LCA, LCI, PCR & EPD: What should you know?

Life Cycle Inventory, Life Cycle Assessment

The LCI provides industry-average cradle-to-gate estimates of energy use and environmental impact, based on data provided by raw material suppliers and composites manufacturers. The LCI allows companies to provide the information that is increasingly needed to participate in important markets. ACMA’s 2012 LCI includes data on unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber reinforcement, the compression molding, open molding, open mold casting and vacuum infusion processes, and secondary bonding. The current LCI project will add data on vinyl ester, epoxy and polyurethane resins, carbon fiber, and pultrusion. The LCI can be used to prepare Life Cycle Assessments with estimates of cradle-to-gate energy use and environmental impact applicable to specific composite products.

Product Category Rule

For construction and infrastructure products, the PCR specifies the information needed to prepare an EPD, such as product description and functional unit definition. A PCR for a category of composite products will likely require an EPD to be based on verified LCA data for resin, reinforcement and other common raw materials, as well as energy-use and waste generation data for a specific process such as open molding. A separate PCR is needed for each functional type of product. For composites, individual PCRs are likely needed for utility poles, rebar, I-beams and similar structural components, cladding, grating, and components for wastewater treatment systems. A PCR is a consensus standard. A committee comprised of product manufacturers and raw material suppliers, end-users, academics and consultants works under the guidance of a program operator to draft a PCR following the applicable ISO standards, and then respond to public comment. A PCR committee works to agree on topics such as the functional product description, product types, and expected product lifespan. Before it is final, a PCR is subjected to independent expert verification.

Environmental Product Declaration

Also called a transparency report, an EPD is an LCA presented in a standard format allowing comparisons across products or suppliers. Developed with reference to the PCR for a product’s functional use category, an EPD will contain information relevant to the end-use for which the product is designed. A EPD can include non-quantitative information such as descriptions of the environmental and social benefits achieved during a product’s use. Some EPDs include information related to the product at the end of its useful life, such as disposal or recycling options. An industry average EPD can be developed for a category of products with similar raw material inputs and processing characteristics. A supplier of products in that category can still develop its own EPD to highlight benefits of a product with a less common raw material or modified process. Before it is final, an EPD is subjected to independent expert verification.

What should you do now?

All ACMA members – participate in the ongoing industry discussion about reducing climate impacts, recycling, and communicating about the benefits of composites by registering for the ACMA Sustainability Forum by contacting John Schweitzer (jschweitzer@acmanet.org or 202 991- 7214).

Suppliers of epoxy or polyurethane resin, or carbon fiber – learn about participating in the LCI update by contacting John Schweitzer.

Manufacturers of composite products – contact John Busel (jbusel@acmanet.org or 914-961- 8007) to work with an industry group to develop the information needed by your customers.