The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), (Washington, D.C., USA), in collaboration with the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and FPInnovations (Canada), this past week issued Product Category Rules (PCR) for market pulp, paper and paperboard, containerboard, and tissue products manufactured in North America. 

 

PCR provide rules and requirements for conducting paper product life cycle assessment (LCA) reports as well as developing Type III Environmental Product Declarations that communicate the environmental footprint of products to customers. The PCR development process included the participation of a broad stakeholder group including manufacturers, trade associations, government agencies, non-government organizations, retail representatives, independent parties, academia, and other Environmental Product Declarations program operators.

 

"This PCR has been approved by an independent peer review panel of recognized LCA experts," said Debbie Steckel, executive director of the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment. "It conforms to the requirements of ISO International Standards, providing consistent and transparent environmental evaluation standards with the highest degree of credibility." 

 

Lal Mahalle, project leader for FPInnovations, said that "paper buyers can feel confident that product sustainability documentation using our PCR guidance covers the environmental impact categories that are published in recognized scientific literature and are most relevant to pulp and paper products made in North America."

 

The PCR is available on the FPInnovations website.