EPD and PCR: the key to more sustainable agricultural production

Elisa Perin, General Manager of Agricooltur

The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a powerful tool for organizations wishing to transparently and credibly communicate the environmental performance of their products. The Product Category Rules (PCR) EPDItaly037 was developed specifically for agricultural and forestry machinery, offering standardized rules that ensure consistency in the assessment of environmental impacts.

The EPDItaly program aligns with international standards ISO 14025, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and enables organizations to clearly and reliably communicate the environmental performance of their products by submitting to independent verification by accredited bodies.

System boundaries: an in-depth life cycle analysis

Chapter 6 of PCR EPDItaly037 describes the system boundaries for life cycle analysis (LCA) of agricultural and forestry machinery, segmenting the product life cycle into three main modules: Upstream, Core and Downstream. This detailed approach ensures that each phase of the life cycle is accurately assessed for environmental impacts.

Upstream Module

This module covers all processes related to the supply chain up to the point where materials arrive at the organization. It includes extraction and processing of raw materials, production of semi-finished products, and transportation of materials to the production site. The objective is to assess the environmental impact of the production of materials and components used in machinery.

Core Module

The Core module covers the production processes managed directly by the organization. This includes machinery production, energy consumption, direct emissions at the production site, and treatment of waste generated. This module focuses on the environmental impacts associated with the manufacture and assembly of the final product.

Downstream Module

This module covers the processes that occur after the product has left the manufacturing site. It includes transportation of the finished product to distributors, use and maintenance of the machinery during its life cycle, and final disposal. The goal is to assess the environmental impact of the product during its use phase and beyond.

Benefits

PCR EPDItaly037 provides a comprehensive and standardized framework for assessing the environmental impacts of agricultural and forestry machinery. By adopting these guidelines, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and improve the transparency of their operations. In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, adopting tools such as EPDs is a key step toward more sustainable and responsible production.

The experience of Agricooltur S.p.A.: interview with Elisa Perin

In a context that has seen in the last two years an important growth in the publications of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and in requests for the creation and development of new Product Category Rules (PCRs), fits the experience of Agricooltur S.p.A., a company specializing in the design and implementation of state-of-the-art aeroponic cultivation systems, which has successfully concluded with EPDItaly the process for the PCR for the development of agricultural and forestry machinery.

Elisa Perin, General Manager of Agricooltur, explained the reasons for this choice:

What are the main reasons why you were asked to implement a dedicated PCR for agricultural machinery?

Agriculture is one of the most impactful sectors in terms of climate-altering gas emissions, impact on soil and biodiversity, and in terms of water use. As a company that manufactures above-ground farming systems, we are aware of the responsibility we have, and for this reason we wanted to be the bearers of a new idea of farming, one that also contemplates the responsibility of recognizing and knowing one’s impacts, so that we have the opportunity to implement corrective and ameliorative actions.

What are the main benefits you expect from the publication of the PCR?

Agricooltur is the first company to propose the publication of a PCR in agriculture; this is a source of pride for us and makes possible a strategic positioning of the company with respect to sustainability issues as well as an accurate knowledge of the current business reality. Sustainability that does not remain a dead word but is supported by certifications and third-party audits. The path is certainly challenging, but the company was born with sustainability as an inspiring theme, and a path along these lines is essential for us.

Do you think the agricultural sector has grasped the importance of focusing on sustainability?

The agricultural sector is strongly connected to natural balances, but it is also definitely impactful. Certainly much has changed in recent years and much continues to change. There is increasing attention, even at the level of European legislation. We think there needs to be a profound paradigm shift in production and consumption patterns worldwide; by now the road to a stance and work for change has been set in motion and there will be no turning back.