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Environmental Product Declarations, PCR, Eco-friendly Labels

Affordable Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Consulting for Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), Product Category Rules (PCR) and Eco-friendly Product Labels

Do you need an eco-friendly label for your product? Or do you want to make a statement about the environmental performance of your products or services?


EarthShift Global can help you navigate the maze of eco-friendly product label programs and guide you to those that are best suited for your product, industry, or customer base.

  • Environmental Product Declarations or EPD
  • Product Category Rules or PCR
  • Eco-Friendly Product Labels

Type III Environmental Labels Using an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)


Product Category Rules (PCR)

Product Category Rules (PCRs) are vital for the concept of environmental declarations and climate declarations. PCRs enable transparency for Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) development and also ensure comparability between different EPDs based on the same PCR. EPD standards require that a PCR be developed for each system functional unit. In other words, a single product category rule cannot cover everything from toys to trucks; there must be a separate product category rule for each kind of product. Sharing a functional unit means that the products provide the same social benefit for consumers, and direct comparisons can be made between different products. Logically, this means that every kind of product must have its own rule. Environmental Product Declarations or EPDs, are product-specific and are owned by the company selling the product. However, the PCRs are produced and owned by a third party, called the program operator. The program operator is responsible for making sure that rules are developed in a transparent and fair fashion according to international standards, and for quality assurance on the validation of EPDs using the PCR. If you need an EPD and there is no PCR for your product (or if you aren't sure), then we can help you navigate what can otherwise be a long and confusing process.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

As marketplace demand for environmentally preferable products has increased, so have consumer concerns over “greenwashing” and unsubstantiated claims by manufacturers.

Publishing an EPD will substantiate your environmental marketing claims and provide an ecolabel (ISO 14025) that consumers can use to accurately compare products. Life Cycle Assessment is the science behind these EPDs, which must comply with specific methodological requirements defined in Product Category Rules (PCR). In addition to complying with PCRs, EPDs are also verified by third-party expert panels to ensure their accuracy prior to publication. When your company is ready to publish an EPD, EarthShift Global can guide you through the process.

Assistance with Eco-friendly Product Labels and the Walmart Supplier Performance Scorecard

Are you trying to compare packaging designs in the Walmart Supplier Performance Scorecard, but not finding a reference for your new material? Would you like to receive the energy innovation credit? Perhaps your customers are demanding that you meet the requirements of a Type I Eco-friendly product label such as the Green Seal? EarthShift Global can work with you to compare packaging designs using advanced LCA models to meet your label and scorecard compliance requirements.

Interested in more information on our EDP, PCR, and Eco-label solutions?

Please call +1 (207) 608-6228, contact us by email for a personal consultation, or use our consulting services inquiry form.