The “Product Category Definition Rule of the PEP ecopassport® Program” (PCR) for “Environmental Profiles for Electrical, Electronic and HVAC-R Products” has just been finalised, including its critical review.
Philippe Osset, CEO of Solinnen, has represented France at ISO TC207/SC5 as convenor of the WG in charge of the redaction of ISO/TS 14071 about Critical Reviews, which has been published last year. He has participated as expert in the group set up by the French Ministry of Environment to precise the verification requirements in the scope of the building sector EPD Program. Moreover, he has acted as liaison between AFNOR P01E and UTE UF 111 during the redaction of NF XP C 08-100-1.
>> Philippe Osset has chaired the critical review panel which has reviewed the PCR.
>> Find the 3rd edition of PCR here
1) What is the role of a PCR?
The role of a PCR is to provide a common framework for practitioners who intend to produce an Type III EPD (i.e. according to ISO 14025) in a given sector. The benefits of having such common framework are numerous, such as:
- The PCR takes into account the specificities of the covered families of products to determine, in a unique way, choices which were left “open” within ISO 14025,
- The PCR increases the reproducibility of EPD making (over time),
- The PCR helps to make EPD comparable (for the same functional unit),
- The PCR simplifies the work of the practitioner: it becomes less expensive, and quicker to produce an EPD,
- The PCR content provides a framework to specify tools for software developers,
- The PCR is a reference for verification of EPD made according to the PCR.
2) What is the third part critical review of the PCR ?; and what is your role?
The critical review has worked in order to check if:
- “The PCR has been developed in accordance with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14025 series of standards,
- The PCR fulfil the general Program instructions,
- The LCA-based data, together with the additional environmental information prescribed by the PCR, give a description of the significant environmental aspects of the product.”
Each panel member, including the chairman, provided first some detailed comments, which were used to finalise the PCR. After this finalisation, each panel member checked the way the comments have been taken into account, and contributed to the CR report writing, including its statement. The Chair of the panel has harmonised the detailed comments, provided a first version of the CR report, and finalised it after reception of the contributions. The Chair has been the focal point for PEP ecopassport® members in charge of the redaction of the PCR, providing them the CR detailed comments and answering their questions regarding the comments.
As a whole, the CR process has helped to improve the PCR content.
3) What will offer, tomorrow, the new PCR of the PEP ecopassport Program to electric, electronic and HVAC-R industries?
The benefits of having this new PCR for the sector are the following:
- Higher compatibility with the existing building sector standards and PCR, including with NF EN 15804+A1 and NF EN 15978.
- Ability to prepare an adapted answer to the legislative requirements in France and other European countries (Belgium...), and to provide information in the scope of Green Purchasing requirements, including during call for tender.
- Ability to use the PCR as a “high quality contribution” for a similar PCR writing at European level, i.e. a PCR which will be applicable not only in France but also in the other European countries.
- Reduction of the workload for each manufacturer, which most often cover the European market, to generate the EPD which are expected in the different European countries.