I’m looking for clarification regarding allocation modeling in line with PCR Construction Products 2.0.1, specifically section 4.5 on recycled materials and scrap treatment.
I’d appreciate your input on the following:
Which datasets should be used when modeling reinforcement steel with recycled content (e.g., 69 % recycled, with a portion being post-consumer scrap)?
Should we select datasets that already include the burden from scrap, or apply a separate calculation?
How should burden from post-consumer scrap be accounted for, considering the new PCR 2.0.1 rules that require allocation if the scrap “at some point” was waste?
What’s the recommended approach in One Click LCA or Ecoinvent 3.10.1 when:
the origin of scrap is unknown or mixed (post- vs pre-consumer)?
we want to conservatively assume burden following §4.5.1 of the PCR?
Is there a default factor or method in One Click LCA to model this situation when no detailed origin data is available?
Thanks in advance for any guidance or shared experience with similar scenarios!
Hello Sigita, thank you for joining the forum and for raising these questions!
When modeling reinforcement steel with recycled content (e.g., 69% recycled, including post-consumer scrap), you should:
Use datasets that reflect the recycled content and include the correct burdens for both primary and secondary (recycled) material. For steel, this often means selecting datasets that specify the proportion of recycled content and the associated emission factors for both primary and recycled fractions.
For post-consumer scrap, the burden should be allocated according to the latest PCR rules. If the scrap was “at some point” waste, allocation is required, and you should use the emission factor for recycled material (EMR after EoW out) for the recycled portion, and the emission factor for primary material (EVM Sub out) for the primary portion.
If the origin of scrap is unknown or mixed, and you want to be conservative (per §4.5.1 of the PCR), you can assume all recycled content is post-consumer and apply the recycled material emission factor to that portion. For steel and concrete, the quality factor (QR out / QSub) can be assumed to be 1.
In One Click LCA, you can model this by entering the recycled content in the material properties and ensuring the correct emission factors are used. The software allows you to view and select these factors in the data card (click the green question mark beside the resource name).
If no detailed data on scrap origin is available, there is no explicit default factor, but the recommended approach is to conservatively treat all recycled content as post-consumer and use the recycled emission factor.
For DGNB and similar schemes, only metals with primary manufacturing fractions can claim recycling potential; if a product is entirely recycled, no further recycling potential is assessed.
In summary, select datasets that match your recycled content, allocate burdens per PCR 2.0.1, and, if in doubt, conservatively assume all recycled content is post-consumer. One Click LCA supports this approach through its dataset selection and emission factor tools.