The National Glass Association (NGA) has announced a major initiative to update and streamline the industry’s Product Category Rules (PCRs) for glass products. PCRs are critical tools that help manufacturers consistently measure and communicate the environmental impacts of their products. The effort will combine two existing PCRs — one for flat (float) glass and one for processed (fabricated) glass — into a single, unified framework.
This new approach is intended to better reflect how glass moves through the value chain while also addressing the environmental data needs tied to the most common fabricated glass applications, end uses, and how they impact the built environment.
NGA is calling on representatives from the flat glass and processed glass manufacturing communities, as well as key downstream sectors such as fenestration, to participate in the PCR guidance development process. Their input will be essential to ensuring the resulting framework is practical, technically sound, and aligned with how glass products are manufactured, transformed, specified, and used in the market.
“No single segment of the glass value chain can solve this alone, which is why NGA is convening manufacturers, fabricators, and end-use markets to build this framework together,” said Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President & CEO of the NGA. “The result will be something the entire industry can stand behind.”
Central to the initiative is direct manufacturer involvement. NGA will lead development of the PCRs, with technical support from TrueNorth Collective sustainability consulting. Through a proven, facilitated process, manufacturer representatives will work together to create a robust PCR guidance document grounded in real-world technical knowledge and market needs.
Because a program operator must facilitate development of the final PCR, NGA will first develop a guidance document and then select a qualified program operator to execute the final PCR in conformance with ISO 14025. This approach ensures each participant contributes where they add the most value.
NGA intends to develop the new PCR in two phases. The first phase will focus on a minimum viable PCR that enables industry-average environmental impact calculations for the most common flat and processed glass product options in the near term. The second phase will expand the framework to support robust product- and manufacturer-specific impact calculations.
In parallel, TrueNorth Collective will develop a state-of-the-art calculation tool designed to serve as a PCR-aligned sustainability data engine, simplifying product transparency for glass industry manufacturers in a practical and consistent way.
“This is about creating a framework the industry can use,” said Urmilla Jokhu-Sowell, VP Advocacy & Technical Services at NGA. “By pairing PCR development with a practical calculation tool, we can help manufacturers move from intention to action and better meet growing demand for transparent and flexible environmental information.”
Members interested in participating in the PCR guidance development process are encouraged to contact NGA at [email protected]. Broad engagement from flat glass manufacturers, processed glass manufacturers, and key end-use sectors will be vital to building a PCR that reflects the realities of the market and supports credible sustainability communication across the glass industry.
