The American Coatings Association has released updated Product Category Rules (PCRs) for powder coatings and resinous floor coatings. The PCRs establish standardized criteria for conducting life-cycle assessments (LCAs) and developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and were developed in collaboration with Sustainable Minds. Both documents are available for free download on the association's website.

Product Category Rules define consistent methodologies for assessing and reporting environmental data for specific product types. For powder coatings, the updated PCR requires a cradle-to-gate assessment evaluated as a single-layer product. For resinous floor coatings, EPDs may be based on either single-layer or multilayer system results, providing flexibility depending on how the product is applied.

The association noted that PCRs are particularly relevant for manufacturers responding to sustainability programs and green building certification frameworks that recognize verified EPDs. Life-cycle assessment results may also support evaluation of durability and resource efficiency across the supply chain, giving buyers and specifiers a standardized basis for comparison. Both PCRs are valid for five years from their publication date.