by Shane Henson — June 18, 2012—A product category rule (PCR) for the seating industry has been developed through a joint effort by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) and NSF International, an independent global not-for-profit organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the commercial furnishing, construction, food, water and consumer goods industries. According to both parties, this seating PCR provides a science-based and internationally recognized method for reporting the environmental impact of seating products throughout their entire life cycle.
Product Category Rules define how to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) for a particular product group and what to include in the resulting report, called an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). LCAs measure inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product across its lifespan, from cradle to grave. The EPD is the third-party-verified report that may function like a nutrition label to explain the data generated from a life cycle assessment.
The seating PCR was established in accordance with international environmental management guidelines (ISO 14025) through the NSF National Center for Sustainability Standards (NCSS), says NSF International. The Center utilized an open stakeholder process to develop the seating rule with participation from an expert panel of seating manufacturers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, and end users. The Center has developed PCRs and American National sustainability standards for a wide range of product categories, including chemicals, commercial furnishings, flooring, building products and materials, and water treatment and distribution systems.
