THE INTERNATIONAL EPD®SYSTEM
DRAFT PCR
PCR
CPC Division 32193:
Absorbent hygiene products
VERSION 1 DATED Feb 2011Printed: 21/03/2011
15:19:07
Document name / PCR Absorbent Hygiene ProductsCPC Subclass 32193 / Date / Page
Feb 2011 / 18/19
1 General information 5
2 Definition of the product category 6
3 Functional unit 7
4 Content of materials and chemical substances 7
5 Units and quantities 7
6 General system boundaries 8
7 Core Module 9
8 Upstream Module 11
9 Downstream Module 13
10 Environmental performance-related information 14
11 Content of the EPD 15
12 Validity of the EPD 17
13 List of abbreviations 17
General Introduction
The international EPD®system is based on a hierarchic approach following the international standards:
n ISO 9001, Quality management systems
n ISO 14001, Environmental management systems
n ISO 14040, LCA - Principles and procedures
n ISO 14044, LCA - Requirements and guidelines
n ISO 14025, Type III environmental declarations
n ISO 21930, Environmental declaration of building products.
The General Programme Instructions are based on these standards, as well as instructions for developing Product Category Rules (PCR).
The documentation to the International EPD®system includes three separate parts (www.environdec.com):
n Introduction, intended uses and key programme elements
n General Programme Instructions
n Supporting annexes
This PCR document specifies further and adds additional minimum requirements on EPDs of the product group defined below complementary to the above mentioned general requirement documents.
Principle programme elements concerning the Product Category Rules (PCR) included in the International EPD® system are presented below.
Purpose / Element identification and principal approachComplying with principles set in ISO 14025 on modularity and comparability / 1. "Book-keeping LCA approach"
2. A Polluter-Pays (PP) allocation method
Simplifying work to develop Product Category Rules (PCR) / 3. PCR Module Initiative (PMI) in order to structure PCR in modules according to international classification
4. PCR moderator for leadership and support of the PCR work
Secure international participation in PCR work / 5. Global PCR Forum for open and transparent EPD stakeholder consultation
Facilitating, identification and collection of LCA-based information / 6. Selective data quality approach for specific and generic data
Product Category Rules (PCR) are specified for specified information modules “gate-to-gate”, so called core modules. The structure and aggregation level of the core modules are defined by the United Nation Statistics Division - Classification Registry CPC codes (http://unstats.un.org). The PCR also provides rules for which methodology and data to use in the full LCA, i.e. life cycle parts up-streams and down-streams the core module. The PCR also has requirements on the information given in the EPD, e.g. additional environmental information. A general requirement on the information in the EPD is that all information given in the EPD, mandatory and voluntary, shall be verifiable.
In the EPD, the environmental performance associated with each of the three life-cycle stages mentioned above are reported separately.
1 General information
Date and registration no: / 2011-xx-xx, PCR 2011:xxThis PCR was developed by: / Attends Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, SCA
Appointed PCR moderator: / Ellen Riise, SCA Hygiene Products AB,
Open consultation period at the Global PCR Forum (www.environdec.com): / 2011-xx-xx – 2011-xx-xx
Valid within the following geographical area: / Globally
PCR valid until: / 2014-xx-xx
Earlier documents: / PSR 2007:06 – for preparing an environmental product declaration (EPD) for Absorbent Hygiene Products
The PSRs will be replaced by this document.
This document provides Product Category Rules (PCR) for the assessment of the environmental performance of product category absorbent hygiene products, and the declaration of this performance by an EPD.
The product category of absorbent hygiene products consists of female sanitary protection, baby diapers and adult incontinence products with subgroups as defined in table 1.
Absorbent Hygiene Products are a subset of products from UN CPC/division 32/subclass 32193: toilet paper, handkerchiefs, towels, serviettes, napkins for babies, tampons, and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles, and articles of apparel, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres
Note that in this PCR, the following products are excluded: Toilet paper, handkerchiefs, towels, serviettes, and similar household or hospital articles, and articles of apparel, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres
Any comments to this PCR document may be given on the Global PCR Forum or directly to the PCR moderator during the period of validity.
The PCR document is a living document. If relevant changes in the LCA methodology or in the technology for the product category occur, the document will be revised and any changes will be published on the international website: www.environdec.com.
The EPD shall refer to a specific PCR version number. The production of new PCR versions does not affect the EPD certification period.
2 Definition of the product category
The product category includes absorbent hygiene products which products basically consist of a top layer (nonwoven or perforated film), an absorbent core (fluff pulp and/or superabsorbers) and a backsheet (plastic film, nonwoven). The product category includes disposable and reusable products (for example, washable products, cloth diapers). A tampon consists of coverstock, absorbent core and string. Some types of tampons also include an applicator.
The category consists of the groups feminine sanitary protection, baby diapers and adult incontinence care products. Within each product group, the following types can be distinguished:
Product group / ProductsFeminine sanitary protection / Sanitary towels, alt. sanitary napkins
Pantliners, alt. panty shields
Tampons
Baby diapers / Baby diapers
Pant diapers
Training pants
Swimming pants
Adult incontinence products / All-in-one products, Shaped, Brief, Adult diapers
Pants
Insert pads
Liner pads
Male pouches
Bed protection, underpads
Depending on product type, both physical size and absorption capacity can vary. The product group and the variant of the product type shall be stated (e.g. baby diaper 5 – 10 kg, adult incontinence product large - extra dry).
2.1 Specification of manufacturing company
The following mandatory information shall be described. The table also contains suggested voluntary information of the producer.
Mandatory information / Example of voluntary informationName of the company / Information on environmental management system
Production site(s) / Specific aspects regarding the production
Issuer and Contacts / Environmental policy
Manufacturer’s logotype
2.2 Specification of the product
The EPD shall contain a description of the product specifying for each type of product, as shown in the table below, the weight, the physical size and the absorption capacity according to ISO 11948-1:1996.
Product group / Products / Product type/physical size / Absorption
capacity / Weight
Feminine sanitary protection / Sanitary towels, alt. sanitary napkins
Pantliners, alt. panty shields
Tampons
Baby diapers / Baby diapers
Pant diapers
Training pants
Swimming pants
Adult incontinence products / All-in-one products, Shaped, Brief, Adult diapers
Pants
Insert pads
Liner pads
Male pouches
Bed protection, underpads
3 Functional unit
FUNCTIONAL UNIT
The functional unit is one day of absorbent product use. The functional unit shall include the specification of a reference flow in terms of the number of product units used per day and the citation of an appropriate reference study.
Product group / Products / Product units used per dayFeminine sanitary protection / Sanitary towels, alt. sanitary napkins
Pantliners, alt. panty shields
Tampons
Baby diapers / Baby diapers
Pant diapers
Training pants
Swimming pants
Adult incontinence products / All-in-one products, Shaped, Brief, Adult diapers
Pants
Insert pads
Liner pads
Male pouches
Bed protection, underpads
Reference studies used in determining the rate of product use shall be based on a broad consumer use study for the product in question and shall be available to the audience of the EPD. For example, in the case of baby diapers, the reference flow shall be 4.16 diapers per day based on Aumônier and Collins, 2005. Similar broad consumer habits and practices studies should be used to establish a reference flow for other categories: if different reference studies are available for one specific product and based on different rates of product use (see table above), these studies shall be declared in the EPD and reported in the LCA study for the product being investigated. Impact categories shall be related to one of the reference rates of product use specified in the table above.
If there are not available reference studies for the product under investigation, the reference flow and functional unit shall be one product unit.
The functional unit shall be declared in the EPD. The environmental impact shall be given per functional unit.
4 Content of materials and chemical substances
The EPD shall include a content declaration of the product covering relevant materials and substances. The gross weight of material shall be declared in the EPD at a minimum of 99.5% of one product unit.
5 Units and quantities
SI units shall be used. For electricity and fuels, the preferred units are:
- kWh (MWh) for electricity
- MJ (GJ) for fuels
6 General system boundaries
Figure 1 illustrates the system boundaries and the division between upstream, core and downstream modules.
Figure 1 Illustration of the upstream, core and downstream modules and processes.
6.1 Upstream processes
The upstream processes include the following inflow of raw materials and energy wares needed for the manufacture of absorbent hygiene products:
n extraction and refinement of natural resources (e.g. forestry and extraction of oil)
n production of raw materials (e.g. pulp, nonwoven, superabsorbers, cotton)
n production of packaging materials
n production processes of the energy wares used in upstream processes
6.2 Core processes
The core processes include:
n Transportation of input materials to the core process
n Manufacturing of absorbent hygiene products
6.3 Downstream processes
The downstream processes include:
n Transportation from final manufacturing to customer
n Use of the product by customer or consumer: significant phase in case of reusable product
n Waste management of used products, packaging included
In the EPD, the environmental performance associated with the life-cycle is reported separately for Upstream, Core e Downstream processes.
7 Core Module
7.1 System boundaries
7.1.1 Technical system
The processes listed in Section 6.2 for the production of the final product shall be included.
A minimum of 99.5% of the total weight of the declared product including packaging shall be included.
The boundaries towards other technical systems describe the inflow of material and components from other systems and the outflow of material to other systems. The inflow of recycled material and the outflow of materials for recycling, shall be declared without assigning the environmental impact of the system, except for impact from transportation of the flows. The outflow of materials for heat recovery, landfill and waste treatment shall be declared assigning the environmental impact of the system but without assessing potential benefits from energy or heat production.
The manufacturing of production equipment, buildings and other capital goods shall not be included as well as business travel and travel to and from work by personnel.
7.1.2 Geographical boundaries
The geographic boundary is determined by the location of manufacturer. Generally environmental impacts shall be considered disregarding the location where they occur, but care should be taken for indicators with specific local impact. For example, impact categories focused on the consumption of freshwater (not currently required by these PCR) should consider local, site-specific factors when evaluating the potential for environmental impact.
The country and site specific energy supply (e.g. electricity generation, process heat production) shall be taken into account. Specifically, the fuel consumption and emissions associated with electric power generation for AHP manufacturing processes shall reflect the official supply mix in the country where the processes are located.
7.1.3 Time boundaries
The data from manufacturing of absorbent hygiene products should preferably be a maximum of one year old. If data is older it should be justified.
7.1.4 Boundaries to nature
The boundaries towards nature shall describe the flow of material and energy resources from nature into the system and emissions from the system to air and water and waste out of the system.
7.1.5 Boundaries to other product life cycles
The boundaries in the life cycle are illustrated in the flow chart in figure 1. The following are not included:
n The construction of factory buildings and infra structure
n Production of manufacturing equipment
n Pallets
n Personnel activities
(See General Programme Instructions Annex A, available at www.environdec.com)
7.2 Cut off rules
Elementary and intermediate flows that contribute less then 1% of the total mass input to a unit process are allowed to be omitted from the inventory. Similarly, elementary flows leaving a unit process that are believed to contribute less than 1% of the total environmental impact to any impact category are also allowed to be omitted from the inventory analysis.
Deviation from the 1 % cut-off rule described shall be justified.
Parts and materials not included in the LCA shall be documented.
7.3 Allocation rules
Allocation always implies valuation and the main goals for the allocation choices made for this product category is to keep the allocation methodology rather simple but transparent and maintain comparability between EPDs.
In keeping with this goal, all data shall be attributed to the product system based on information regarding the flow of physical good or energy between unit processes. Information regarding the expected economic cause and effect relationships between operations shall not be used as the basis for allocation.
Allocation of manufacturing data should be avoided when possible through the sub-division of processes. When sub-division is not possible, allocation should be based on the number of unit absorbent hygiene products produced. If this is not possible, mass allocation should be used.
7.4 Data quality rules
Specific data (often called primary data), gathered from the sites where specific processes are carried out, shall be used for the core module. The requirement for specific data also includes actual product weights, amounts of raw materials used and amounts of waste, etc.
Specific data for the generation of electricity bought shall be used if possible. The data shall be verifiable by energy certificates, eg within the European Energy Certificate System, invoice or similar.