Research question
Government category factors can support early material-use screening. They should not masquerade as a specific coated-film EPD.
A worked project scenario
A planner has the mass of a PET-based film but no supplier declaration. A generic PET category may help explore sensitivity, while the ordered film also contains coatings, adhesive and liner.
Method to use
Select the exact official category, production route and tonne-based unit. Keep the factor version and row ID. Record excluded layers and manufacturing steps as gaps. Run a range rather than applying an unverified recycled-content percentage to a branded product.
Limits of the conclusion
Generic PET or PVC values do not determine the footprint of the whole graphic. They cannot be ranked directly against a square-metre EN 15804 EPD with a different boundary.
Questions for the actual application
- Which exact source, unit and version support the decision?
- Which project quantities are measured, and which remain assumptions?
- What could change the result after installation or recovery?
Scope and limitations
- Generic PET or PVC values do not determine the footprint of the whole graphic. They cannot be ranked directly against a square-metre EN 15804 EPD with a different boundary.
