ADDENDUM. Product Category Rules for preparing an environmental product declaration (EPD) for PCR:

Transcription

1 l ADDENDUM Product Category Rules for preparing an environmental product declaration (EPD) for PCR: Taiwan Electric Wire and Cable Association Product Category Rules Wire and Cable PCR 2013:1.0 July 2014 VERSION April 1, 2014 VALID THROUGH March 31, 2015

2 PCR Addendum for Wire and Cable PCR 2013:1.0, November 2013 Scope of validity of this PCR Addendum Content Manufacturing of wire and cable This PCR Addendum determines the product group specific rules modifications for: - the creation of the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) - the calculation of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the creation of the project report on the LCA Further requirements are given in UL Requirements for Product Category Rules and Environmental Product Declarations. Versions overview Version Description History 1 Version by UL Environment 4/1/ Edited scope to include all fiber optic cable 7/17/2014 Editor s Notes: This PCR Addendum is based on adaptions made to an existing PCR from the Taiwan Environment and Development Foundation (EDF), Wire and Cable PCR 2013:1.0, November Adaptions listed in this Addendum make the PCR applicable to North America and for use with wire and cable. These include, but are not limited to: units, functional unit, impact assessment methods, testing methods and requirements, use phase options, references, and standards. The intent is to follow ISO Section and utilize existing PCRs where relevant, justifying differences based on region, rather than origin.

3 1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE ADDENDUM UL Environment has been asked to certify an EPD for wire and cable. In order to do this, a suitable PCR must be used. Given a published PCR for wire and cable exists, it was determined that creating a new PCR would not be in the best interests of maintaining consistency and harmonization amongst Program Operators and PCRs. Therefore, the best option would be to utilize the existing PCR and create an addendum for adapting this PCR to fit with the existing product and market in which the product is sold and used. 1.1 Purpose and Scope of this Addendum This Addendum creates a basis for utilizing an existing PCR, Wire and Cable, for the purposes of establishing a common platform for the communication of the life cycle impact assessment results and other salient environmental information. This PCR has been updated for the United States market by UL Environment as of April Minor updates to units and standard references have been made, but otherwise it is substantially the same as the original PCR referenced above. For further information and comments on the updates, please contact UL Environment. The Scope of this Addendum is applicable to wire and cable products consistent with the scope of the referenced PCR above and specifically to include all fiber optic cables. This PCR Addendum is valid for one (1) year from the date of publication. An annual review will be conducted whereby UL Environment will determine the need for continuing this addendum. In such a case where there is a North American PCR that is completed and directly applicable, it is expected that this Addendum will no longer be needed, and UL Environment will allow the Addendum to be replaced with the new PCR, as applicable. 2.0 PCR Adaptions For the purposes of North American context, the declaration shall use standard North American Life Cycle metrics and the most recent TRACI method for Impact Assessment. Other standards, references or methods may be substituted as appropriate.

4 2.1 Specific Adaptions to the Wire & Cable PCR Specific situations and modifications are set forth in the following sections as outlined below. The following sections have been adapted in order to produce a PCR Adaption that is applicable to the North American market and for wire and cable while avoiding duplication of PCRs and PCR creation efforts. These adaptions will serve as the basis for the LCA and EPD verification in combination with the Program Operators rules and existing PCR. 1 General Information The scope for optical fiber cables is listed with the description of optical fiber cables, made up of individually sheathed fibers, whether or not assembled with. In the United States, the scope shall include all optical fiber cables regardless of individual sheathing, in addition to the other cable types listed. 3 List of materials and chemical substances The IEC Standard is cited under the List of Materials and Chemical Substances section as the Taiwanese standard for the product category. For EPDs published in other geographies, recognized testing facilities and equivalent standards for RoHS compliance shall be acceptable for the relevant declarations in this section. As already stated, this PCR Addendum is for the purpose of adapting for North America. This shall be considered the case throughout the PCR where applicable. 4 Declared Unit The declared unit listed is one (1) kilogram or meter of product. In the United States, the declared unit desired to be 100 feet of cable. 5 System Boundaries Under the Recycling/End-of-life Stage section, for EPDs published in the United States, WARM models should be used as a default for reporting recycling information if primary data is unavailable. 5.1 Specification of different boundary settings Under the Boundary Towards Nature section, if the manufacturing processes are located in the United States or Canada and primary data is not available, the US EPA WARM models shall be used as a default to define solid waste categories and flows between the product system and ecosphere. Landfilling and incineration processes should be considered in the natural boundary system. 8 Units

5 In geographies where alternative units are commonly used (e.g. United States), those alternative units may be used as long as the conversion factors to SI units are included in the EPD. 9 Calculation rules and data quality requirements Under the Data Quality Requirements for the Manufacturing Stage section, other geographies legal requirements for the host country shall be observed. 10 Parameters to be declared in the EPD Under the Impact Equivalents Expressed as Potential Environmental Impacts Section, for EPDs published in the United States, the five impact categories identified (Global warming, Acidification, Photochemical oxidant formation, Eutrophication, Ozone depletion) should be reported according to TRACI 2.1 as developed by the US EPA. Under the Additional Information section, the waste classification will define hazardous waste as defined by the US EPA for EPDs published in the United States and follow host countries law for other geographies. Under the Additional Information section, the Plastic Parts Marking and Plastic Packaging Material Marking sections are considered manufacturing standards and are therefore optional reporting elements in the LCA or EPD.. Manufacturers should conform to applicable part/packaging marking standards as required by regulation. 13 Information about the Certification An example is provided as follows, but each Program Operator may use different formatting and text as long as the information is substantially the same. 14 References EPD General Program Instructions, Version 1.0 ( ), The International EPD Cooperation downloadable from or the program instruction of the program operation which verifies and lists the EPD Appendix II Alternate templates and organization of data may be used as recommended by each specific Program Operator, as long as the required information is disclosed. Appendix III Update the abbreviation table to include EPA - Environmental Protection Agency; TRACI - Tools for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts; WARM - Waste Reduction Model