Living Product Challenge v2.0 Handbook

Documentation Requirements

BASIC DOCUMENTATION

Products that do not require on-site water inputs at the final manufacturing facility(s) are considered Site Net Positive within LPC and are exempt from on-site requirement I05-1.

I05-1 Site Net Positive Calculations

Completed Water Supply and Use Table showing total actual water use from monthly readings throughout the 12-month performance period from meter(s) or other on-site tracking systems that clearly record the amount of water used from each supply source.

If the project is using Handprinting to meet their on-site requirements, also include all of the following:

  • Metered data showing the amount of water pulled from the municipal potable water system;
  • Metered or calculated data showing the reduction in water being sent to the sewer elsewhere based on the project team’s handprinting strategy; and
  • A description of the Handprinting strategy with a map showing that the impact occurred in the same watershed as the facility.

I05-2 Site Net Positive Narrative

A description of the on-site systems used to meet the Net Positive requirements that 100% of process and product water are sourced from on-site renewable resources. The narrative should include a description of how the facility sufficiently treated and discharged water on-site without the use of chemicals, including results from water quality effluent testing as applicable to a quality required to maintain the quality of natural habitats on- and off-site.

I05-3 Effluent Quality

Manufacturers must identify all potential harmful substances used in production that could end up in the water from the manufacturing facility, and demonstrate that they are adequately treating water to remove the presence of any harmful substances. Manufacturers should submit recent water effluent testing reports to support claims of safe water effluent in terms of its content, temperature and safety for the ecosystem.

I05-4 Life Cycle Net Positive Calculations

Calculations clearly demonstrating all of the following:

  • The product’s baseline water Footprint per product, calculated impacts of any footprint reduction methods and the product’s reduced Footprint size
  • The total water Footprint per year for all 3 years of certification (Year 1 = certification until 1st annual check-in) based on predicted production.
  • All existing and planned individual Handprinting actions (e.g. installing a water-efficient showerhead) including the actual or predicted date of implementation and the scale of the action.
    • If the manufacturer is not offsetting the full 3 years of production by the time of certification, they should refer to Clarification: Net Positive Timeline
  • The impact of each individual action (e.g. the impact of installing 1 water-efficient showerhead) and the Handprint effort at scale (e.g. the total impact of installing 20 water-efficient showerheads).
  • The size of the total Handprint created and its comparison to the Footprint. The calculated value of the Handprint should exceed the Footprint for at least 3 months of production to comply, and documentation should clearly indicate how the manufacturer will maintain Net Positivity each year over the full 3-year certification period.

I05-5 Industry Average

Product manufacturers must demonstrate that their product’s cradle-to-gate water footprint is below the industry average, or if they are above the industry average, create a public plan (published as part of the LPC Case study) to optimize their life cycle water use by the time of recertification. Acceptable methods for arriving at an industry average value are identified in the Industry Average clarification and sources should be clearly documented.

If an industry average exists and the manufacturer’s water Footprint is above that average, the manufacturer must publish a plan that identifies how they intend to reduce the water impacts of the product by the time of recertification and includes:

  • The current industry average versus their baseline water Footprint
  • The product’s carbon and and fossil energy Footprints versus those industry averages
  • Identification of the water Hotspots in the Footprint
  • Specific actions the manufacturer will take to decrease potable water use in the supply chain, dates of action implementations and commitments to achieve those reductions by the time of recertification

If no industry average exists, the manufacturer should provide either:

  • A self-comparison: a narrative with calculations demonstrating life cycle reductions of the product versus a previous LCA created for the product
  • A self-assessment: a brief narrative regarding efficient water use throughout the life cycle relative to similar products and identify opportunities for improvement.

I05-6 Water Handprint Narrative

A narrative accompanying I05-4 calculations, that clearly describes how the manufacturer has reduced the product’s water Footprint, created a water Handprint greater than the reduced Footprint to become measurably Net Positive, and how it will maintain Net Positivity through the 3-Year certification period. All of the following information should be provided:

  • A brief narrative explaining the Handprinting actions, including collaborations with other groups or stakeholders to create the Handprint.
  • The quantifiable water impacts of the Handprinting actions. Inclusion of non-quantifiable impacts is encouraged, but not required.
  • A spreadsheet documenting all input assumptions and the resulting Handprint impact calculations.
  • The final water Footprint value and Handprint value.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR WHOLE FACILITY COMPLIANCE

I05-7 Stormwater Calculations

Stormwater calculations by the project engineer demonstrating Imperative requirements for working in harmony with natural water flows, based on a minimum ten-year storm.

I05-8 Bio-solids Disposal Documents

Evidence of appropriate use of bio-solids and liquids within a 100-mile radius of the facility.

EXCEPTION DOCUMENTATION

Exception Documentation For Whole Facility Compliance

These exceptions are only applicable to the Whole Facility path. Manufacturers that use Exceptions require additional documentation shown in the table below.

I05-a Design Documents

Design documents, such as project manual excerpts, drawings or cut sheets, showing product meets Exception requirements.

I05-b Appeals Documentation

Documentation of the team’s effort to comply with requirements despite regulatory barriers. Team should include all the following documents:

  • The regulatory statute or code that hinders product compliance.
  • Summary of all potential appeals and outcomes.
  • Written appeal documents and response showing the decision(s) from regulatory authority