ASC creates Product Category Rule for Sealants.
Press Release Summary:
ASC has created first draft Product Category Rule for Sealants for North America. PCR sets rules that industry should follow when conducting a Life Cycle Assessment, which is then used to create an Environmental Product Declaration. PCR for Sealants was created in a collaborative, consensus-driven manner with an ASC member task force, UL Environment and Thinkstep. Draft is now open to public comment as ASC strives to deliver an industry-wide PCR for sealants supporting North American market.
Original Press Release:
ASC Creates Product Category Rule for Sealants
Member Task Force Drafts PCR; Seeks Industry Input
Bethesda, MD – The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) announced that it has created the first draft Product Category Rule (PCR) for Sealants for North America. The PCR sets the rules that industry should follow when conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is then used to create an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). EPDs are tools that the value chain is beginning to use to communicate impact categories within the building and construction industry, and other industries.
The PCR for Sealants was created in a collaborative, consensus driven manner with an ASC member task force, UL Environment and Thinkstep. The draft PCR is now open to public comment as ASC strives to deliver an industry wide PCR for sealants supporting the North American market.
“PCRs are the first – and important step – in supporting the industry as we respond to an increase in customer requests for product information,” notes Matthew E. Croson, President of ASC. “The PCR will outline in detail how a company should approach an LCA when developing an EPD, and is a vital part of the EPD process."
Within the building and construction industry, some architects are asking for product information in order to gain points for the United States Green Building Council’s LEED program, specifically in the EPD credit worth 1 or a ½ point. In other parts of the world, EPDs are becoming an accepted mode of communications between materials manufactures and the design community. In Europe, both the IVK and FEICA – two of the leading organizations supporting the adhesives and sealants communities in Germany and the EU, respectively, have already developed PCRs and even model EPDs, to support industry.
“UL Environment is pleased to work with the ASC to issue this PCR, which will enable manufacturers of sealants to communicate their products’ environmental impacts so that purchasers can make more informed buying decisions,” said Anna Nicholson, Program Manager for UL Environment. “This PCR is a significant step and shows the industry's commitment to continued sustainability."
The PCR is now available for public review and comment until April 29, 2016 at http://bit.ly/1qlp2ev, after which it will be reviewed by an independent expert panel.
Comments to be submitted here: epd@ulenvironment.com
To support the effort, ASC convened a member task force in 2012. The following individuals and companies have contributed to the PCR process for sealants:
ASC* - Steve Duren, Connie Howe (Non-Voting)
3M - Theresa Borzcik, Trace Woodard
BASF - Rodney Wideman, Bob Ober
Concrete Sealants - Jesse Wingert
Covestro* - Shen Tian, John Brandt, Jay Johnson
Bostik, Inc. - Serhan Oztemiz, Kelly Pedersen
Carlisle Construction Materials - Anil Shenoy, Bill Schneider
Dow Corning* - Jennifer Princing
Emerald Kalama - Bill Arendt
Henkel - Paul Majka
ITW Polymer and Fluids - Ted Stolz, Martha Mittelstaedt, Terryann Hoyes-Graham
Mapei* - Dan Marvin, Chris Bierschank
Momentive - David Evers
NIST - Chris White (Non-Voting)
Sika Corporation* - Steve Rosenberg, Eric Muench
Tremco Incorporated - Amy Woodward
ThinkStep - Christoph Koeffler, Heather Gadonniex (Non-Voting)
Wacker Chemical Corporation - Hugh Flak
UL Environment - Anna Nicholson (Non-Voting)
Steering Committee Members = *
“I would like to recognize the dedication and leadership of Steve Rosenberg of Sika for leading this effort which was a long process. Anna Nicholson of UL Environment and Christoph Koeffler of Thinkstep also played key roles in the development process of the PCR,” noted Steve Duren, ASC Senior Director of Member Services. We also want to recognize members of our steering team who were instrumental in the heavy lifting on content and decision making; Dan Marvin and Chris Bierschank-Mapei, Shen Tian and John Brand of Covestro, Jennifer Prancing of Dow Corning and Steve Rosenberg of Sika. The ASC took time to consider all sides of the PCR effort, and considered all options before bringing the draft to industry."
The ASC Task force voted unanimously 15 to 0 to develop the PCR and was further authorized by the ASC Executive Committee in November of 2015. Through a series of conference calls and ongoing dialogue with both the steering group and full task force, the document was created.
ASC will host a series of four speakers on the PCR topic at its Spring Convention in New Orleans April 18-20, the full program can be reviewed here. More details and history of the PCR can be found in the upcoming ASC/ICIS convention magazine, which will be available onsite in New Orleans or you can preview the article here. More information on in-depth end user/architect interviews can be found in ASC’s 2014-2017 Caulks & Sealants Market Report here.
For general inquires, contact Steve Duren, ASC Senior Director of Member Services, at steve.duren@ascouncil.org
For information on process, PCR development, contact Anna Nicholson, ULEnvironment ProductManager for Environmental Product Declarations: Anna.Nicholson@ul.com
The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) is a North American trade association dedicated to representing the adhesive and sealant industry. The Council is comprised of 128 adhesive and sealant manufacturers, raw material and equipment suppliers, distributors and industry consultants, representing more than 75% of the U.S. industry with operations around the world. Offering education, legislative advocacy, professional networking and business growth solutions for its members, the ASC is the center of knowledge and catalyst for industry growth on a global basis for manufacturers, suppliers and end-users. For more information about ASC, visit www.ascouncil.org.
