific PCR

"PCR" gets used at two levels that are worth distinguishing. A core PCR — EN 15804 or ISO 21930 — sets shared rules for all construction products. A product-specific PCR, written underneath a core PCR, covers one product category specifically (ready-mix concrete, mineral wool insulation, resilient flooring) and adds the category-specific detail a core PCR doesn't. Every construction-product EPD follows both levels at once. See EPD Standards, Simplified for how the full hierarchy fits together.

PCR validity and expiration

Like EPDs themselves, PCRs have a defined validity period — commonly around five years, though this varies — after which they need to be reviewed and either reissued or revised. An EPD remains valid under the PCR version it was written against even if that PCR is later updated, but new EPDs need to use the current version.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if no PCR exists yet for a product?

The manufacturer or a program operator can commission a new PCR to be developed, typically through a working group of industry and technical stakeholders, following the program operator's PCR development process and public review requirements. This adds time to the overall EPD timeline — sometimes significant time, since PCR development itself is a multi-stakeholder process.

Can an EPD use a PCR published by a different program operator?

It depends on the program operator publishing the EPD — some accept PCRs from other operators or from cross-operator harmonization initiatives (like ECO Platform in Europe), others require a PCR registered in their own system. Check the specific program operator's requirements.

How long is a PCR valid for?

PCR validity periods are set by whoever publishes them and commonly run around five years, similar to EPD validity, though this varies by program operator and product category. An expired PCR generally needs to be revised and republished before new EPDs can be written against it.

Sources

  • ISO 14025:2006, Environmental labels and declarations — Type III environmental declarations — Principles and procedures (PCR requirements, clause 6)
  • EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for the product category of construction products