Industry revises rules for EPDs
The lighting industry has completed the latest revision of the rules governing Environmental Product Declarations for light fittings.
Trade body LightingEurope says the work to finalise the product specific rules mean that specifiers and others will have access to comparable and verifiable information on the environmental impact of lighting products.
The product specific rulebook for lighting – known as PSR0014 – governs environmental product declarations, or EPDs, produced under the PEP Ecopassport methodology.
LightingEurope, which represents 1,000 lighting manufacturers, says that its members have already taken the first steps towards standardising global the rules on luminaires in relevant IEC committees.
In a statement, the organisation said the PSR0014 could support the comprehensive and transparent delivery of information on the lifecycle analysis of luminaires and should therefore serve as an essential guide for all EPD operators involved and interested in the creation and application of LCAs concerning lighting products around the world.
‘We believe that the PSR0014 rules can lead the way in further improving the environmental profile of the lighting industry.
‘With the efforts put in revising PSR0014, LightingEurope is not just responding to the increased interest in the market and among regulators in Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), but it is also providing a viable tool to deliver comparable and verifiable information on the environmental impact of lighting products in a cost-effective way by enabling EPDs per product family.’
It said that the comparability of product EPDs is enhanced by the introduction of a so-called ‘functional unit’ concept that normalises the environmental impacts based on lumen output and lifetime of a luminaire.
LightingEurope is also keen to emphasise that the revised product specific rules take into consideration the nature and market circumstances of the lighting industry.
‘General lighting luminaires are used in many different application environments and the market consists of an impressive variety of products from various suppliers and manufacturers. The PSR0014 method is comprehensive, mature, and it addresses this diversity of luminaires.
‘PSR0014 can support the comprehensive and transparent delivery of information on the lifecycle analysis of luminaires and should therefore serve as an essential guide for all EPD operators involved and interested in the creation and application of LCAs concerning lighting products around the world.’
• All PSRs, including PSR 0014 edition 2 Specific rules for luminaires are available here
• Diary date: Circular Lighting Live 2024, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, takes place on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2024 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: www.circularlighting.live
