A Product Category Rule (PCR) is a critical set of instructions to ensure a harmonized approach to developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). EPDs are essentially ecolabels for a particular product, a luminaire in this case. The EPD is a public disclosure based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – a method that assesses the environmental impact over a product’s life.
Why is all this important to our Lighting Community? A PCR for Luminaires is needed so EPDs consistently report results, allowing designers, specifiers and purchasers the ability to compare products’ environmental performance. A PCR defines consistent rules, requirements and guidelines for conducting LCAs and developing EPDs.
To ensure a common, harmonized approach to these EPD ecolabels for the lighting industry, a PCR will be developed using volunteer participants. A call for participants is out now for the PCR for Luminaires development committee,and the goal is to have a diverse range of stakeholders – designers, specifiers, reps, researchers, and manufacturers, to name a few – many viewpoints are needed for success. If you are interested in serving, your application needs to be submitted by October 27, 2023 – complete and submit here.
A balanced PCR committee will be created by Smart EPD, a type III EPD Program Operator with deep experience in developing Product Category Rules.
The development of the PCR for Luminaires is co-sponsored by the following organizations:
Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC)
Finelite
LANTANA LED
Lightly
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
Signify
Vode Lighting LLC