Product Category Rules (PCRs)

What are product category rules (PCRs)?

PCRs are necessary tools that define the rules and requirements for creating product category-specific life cycle assessment studies and summarizing the results in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or footprint communications. PCRs are developed openly and collaboratively, much like industry standards. Interested parties and stakeholders may participate in an open development process, which allows them to review the draft PCR, ask questions and share comments electronically. Stakeholders may include material suppliers, manufacturers, trade associations, purchasers, users, consumers, nongovernmental organizations, public agencies, life cycle assessment practitioners and certification bodies.      

UL Solutions maintains all comments and questions received during the development process and then posts PCRs for a public comment period. Then, UL Solutions will submit a final version of the PCR to a review panel for approval. Once approved, it is published on the UL Standards website. Most PCRs expire every five years and must be reviewed at that time to address relevant changes in the industry. However, PCRs are living documents subject to updates within this window if needed.

To move forward with certifying an EPD with UL Solutions, a PCR must already exist for the product type. UL Solutions can certify EPDs using existing PCRs created by any program operator. When no PCR exists for a product group or particular geography, UL Solutions will work with stakeholders to establish one or address regionally specific requirements for existing PCRs created for another market.

Below are links to PCRs and geographic-specific addenda developed and published by UL Solutions:

PCR status definitions by UL Solutions

Active

The PCR is active and in use. Active PCRs approaching expiration may need funding before they can be renewed; contact UL Solutions if you are interested in the status or helping to sponsor the creation of these PCRs.

Call for participation

A PCR development committee is responsible for developing the content within each PCR. The committee provides product-specific LCA-based expertise and identifies appropriate information to present in the EPD. UL Solutions is currently seeking committee members for the PCRs with the “Call for participation” status in the table above. If you are interested in participating in one of these committees, please download and complete the PCR committee application form at the bottom of this page. All applications should be submitted to ul.pcr@ul.com.

Expired

The PCR is expired. A PCR may be allowed to expire for a variety of reasons, including being replaced by another PCR, lack of interest in renewal or a need for funding. Please contact UL Solutions if you are interested in learning more about the status of these PCRs.

In development

These PCRs are currently in development with an existing PCR development committee. If you are interested in learning about the status, please contact us for more information at ul.pcr@ul.com.

Open consultation

After a PCR is drafted through a PCR development committee, it is posted so interested parties and stakeholders can review the draft, ask questions and share comments electronically.

Public comment

As a PCR approaches its expiration date, UL Solutions posts it for a 30-day open comment period to collect feedback on the need for revisions. Upon completion of the comment period, UL Solutions will synthesize the comments. If the PCR needs significant methodological or technical changes, a new PCR committee will be formed to draft those revisions. Comments on the existing PCR should be submitted to ul.pcr@ul.com using the provided PCR comment template, which you can download at the bottom of this page.