Disclaimer: The English translation of PCR Part A Version 1.5 is currently being finalized and will be published shortly. 

PCR Part A has been revised and is now available in Version 1.5. The updated version contains revised, supplemented, and clarified requirements and provisions. The document shall be applicable as of August 1, 2026.

For ongoing and already planned EPD projects, a transition period of six months applies. Until January 31, 2027 inclusive, EPDs may still be submitted for verification on the basis of the previous PCR Part A Version 1.4. We will be reaching out to LCA EPD tool owners separately in the coming weeks to provide further information and support regarding the transition.

EPDs already published remain unaffected by the changes and retain their validity.

The changes compared to the previous Version 1.4 particularly concern the following areas and sections:

  1. Clarification of information on production sites, including mandatory postal code in cases of limited uniqueness (Sec. 5.1)
  2. Clarification of average, representative, and sample EPDs (Sec. 5 / 5.3.1)
  3. Revision of A1–A3 system boundaries, waste logic and allocation diagram, including handling of biogenic carbon in packaging (Sec. 5.5.1)
  4. Clarification of declaration requirements for relevant B modules (Sec. 5.5.3 / 5.5.4)
  5. New Eco-Platform requirements and special provisions for production sites in Germany (Sec. 6.5 / 6.5.1 / 6.5.3)
  6. Clarification of biogas accounting (Sec. 6.5.2)
  7. Addition of product-specific allocation rules, e.g., for cement/concrete precursors (Sec. 6.6.1)
  8. New regulation and/or clarification for net flow calculation and Module D logic (Sec. 6.6.3)
  9. Clarification of water indicator FW / use of freshwater resources (Sec. 7.1.4)
  10. Flexibilization of EF/JRC characterization factors and clarification of the 12-month transition period (Sec. 7.2)
  11. Clarification of additional information in EPDs (Sec. 9)
  12. Revision of energy-related result indicators, including non-deduction of primary energy for landfilling of non-compostable materials (Sec. 11 – Annex 1)
  13. Revision of ReUse rules (Sec. 13 – Annex 3)
  14. Addition regarding gross/net emissions in cases of significant quantities of secondary fuels (Sec. 14 – Annex 4)
  15. Addition of rules on carbonation, including SVR circular resolution on mineralization of biogenic CO₂ (Sec. 15 – Annex 5)

A complete overview of all changes and requirements can be found in PCR Part A Version 1.5. 

The document is available for download here (in German).

Upon request, we will provide a version of the document in which all changes are highlighted in color and linked to the respective basis for the amendment (e.g. Eco Platform requirements, SVR resolutions, or other regulatory and program-related updates). If you are interested, please send a brief message to consulting@ibu-epd.com.

To support implementation, IBU will also offer a webinar on PCR Part A Version 1.5. The key changes will be presented and explained, and questions regarding its application will be answered. Further information and registration details will follow shortly.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.