NSF International has been recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a program operator for both the development of product category rules (PCRs) and the verification of environmental product declarations (EPDs).
As an EPD and PCR program operator, NSF International says it will help meet the growing demand for standardization of science-based environmental data, reporting and verification.
EPDs are increasingly used across many industries to enable product manufacturers to bring transparent environmental data to customers. An EPD’s specifications are established by a PCR, which is created by a committee of interested stakeholders and defines how to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) for a product group.
In the building industry, EPDs can assist architects and designers with determining a specific product’s environmental impact within its category and to meet green building rating system criteria in both LEED v4 and the latest edition of Green Globes.
The ANSI accreditation process included on-site and remote audits that assessed NSF International’s policies and procedures and reviewed PCRs published and EPDs verified under the program.
Prior to earning accreditation, NSF International participated in the ANSI pilot program, which was designed to bring the PCR and EPD process into compliance with International Organization for Standardization standards: ISO 14020 and ISO 14025, as well as ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
