Transparency Catalog

LCA results & interpretation PRECON®

Scope and summary

Cradle to gate
Cradle to gate with options
Cradle to grave

Application

PRECON is a (sheet-applied) pre-applied waterproofing membrane designed for blindside and underslab applications where access to the positive side is limited. It combines a durable elastomeric membrane a seven-layer matrix that delivers low water vapor transmission. When concrete is poured against it and cured, PRECON forms a strong mechanical bond to the structure, creating a seamless waterproof and vaporproof barrier.

Declared unit

Reference flow: 2.34 kg/m²
Thickness: 73 mil (1.85 mm)

Manufacturing data

Reporting period: January 2025 – December 2025
Location: Hampshire, IL

Embodied carbon

Embodied carbon can be defined as the cradle-to-gate (A1-A3) global warming potential impacts. The total embodied carbon per declared unit of PRECON is 4.71E+00 kg CO₂-eq.

What’s causing the greatest impacts

All life cycle stages

The raw material acquisition stage dominates the results, accounting for over 80% of the total impacts for all impact categories, followed by the manufacturing stage. For global warming, eutrophication, carcinogens, and non-carcinogens, manufacturing accounted for the second-highest contributor and over 10% of the total results. Among the raw materials, the polypropylene fabric has the highest contribution to the totality of environmental impacts.

Raw material acquisition

The raw material acquisition (A1) stage has the most significant contribution to most impact categories, primarily due to the polypropylene fabric. This accounts for the extraction of the fabric is used in the product, and the manufacturing process (polymerization) is energy-intensive.

Transportation

The transportation (A2) of raw materials is the least impactful contributor to the total results. Materials are sourced from within America and transported via semi-truck to the manufacturing facility.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing (A3) is the second highest contributor to most impact categories. The primary driver of environmental impacts within the manufacturing stage is the energy required to mix and package the product. This stage also includes the disposal of incoming packagings and the transportation of the disposal.

Sensitivity analysis

Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results in areas where the highest potential environmental impacts occur. Since polypropylene fabric was the material that contributed the most to total impacts, a sensitivity analysis of 10% material reduction was conducted on its usage to assess the impact of decreasing its presence in PRECON.

The results indicate that reducing polypropylene fabric by 10% could reduce global warming potential by ~5-6%, which shows that these products are relatively sensitive to changes in the amount of fabric present.

How we're making it greener

W. R. MEADOWS utilizes OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) to optimize manufacturing processes and reduce energy consumption.
OEE identifies inefficiencies and wasted energy: By monitoring equipment performance, it uncovers downtime, slow speeds, and quality defects.
Energy-saving improvements through OEE: Meadows has achieved streamlined processes, better scheduling, reduced machine wear, and lower energy costs.
Reduction in scrap and waste: OEE insights help identify performance issues, reducing defects, delays, and material waste while enhancing product quality.
Supports sustainability and environmental goals: By lowering energy use and cutting carbon footprints, OEE fosters more sustainable manufacturing practices.

See how we make it greener

LCA results

Life cycle stage	Raw material acquisition	Transport	Manufacturing
Information modules: Included (X) \| Excluded (MND)* *Modules A4, A5, B, C, and D are excluded.	(X) A1 Raw material acquisition	(X) A2 Transport	(X) A3 Manufacturing

SM Single Score

Learn about SM Single Score results

Impacts per declared unit	1.48E-01 mPts	9.58E-03 mPts	1.64E-02 mPts
Materials or processes contributing >20% to total impacts in each life cycle stage	Extraction and preprocessing of raw materials.	Truck transportation to manufacturing facility.	Electricity and natural gas consumption during the manufacturing process.

Life cycle impact assessment results per declared unit

Life cycle stage	Raw material acquisition	Transport	Manufacturing

Ecological damage

Impact category	Unit
Total global warming potential, GWP _TOTAL	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming potential is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GWP leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source, and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas. IPCCtotal is calculated based on IPCC 2013 AR5, inclusive of fossil and biogenic CO2eq.	4.14E+00	1.93E-01	3.77E-01
Global warming potential from biogenic, GWP _BIOGENIC	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source, and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas. IPCCbiogenic reflects the biogenic carbon removals and emissions from products and packaging.	8.01E-03	1.18E-05	1.19E-02
Global warming potential from fossil fuels, GWP_FOSSIL	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GW leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source, and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas. IPCCfossil excludes effects from biogenic carbon.	4.13E+00	1.93E-01	3.65E-01
Global warming potential from land use and land use change, GWP_LULUC	kg CO₂ eqKilograms of Carbon Dioxide equivalent Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to change in global climate patterns and is caused by the increase of the sources of greenhouse gases and decrease of the sinks due to deforestation and land use. GWP leads to problems in human health, agriculture, forest, water source, and damage to species and biodiversity as well as coastal areas. The TRACI 2.1 total is the sum of TRACI 2.1 biogenic and TRACI 2.1 fossil results.	2.53E-03	1.03E-05	4.88E-04
Ozone depletion	kg CFC-11 eq Kilograms of Trichlorofluoromethane equivalent Ozone depletion is the reduction of ozone in the stratosphere caused by the release of ozone depleting chemicals. Ozone depletion can increases ultraviolet B radiation to the earth which can adversely affect human health (skin cancer and cataracts and immune-system suppression) and other systems (marine life, agricultural crops, and other vegetation) and causes damage to human-built materials.	1.20E-07	2.62E-09	1.40E-08
Acidification	kg SO₂ eq Kilograms of Sulfur Dioxide equivalent Acidification processes increase the acidity of water and soil systems and causes damage to lakes, streams, rivers, and various plants and animals, as well as building materials, paints, and other human-built structures.	1.71E-02	2.65E-04	1.24E-03
Eutrophication: freshwater	kg P eqKilograms of Phosphorus equivalent Eutrophication: freshwater is the enrichment of freshwater ecosystems with phosphorus, accelerating algal growth and depleting dissolved oxygen, which harms aquatic life.	7.19E-05	6.15E-07	6.86E-06
Eutrophication: marine	kg N eqKilograms of Sulfur equivalent Eutrophication: marine is the enrichment of marine ecosystems with nutrients, accelerating algal growth and depleting dissolved oxygen, which harms marine life.	1.63E-03	3.26E-05	1.68E-04

Human health damage

Impact category	Unit
Smog	kg O₃ eqKilograms of Ozone equivalent Smog formation (photochemical oxidant formation) is the formation of ozone molecules in the troposphere by complex chemical reactions which are influenced by ambient concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the mix of organic compounds (OCs), temperature, sunlight, and convective flows. Ozone concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere above the natural trace amounts lead to detrimental impacts on human health and ecosystems.	1.94E-01	3.80E-03	1.87E-02
Respiratory effects	kg PM_2.5 eqKilograms of Particulate Matter equivalent which are smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter Particulate matter concentrations have a strong influence on chronic and acute respiratory symptoms and mortality rates.	2.79E-03	5.88E-05	1.81E-04

Additional environmental information

Impact category	Unit
Carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human cancerous toxicity Carcinogens have the potential to form cancers in humans.	93.70%	0.65%	5.65%
Non-carcinogenics	CTU_h Comparative Toxic Units of Human non-cancerous toxicity Non-Carcinogens have the potential to causes non-cancerous adverse impacts to human health.	62.42%	9.61%	27.97%
Ecotoxicity	CTU_e Comparative Toxic Units of Ecotoxicity Ecotoxicity causes negative impacts to ecological receptors and, indirectly, to human receptors through the impacts to the ecosystem.	62.44%	28.56%	9.00%

References

LCA Background Report
LCA of W. R. MEADOWS Water Resistive and Air Barriers, 2025. Developed using the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) 100-year time, TRACI v2.2, CML, and Cumulative Energy Demand (LHV) impact assessment methodologies, SimaPro 10.2.0.2 software, and ecoinvent v3.11 and US-EI 2.2 databases.

ISO 14025:2006 Environmental labels and declarations — Type III environmental declarations — Principles and procedures

ISO 21930:2017, Sustainability in buildings and civil engineering works -- Core rules for environmental product declarations of construction products and services

SM Part B: Water-Resistive and Air Barriers; Version 5.0, April 2026. PCR review conducted for conformance to ISO 14025:2006, ISO 21930:2017, and ACLCA PCR Open Standard v1.0 by the following parties: Thomas Gloria, PhD (chair, [email protected]); Terrie Boguski (Harmony Environmental); and C. Jason Pierce (Blue Ridge Sustainability).

Download PRECON PDF SM Transparency Report [EPD]

SM Transparency Reports (TR) are ISO 14025 Type III environmental declarations (EPD) that enable purchasers and users to compare the potential environmental performance of products on a life cycle basis. Environmental declarations from different programs (ISO 14025) may not be comparable. Comparison of the environmental performance using EPD information shall consider all relevant information modules over the full life cycle of the products within the building. This PCR allows EPD comparability only when the same functional requirements between products are ensured and the requirements of ISO 21930:2017 §5.5 are met. It should be noted that different LCA software and background LCI datasets may lead to differences results for upstream or downstream of the life cycle stages declared. LCIA results are relative expressions and do not predict impacts on category endpoints, the exceeding of thresholds, safety margins or risks. These nine impact categories are globally deemed mature enough to be included in Type III environmental declarations. Other categories are being developed and defined and LCA should continue making advances in their development. However, the EPD users shall not use additional measures for comparative purposes. Comparison of the environmental performance of water-resistive and air barriers using EPD information shall be based on the product’s use and impacts at the construction works level, and therefore EPDs may not be used for comparability purposes when not considering the construction works energy use phase as instructed under this PCR. Full conformance with the PCR for water-resistive and air barriers allows EPD comparability only when all stages of a life cycle have been considered, when they comply with all referenced standards, use the same sub-category Part B PCR, and use equivalent scenarios with respect to construction works. However, variations and deviations are possible. Example of variations: Different LCA software and background LCI datasets may lead to differences results for upstream or downstream of the life cycle stages declared.

Rating systems

The intent is to reward project teams for selecting products from manufacturers who have verified life-cycle environmental performance.

LEED BD+C: New Construction | v.5 - LEED v5

MR Credit 4: Building Materials Resources Credit (BPSP)

Product-specific Type III EPD Multi-attribute score: 1

LEED BD+C: New Construction | v4.1 - LEED v4.1

Building product disclosure and optimization

Environmental product declarations

Industry-wide (generic) EPD
Product-specific Type III EPD

Green Globes for New Construction and Sustainable Interiors

Materials and resources

NC 3.5.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Building Core and Shell
NC 3.5.2.2 and SI 4.1.2 Path B: Prescriptive Path for Interior Fit-outs

BREEAM New Construction 2018

Mat 02 - Environmental impacts from construction products

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

Industry-average EPD .5 points
Multi-product specific EPD .75 points
Product-specific EPD 1 points