The American Cement Association, Natural Pozzolan Association and Slag Cement Association have released what is certain to become the most far-reaching document to date in the construction materials environmental data reporting era. Through Part B Product Category Rules for Cementitious Materials, they aim to provide consistent guidance for assessment and reporting of portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials’ environmental performance.
Products covered under the new document include those meeting ASTM C150, C1157, C595, C618, C989, C1945 or C1240 requirements. Consequently, the PCR for Cementitious Materials will inform preparation or revision of tens of thousands of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), from cement or SCM producers themselves to their customers issuing EPDs for ready mixed or manufactured concrete and other cement-based materials or products.
The new document was published by Smart EPD, Herndon, Va.-based Program Operator. In addition to providing updated criteria for SCM producers, it consolidates two Smart EPD predecessors — Part B PCR for Construction Cements (2025) and Part B PCR for Supplementary Cementitious Materials (2024) — plus a third document, PCR for Slag Cement v2.0, from NSF International, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Program Operator.
The Part B designation indicates the new document’s status as a subcategory of Smart EPD Part A PCR for Building and Construction Products and Services (2025). Smart EPD has recently published or moved to finalize companion PCR for concrete block & pavers, lime, asphalt binder, gypsum panels and steel construction products.
Smart EPD Part B PCR for Cementitious Materials abides the International Organization for Standardization’s widely recognized reference: ISO 21930, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works — Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services.
ISO 21930-level PCRs, in turn, are prerequisites for EPDs abiding ISO 14025:2026 Environmental statements and programs for products — Environmental product declarations.
