ISO TS 14027-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TS 14027:2017 — Environmental labels and declarations — Development of product category rules. This technical specification provides principles, requirements and guidance for the development, review, registration and updating of product category rules (PCRs) used in Type III environmental declarations and footprint communications based on life cycle assessment (LCA).

Abstract

ISO/TS 14027:2017 sets out a consistent, LCA‑based approach for creating PCRs intended for use within Type III environmental declaration programmes (e.g., EPD and footprint schemes). It aligns PCR development with ISO 14040/14044 LCA standards and with ISO 14025, and gives guidance on integrating additional environmental information (including single‑issue metrics) in a coherent and scientifically sound way.

General information

• Status: Published (technical specification; confirmed in periodic review).
• Publication date: 21 April 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.020.50 (Ecolabelling).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017).
• Number of pages: 20 pages.

Scope

The specification provides principles, requirements and guidelines for developing, reviewing, registering and updating PCRs to be used within Type III environmental declaration or footprint communication programmes that are based on LCA. It covers how PCRs should reference and apply ISO 14040/14044 LCA requirements, how to address additional environmental information (LCA‑based or not), and how PCRs should be managed within a programme to ensure transparency, consistency and reproducibility.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles and requirements for PCR development, including structure and mandatory elements.
• Guidance for registering, reviewing and updating PCR documents within a programme.
• Alignment with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 LCA standards and with ISO 14025 Type III declaration principles.
• How to incorporate single‑issue or supplementary environmental information (e.g., water footprint, carbon footprint) coherently with LCA‑based declarations.
• Roles and responsibilities for programme operators, PCR developers and reviewers, and requirements for transparency and documentation.
• Recommendations for public access, version control and consensus processes for PCRs.

Typical use and users

Primary users are programme operators of Type III environmental declaration schemes, PCR developers, LCA practitioners, ecolabelling organisations, sustainability managers in manufacturing and procurement organisations, verification bodies and researchers who prepare or use product category rules for environmental declarations and footprint communications.

Related standards

ISO/TS 14027 is intended to be used alongside and referenced to related standards including ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations), ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 (LCA principles and requirements), ISO 14046 (water footprint), ISO/TS 14067 (carbon footprint of products) and other sector or programme standards such as EN 15804 (construction product EPDs) where applicable.

Keywords

product category rules (PCR), Type III environmental declarations, EPD, footprint, life cycle assessment (LCA), ISO 14025, ISO 14040, ISO 14044, environmental labelling, programme operator, transparency.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TS 14027:2017 is a technical specification that provides rules and guidance for developing product category rules (PCRs) used in Type III environmental declarations and footprint communications.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the principles, required content, processes for review/registration/update, and how PCRs should align with LCA standards (ISO 14040/14044) and Type III declaration principles (ISO 14025), plus guidance on integrating additional environmental information.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Programme operators (EPD/footprint schemes), PCR authors and reviewers, LCA practitioners, ecolabelling bodies, manufacturers preparing declarations, and verification/assessment bodies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO/TS 14027:2017 is published and was confirmed in ISO's periodic review; the 2017 edition is the current technical specification as confirmed in ISO's review process (confirmation noted in 2023 updates to the ISO catalogue).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the family of ISO standards addressing environmental labelling, declarations and LCA (notably ISO 14020 series, ISO 14025, ISO 14040/14044, ISO 14046 and ISO/TS 14067) and is intended to be used together with those standards and any programme‑specific PCR guidance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Product category rules, PCR, Type III environmental declaration, EPD, life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental labels, programme operator, transparency, registration, verification.