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The Product Circularity Data Sheet
(PCDS)
What is it?
The Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS) is a pioneering initiative to standardise circular product data to improve transparency. It provides clear, verifiable and standardised information on how a product is designed and manufactured, covering its entire life cycle. The PCDS supports the adoption of circular business models and facilitates informed decision-making for manufacturers and consumers, while paving the way for a better understanding of circularity practices.
Value Hill Linear economics
Value Hill Circular Economy
Value Hill with information in the PCDS
A product without data is waste
An efficient circular economy requires the circulation not only of resources, but also of information. However, a great deal of information on circularity is lacking, because producing and processing it requires too many human and financial resources. But also because there is not one widely adopted initiative to improve this flow of information, but several isolated projects. And yet data on circular properties is becoming key.
For your customers and partners
To comply with the rules and laws
To obtain certification
With this in mind, Luxembourg's Ministry of the Economy began work on the PCDS in 2018.
Timeline
2018
Lack of information available to create effective circular models.
2019
Partnership with +impaKT to demonstrate that there is a real demand, determine the scope of PCDS and demonstrate the feasibility of the concept.
2020
Creation of PCDS Luxembourg.
2021
1. Work begins on developing the PCDS IT solution.
2. Partnership with ILNAS to submit the PCDS proposal to the International Standards Organisation (ISO).
2022
Creation of Terra Matters to ensure the mass promotion and use of PCDS.
2024
The Terra Matters team is set up and the first PCDSs are created on the Terra Matters platform.
2018
Lack of information available to create effective circular models.
2019
Partnership with +impaKT to demonstrate that there is a real demand, determine the scope of PCDS and demonstrate the feasibility of the concept.
2020
Creation of PCDS Luxembourg.
2021
1. Work begins on developing the PCDS IT solution.
2. Partnership with ILNAS to submit the PCDS proposal to the International Standards Organisation (ISO).
2022
Creation of Terra Matters to ensure the mass promotion and use of PCDS.
2024
The Terra Matters team is set up and the first PCDSs are created on the Terra Matters platform.
The structure of the PCDS
The PCDS has two main sources of inspiration.
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet - which, like the PCDS, has a similar objective of clarity and standardisation of information.
BAMB - Building As Material Banks - the PCDS draws heavily on the experiences of BAMB, with specific mention of a report by Luscuere (2017), which recommends the implementation of a standardised data format for communicating product information.
The PCDS covers in a very simple way the whole life cycle of a product through its 7 sections.
The interoperability of the PCDS is essential for your circular procedures.
The ISO family
The transition to a circular economy is imperative if we are to meet the needs of people today and in the future. This transition means having to completely rethink the way we produce and consume. This is a major challenge that must be managed on a global scale. Via ISO, 100 countries and 19 international organisations have brought together experts from around the world to draw up circular economy standards. These standards will make it easier and more concrete to create circular models.
