Cotton linters

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR covers foreground data packages for cotton linters produced from ginned cottonseed. Cotton linters are the short seed-coat fibres remaining on cottonseed after the main cotton lint has been removed by ginning, and are normally removed from cottonseed by mechanical delinting at cottonseed oil mills or dedicated delinting facilities.

The PCR applies to raw or simply cleaned cotton linters sold as first-cut, second-cut, third-cut, or mill-run linters. It covers facility operations that receive cottonseed, clean and meter seed, mechanically delint seed, separate and clean linter fibre, bale or package linters, and dispatch saleable linter bales or lots.

This PCR excludes raw cotton lint for textile spinning, cottonseed itself, cottonseed oil, cottonseed meal, cottonseed hulls, gin motes unless declared as a separate co-product, purified cotton linter pulp, cellulose derivatives, paper, nonwovens, absorbent cotton, chemical-cotton products, and acid-delinted planting seed unless those operations are explicitly part of the declared foreground route and produce cotton linters as the reference product.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.agriculture-forestry-and-fishery-products.forestry-and-logging-products.cotton-linters
classification_refs	CPC 3.0:03251 exact - Cotton linters
covered_products	Raw or simply cleaned cotton linters removed from cottonseed; first-cut linters; second-cut linters; third-cut linters; mill-run linters; baled or loose linters dispatched for industrial, paper, nonwoven, or cellulose use
excluded_products	Textile cotton lint; cottonseed; cottonseed oil, meal, hulls, and cake; gin motes unless declared as co-products; purified cotton linter pulp; cellulose derivatives; paper; absorbent cotton; finished nonwoven products; acid-delinted planting seed when linters are not the reference product
representative_product	1 kg net saleable cotton linters at producer gate, with cut type, grade, moisture basis, impurity basis, and bale or loose state declared
production_route	Ginned cottonseed receipt; seed cleaning and metering; mechanical delinting by one or more passes; linter fibre separation, cleaning, conditioning, baling or packaging; producer-gate dispatch
market_state	Raw or simply cleaned natural cellulosic short fibre, usually baled, bagged, or transferred loose to downstream pulp, chemical, paper, nonwoven, or filling applications

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Saleable raw or simply cleaned cotton linters
How much	1 kg net linter mass
How well	Meets the declared cut type, grade, moisture basis, impurity specification, bale or loose state, and buyer specification
How long or cycle	One production batch, delinting campaign, or representative annual production period normalized to the reference amount
reference_flow_link	Reference product output of the linter baling or dispatch process

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Mass unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	cut type; grade or quality class; moisture basis; impurity or trash basis; seed source and cotton species where known; delinting route; production region; batch or campaign period; bale or loose state; allocation method for delinted seed and other co-products

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	Reference product and saleable linter outputs	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report the reference product as net saleable linter mass excluding reusable pallets, racks, and returnable containers.
moisture_basis	Cottonseed, raw linters, cleaned linters, residues, and final linters	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg as received and kg dry matter where available	Record moisture basis for incoming seed, intermediate linters, and final linters. Convert to the declared reference basis when product moisture differs across lots.
cut_type_reporting	Reference product and linter process outputs	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg by cut type	Distinguish first-cut, second-cut, third-cut, and mill-run linters because fibre length, impurity, and downstream use can differ materially.
co_product_mass_balance	Cottonseed input, linters, delinted seed, residues, and dust	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Reconcile cottonseed input with linters, delinted seed, rejects, dust, and moisture changes before allocation.
energy_unit_consistency	Electricity, fuel, compressed air, and mechanical services	Energy	kWh or MJ	Convert meters, fuel records, and equipment-hour calculations to kWh or MJ and state whether values are final electricity, fuel lower heating value, or delivered service energy.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	ginned_cottonseed_lot_at_delinting_facility
starting_condition_role	Boundary anchor for the first foreground cottonseed receiving, storage, cleaning, or metering record.
product_classification_scope	CPC 3.0:03251 cotton linters only.
recursive_input_rule	If purchased input is already cotton linters, model it as a purchased linter input with an upstream dataset and do not recursively reopen this PCR inside the same foreground process.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Use upstream datasets for purchased cottonseed, electricity, fuels, compressed air, process water if used, packaging, chemicals when used, maintenance materials, and inbound transport services that cross into the foreground boundary.
disclosure	Disclose seed source, cottonseed ownership or tolling arrangement, delinting route, number of delinting passes, linter cut type, moisture basis, impurity basis, co-product treatment for delinted seed, seed hull or meal linkage where applicable, residue fate, and excluded downstream purification, pulping, chemical conversion, or product manufacturing stages.

Boundary Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_ginned_cottonseed_lot	all foreground data packages	Begin foreground modelling at the declared ginned cottonseed lot, use upstream datasets for each purchased input crossing the boundary, and do not recursively reopen this PCR for a purchased cotton-linter input.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
cottonseed_receipt_and_precleaning	Cottonseed receipt and pre-cleaning	required	Include for all datasets receiving ginned cottonseed or fuzzy cottonseed into the delinting boundary.	Establishes seed lot identity, moisture, incoming mass, storage, and pre-cleaning losses.	kg cottonseed received and cleaned per 1 kg reference linters
mechanical_delinting	Mechanical delinting	required	Include every delinting pass used to make the declared first-cut, second-cut, third-cut, or mill-run product.	Removes linter fibre from cottonseed and creates delinted seed and raw linter streams.	kg raw linters and kg delinted seed per 1 kg reference linters
linter_cleaning_conditioning_and_baling	Linter cleaning, conditioning, and baling	required	Include cleaning, aspiration, dust removal, moisture conditioning when used, baling, bagging, and packaging before sale.	Converts raw linters into saleable linter bales or lots.	kg saleable linters per 1 kg reference linters
co_product_residue_and_dispatch	Co-product, residue, and dispatch handling	required	Include co-product transfer, residue management, storage, loading, and producer-gate dispatch before the product leaves the foreground system.	Records delinted seed co-product fate, residues, loading energy, and final dispatch state.	kg dispatched saleable linters per 1 kg reference linters

Process: Cottonseed receipt and pre-cleaning (cottonseed_receipt_and_precleaning)

Inputs

Product flows

Fuzzy cottonseed received (fuzzy_cottonseed_input)

Ginned cottonseed with remaining short fibres received for linter removal.

• Selected flow: Cottonseed, other 5ec72013-512e-4bb6-a5e6-648551f35d9d
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured incoming cottonseed mass with moisture and lot identity, allocated to saleable linters and co-products
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cottonseed_receipt_records
• Sources: usda-ers-natural-fibers-2006; usda-mrr56-cotton-linters
• Range: Cottonseed-to-linters mass QA screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 10
  • Upper: 40
  • Unit: kg cottonseed
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: External source (external_source)
  • Sources: usda-ers-natural-fibers-2006; usda-mrr56-cotton-linters

Receipt and pre-cleaning electricity (receipt_precleaning_electricity)

Electricity used for conveyors, seed cleaners, fans, magnets, metering equipment, and storage movement.

• Selected flow: Alternating current 50657322-939c-4829-a87b-47c093bfa6a7
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ
• Amount rule: measured electricity or motor-hour calculation for receipt, storage movement, and pre-cleaning
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial pre-cleaning energy screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Outputs

Product flows

Cleaned cottonseed to delinting (cleaned_cottonseed_to_delinting)

Cottonseed after receiving, storage transfer, and pre-cleaning, transferred to mechanical delinting.

• Selected flow: Cleaned cottonseed for delinting
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: calculated from incoming cottonseed minus measured receiving rejects, adjusted for moisture where applicable
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cottonseed_receipt_records
• Sources:
• Range: Cleaned seed transfer screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 9
  • Upper: 40
  • Unit: kg cottonseed
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Seed cleaning rejects (seed_cleaning_rejects)

Trash, stones, dust, hull fragments, and non-seed material removed before delinting.

• Selected flow: Cottonseed cleaning residue
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured reject mass or calculated from seed receiving mass balance
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial seed cleaning reject screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Mechanical delinting (mechanical_delinting)

Inputs

Product flows

Cleaned cottonseed charged to delinter (cleaned_cottonseed_charged)

Cleaned seed charged to first-cut, second-cut, third-cut, or mill-run delinting equipment.

• Selected flow: Cleaned cottonseed for delinting
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured seed mass charged by pass, cut type, and batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_delinting_pass_records
• Sources: cotton-inc-fiber-sourcing-2017; ncpa-trading-rules-2013
• Range: Seed charged to delinter screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 9
  • Upper: 40
  • Unit: kg cottonseed
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Delinting electricity and mechanical service (delinting_energy)

Electricity, compressed air, or mechanical service energy used by linter saws, abrasive delinters, conveyors, fans, and dust collection equipment.

• Selected flow: Alternating current 50657322-939c-4829-a87b-47c093bfa6a7
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ
• Amount rule: measured equipment electricity or calculated motor-hour energy for each delinting pass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial delinting energy screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 3
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Delinter maintenance materials (delinter_maintenance_materials)

Saw blades, brushes, screens, lubricants, and other consumables directly used in linter removal.

• Selected flow: Delinter maintenance materials
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured replacement material, lubricant, or maintenance consumable issue records allocated to linter production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_maintenance_material_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial maintenance material screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Outputs

Product flows

Raw cotton linters from delinting (raw_cotton_linters)

Linter fibre removed from seed before final cleaning, conditioning, and baling.

• Selected flow: Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured raw linter mass by cut type and delinting pass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per mechanical delinting process output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_delinting_pass_records
• Sources:
• Range: Raw linter output screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kg raw linters
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Delinted cottonseed co-product (delinted_cottonseed_coproduct)

Cottonseed after linter removal, transferred to crushing, feed, seed, or other downstream handling.

• Selected flow: Cottonseed, other 5ec72013-512e-4bb6-a5e6-648551f35d9d
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured delinted seed mass after each pass or calculated by mass balance
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_coproduct_records
• Sources:
• Range: Delinted seed co-product screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 8
  • Upper: 39
  • Unit: kg delinted seed
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Delinting dust and fines (delinting_dust_and_fines)

Dust, fines, lint fragments, and seed coat fragments captured by aspiration or floor sweepings during delinting.

• Selected flow: Cotton linter dust and fines
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured collected dust and fines, or calculated from dust collector and mass balance records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial delinting dust screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Fugitive fibre dust to air (fugitive_fibre_dust_to_air)

Particulate fibre dust emitted to workplace or ambient air after controls.

• Selected flow: Particulates, cotton fibre dust
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured emissions, filter balance, permit estimate, or calculated uncontrolled dust minus captured dust
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_air_emission_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial fugitive dust screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.05
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Process: Linter cleaning, conditioning, and baling (linter_cleaning_conditioning_and_baling)

Inputs

Product flows

Raw linter input (raw_linter_input)

Raw linter fibre received from one or more delinting passes for final cleaning and sale preparation.

• Selected flow: Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured raw linter mass by cut type, lot, and moisture basis
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_linter_quality_and_baling_records
• Sources:
• Range: Raw-to-saleable linter screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kg raw linters
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Cleaning and baling energy (cleaning_baling_energy)

Electricity or fuel used for linter cleaning, aspiration, conditioning, baling, bagging, and internal movement.

• Selected flow: Alternating current 50657322-939c-4829-a87b-47c093bfa6a7
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ
• Amount rule: measured energy or calculated equipment-hour energy for linter finishing and baling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial cleaning and baling energy screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 2
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Bale ties and non-returnable packaging (bale_ties_and_packaging)

Bale ties, straps, bags, wraps, labels, and other non-returnable packaging used for saleable linters.

• Selected flow: Bale ties and linter packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured packaging issue records or standard bill of materials per linter bale or bag
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial packaging material screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Outputs

Product flows

Saleable cotton linters before dispatch (saleable_cotton_linters)

Cleaned, conditioned, and baled or packaged cotton linters ready for storage or dispatch.

• Selected flow: Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: fixed reference output after cleaning and baling
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Collection protocol: cp_linter_quality_and_baling_records
• Sources: iso-14044-2006
• Range: Fixed saleable linter output
  • Range role: Allowed range (allowed_range)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
  • Sources: iso-14044-2006

Waste flows

Linter cleaning rejects (linter_cleaning_rejects)

Trash, hull fragments, dust, off-grade fibre, and rejected linter fractions removed during finishing.

• Selected flow: Cotton linter cleaning residue
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured reject mass by cleaning stage, lot, and disposition
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial linter cleaning reject screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Co-product, residue, and dispatch handling (co_product_residue_and_dispatch)

Inputs

Product flows

Saleable linter lot to dispatch (saleable_linter_lot_to_dispatch)

Saleable linter bales, bags, or loose lots transferred to dispatch storage and loading.

• Selected flow: Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured saleable linter mass entering dispatch storage
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dispatch_records
• Sources:
• Range: Dispatch input linter screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.05
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Dispatch and loading energy (dispatch_loading_energy)

Forklift, conveyor, compressed-air, electricity, or fuel use for storage, loading, and producer-gate dispatch.

• Selected flow: Dispatch and loading energy
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ
• Amount rule: measured fuel, electricity, equipment-hour, or contractor records for dispatch handling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial dispatch energy screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.5
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Outputs

Product flows

Cotton linters at producer gate (cotton_linters_at_producer_gate)

Reference product leaving the foreground system at producer gate or dispatch point.

• Selected flow: Cotton linters 6587eccc-106f-4941-be4a-afdbe46df8b5
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: fixed reference output at the declared producer-gate or dispatch point
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Collection protocol: cp_dispatch_records
• Sources: iso-14044-2006
• Range: Fixed producer-gate reference product
  • Range role: Allowed range (allowed_range)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
  • Sources: iso-14044-2006

Delinted seed transferred to downstream use (delinted_seed_to_downstream_use)

Co-product cottonseed after linter removal, transferred to oilseed crushing, feed, seed, or other downstream use.

• Selected flow: Cottonseed, other 5ec72013-512e-4bb6-a5e6-648551f35d9d
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured delinted seed mass leaving the foreground boundary or internal transfer point
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_coproduct_records
• Sources:
• Range: Delinted seed dispatch screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 8
  • Upper: 39
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Dispatch losses and waste packaging (dispatch_losses_and_waste_packaging)

Lost linter material, damaged packaging, sweepings, and non-product waste generated before dispatch.

• Selected flow: Dispatch losses and waste packaging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured waste, inventory loss, or disposal record before product leaves the facility
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_records
• Sources:
• Range: Initial dispatch loss screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.05
  • Unit: kg
  • Basis: per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Rule
cottonseed_coproduct_allocation	If the foreground facility jointly produces cotton linters and delinted cottonseed, allocate shared receipt, cleaning, delinting, storage, and dispatch burdens between linters and delinted seed using a documented physical relationship when it reflects process causality. Otherwise use economic allocation with same-period prices and a sensitivity check.
incoming_cottonseed_burden	Purchased cottonseed enters with an upstream dataset. If the study boundary includes cotton ginning or seed ownership before delinting, allocate upstream cottonseed and ginning burdens consistently with the linked cotton or cottonseed PCR.
off_grade_linter_treatment	Off-grade linters sold for lower-value uses are co-products when they leave as saleable material; otherwise treat them as waste or internal rework according to measured fate.
residue_fate	Dust, hull fragments, seed cleaning rejects, and packaging waste must be tracked by fate, including disposal, composting, fuel use, feed use, or internal recycling.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_cottonseed_receipt_records	cottonseed_receipt_and_precleaning	incoming seed and cleaned seed transfer	receiving, scale, storage, and pre-cleaning record	supplier; lot_id; cotton_species_or_variety; seed_mass; moisture; trash; storage_bin; receipt_date; cleaned_seed_mass	weighbridge, scale ticket, receiving note, storage ledger, or seed cleaner log	kg seed, percent moisture, percent trash	each lot or campaign	representative production year or declared campaign	receiving site, storage bin, or seed lot	sum incoming lots and calculate cleaned seed transfer after rejects and moisture adjustment	scale calibration, receiving ticket, storage ledger, and moisture test
cp_delinting_pass_records	mechanical_delinting	seed charged, pass type, raw linter output, and pass yield	delinter run sheet, production log, or control-system record	pass_number; cut_type; seed_mass_charged; raw_linter_mass; delinted_seed_mass; runtime; equipment_id; moisture	batch sheet, linter run sheet, plant historian, or operator log	kg, hour, percent moisture	each pass or batch	declared campaign or production year	delinter line, pass, and seed lot	reconcile seed charged with raw linters, delinted seed, dust, and moisture change	production logs, scale records, moisture tests, and mass-balance worksheet
cp_linter_quality_and_baling_records	linter_cleaning_conditioning_and_baling	raw linters, cleaned linters, grade, bale, and packaging	quality, cleaning, conditioning, bale press, or finished-goods record	cut_type; grade; raw_linter_mass; cleaned_linter_mass; moisture; impurity; bale_id; bale_mass; packaging_mass	bale scale, lab test, visual grading record, product specification, or finished-goods ledger	kg, percent moisture, percent impurity	each bale, lot, or campaign	declared campaign or production year	finishing line, bale press, or warehouse	sum conforming bale mass and normalize all foreground rows to net saleable linters	bale tickets, lab records, grading notes, finished-goods ledger, and certificate of analysis where available
cp_energy_records	all processes	electricity, fuel, compressed air, and mechanical service	meter, invoice, fuel issue, compressed-air allocation, or equipment-hour record	carrier; quantity; unit; equipment_id; process_id; runtime; date; allocation_basis	meter reading, invoice reconciliation, equipment-hour calculation, or submeter	kWh, MJ, L fuel, kg fuel, equipment-hour	monthly, per batch, or per campaign	representative production year or campaign	line, equipment, facility, or process area	allocate directly metered energy first, then by runtime, throughput, or saleable linter mass	meter calibration, invoice, fuel log, and allocation worksheet
cp_maintenance_material_records	mechanical_delinting	saws, brushes, screens, lubricants, and maintenance consumables	inventory issue, maintenance work order, or equipment log	material_type; quantity; unit; equipment_id; replacement_date; process_id; allocation_basis	work order, stock issue, maintenance record, or supplier note	kg, item count, L lubricant	per replacement or monthly	representative production year or campaign	delinter line or equipment	allocate consumables by delinter runtime, seed throughput, or linter mass	maintenance log, stock issue record, and supplier specification
cp_packaging_records	linter_cleaning_conditioning_and_baling	bale ties, straps, wraps, bags, labels, and non-returnable packaging	bill of materials, purchase, warehouse issue, or bale record	material_type; unit_mass; units_used; bales_covered; reusable_flag; supplier; waste_amount	BOM, packaging issue, bale press record, or supplier specification	kg material, item count	each lot or monthly	production year or campaign	bale press, warehouse, or dispatch area	sum non-returnable packaging per net saleable linter mass	purchase records, BOM, supplier specifications, and stock issue records
cp_coproduct_records	mechanical_delinting; co_product_residue_and_dispatch	delinted seed and saleable off-grade linter co-products	co-product transfer, sales, or internal use record	co_product_type; mass; moisture; destination; sale_price_if_used; internal_transfer; date	scale ticket, transfer note, sales invoice, internal transfer ledger, or downstream production record	kg, percent moisture, currency per kg where used	each lot or monthly	production year or campaign	seed transfer point, warehouse, or customer lot	sum co-product quantities and calculate allocation factors when needed	scale records, invoices, transfer notes, and allocation worksheet
cp_residue_records	all processes	seed cleaning rejects, dust, fines, off-grade waste, and waste packaging	waste, residue, disposal, composting, fuel-use, or rework record	residue_type; quantity; moisture; fate; disposal_route; internal_reuse_flag; date; process_id	waste ticket, dust collector log, residue measurement, disposal manifest, or rework ledger	kg, percent moisture	each lot, monthly, or campaign	production year or campaign	receiving, delinting, finishing, warehouse, or waste handling area	sum residues by fate and link saleable residues to co-product rule	disposal tickets, waste manifest, dust collector logs, and rework records
cp_air_emission_records	mechanical_delinting; linter_cleaning_conditioning_and_baling	fugitive and controlled fibre dust emissions	filter balance, permit estimate, stack test, or dust collector record	captured_dust_mass; filter_efficiency; emission_factor_if_used; airflow; operating_hours; control_device	stack test, filter weighing, permit calculation, or dust collector log	kg particulate, m3 air, hour	test event, monthly, or campaign	representative production year or permit period	dust collector, delinter line, finishing line, or facility	calculate emitted dust as uncontrolled or generated dust minus captured dust and retained residues	stack test, filter log, permit file, and calculation worksheet
cp_dispatch_records	co_product_residue_and_dispatch	final linter dispatch and loading	dispatch ticket, inventory release, loading record, or bill of lading	lot_id; bale_id; net_mass; packaging_state; dispatch_date; customer_or_destination; loading_energy_link	finished-goods ledger, bill of lading, loading ticket, or dispatch record	kg, bale count	each dispatch lot	production year or campaign	warehouse, loading dock, or producer gate	reconcile finished goods with shipped saleable linter mass and dispatch losses	bill of lading, finished-goods ledger, loading ticket, and inventory reconciliation

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
normalize_to_reference_linter_mass	all inventory rows	normalized amount = row amount / net saleable linter mass dispatched within the same boundary and period	row amount; net saleable linter mass from cp_dispatch_records; boundary and period definition	amount per 1 kg saleable cotton linters
cottonseed_linter_mass_balance	cottonseed, raw linters, cleaned linters, delinted seed, residues, and dust	incoming cottonseed mass = saleable linters + delinted seed + residues + dust + moisture change within stated tolerance	cottonseed receipt; raw linter output; final linter output; delinted seed; residues; moisture	reconciled mass balance and QA flag	usda-ers-natural-fibers-2006; usda-mrr56-cotton-linters
cut_type_yield_tracking	first-cut, second-cut, third-cut, and mill-run linters	record each pass separately; if passes are blended, calculate weighted average grade, moisture, impurity, and yield	pass records; blend recipe; grade and moisture records	cut-type-specific linter yield and final product description	cotton-inc-fiber-sourcing-2017; ncpa-trading-rules-2013
co_product_allocation_factor	shared facility burdens	allocation factor = selected physical or economic allocation measure for linters / total selected allocation measure for linters plus co-products	linter mass or value; delinted seed mass or value; off-grade co-products; shared burdens	allocation factors for shared processes	iso-14044-2006
moisture_conversion	seed, linters, residues, and co-products	dry mass = as-received mass * (1 - moisture fraction); reported reference mass remains on declared saleable basis	as-received mass; moisture fraction; declared reference basis	kg dry matter and kg saleable basis

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	reference product	Declare cut type, grade or quality class, moisture basis, impurity basis, bale or loose state, and production region.	finished-goods record, grade record, bale ticket, supplier certificate, or product specification
dq_seed_traceability	cottonseed input	Trace cottonseed to supplier, seed lot, ginning origin where available, and receipt period.	receiving ticket, supplier declaration, storage ledger, and lot traceability
dq_mass_balance	seed, linters, delinted seed, residues, and dust	Cottonseed mass balance must reconcile input seed, linters, delinted seed, residues, dust, and moisture changes for each campaign.	scale records, run sheets, moisture tests, dust collector records, and mass-balance worksheet
dq_energy_allocation	energy and shared services	Energy records must distinguish receipt, delinting, finishing, and dispatch where material; shared energy allocation must be documented.	submeters, invoices, equipment-hour logs, and allocation worksheet
dq_coproduct_treatment	delinted seed and saleable off-grade linters	Co-product quantities, destinations, and allocation basis must be disclosed.	transfer records, sales invoices, internal use records, and allocation calculation
dq_downstream_exclusion	downstream manufacturing	Purification, pulping, chemical conversion, paper, absorbent cotton, and nonwoven production must be explicitly excluded or separately modelled.	boundary statement, product description, and downstream module links where applicable

9. Validation Rules

validation_id	Severity	Rule
reference_output_equals_one_kg	error	The final producer-gate reference product output must equal 1 kg net saleable cotton linters.
required_qualifiers_present	error	Cut type, grade or quality class, moisture basis, impurity basis, bale or loose state, production region, and allocation method must be declared.
cottonseed_mass_balance_reconciles	error	Cottonseed input, linters, delinted seed, rejects, dust, and moisture changes must be reconcilable for the declared batch or campaign.
co_product_allocation_documented	error	Shared burdens must include a documented allocation method for delinted seed and any saleable off-grade linters or residues.
cut_type_not_mixed_without_disclosure	warning	First-cut, second-cut, third-cut, and mill-run linters must not be mixed in the reference product unless the blend and weighted attributes are disclosed.
downstream_processing_excluded_or_modelled	warning	Purification, pulping, chemical conversion, paper, absorbent cotton, and nonwoven production must be explicitly excluded or separately modelled.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	unit_process
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset; foreground foreground-data package component
allowed_use	Modelling producer-gate raw or simply cleaned cotton linters when the declared cut type, grade, moisture basis, impurity basis, seed source, delinting route, and boundary match this PCR.
excluded_use	Textile cotton lint, cottonseed, cottonseed oil or meal, purified linter pulp, cellulose derivatives, paper, absorbent cotton, nonwovens, and acid-delinted planting seed unless separately modelled or mapped.
required_metadata	CPC reference; cut type; grade or quality class; moisture basis; impurity basis; seed source; production region; delinting route; number of passes; bale or loose state; allocation method; co-product treatment; upstream dataset links
required_quality_disclosure	cottonseed lot traceability, cottonseed-to-linter mass balance closure, energy allocation basis, pass-specific yield tracking, moisture conversion basis, co-product allocation, residue fate, dust emission basis, and unresolved UUID or unit support gaps
update_trigger	Update when reviewed Tiangong UUIDs, CPC or HS definitions, cottonseed trading rules, cotton linter grade evidence, process technology evidence, or reviewed mill datasets change the rule.

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
un-cpc-3-0	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0, code 03251 Cotton linters.	Product category identity and classification reference.
usda-ers-natural-fibers-2006	official_guidance	USDA Economic Research Service, Cotton Finds Markets Beyond Traditional Uses, natural-fibers report PDF, https://ers.usda.gov/media/11053/natural-fibers.pdf?v=48877	Definition of linters after ginning, delinting at cottonseed oil mills, cut categories, and cottonseed-linter production context.
usda-mrr56-cotton-linters	official_guidance	USDA Marketing Research Report No. 56, Cotton linters: production, marketing, and market outlets, https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/309970/files/mrr56.pdf	First-cut, second-cut, mill-run categories, grade groups, production and yield context.
cotton-inc-fiber-sourcing-2017	handbook	Cotton Incorporated, Fiber Sourcing Directory, https://www.cottoninc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Fiber-Sourcing-Directory.pdf	Delinting-machine route, first-cut and second-cut distinction, and downstream use examples.
ncpa-trading-rules-2013	standard	National Cottonseed Products Association, Trading Rules 2013-14, https://www.cottonseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2013-14-Trading-Rules-edited-for-web-site.pdf	Market definitions for mill-run, first-cut, second-cut, and chemical linters.
usda-ars-mechanical-delinter-2016	literature	Journal of Cotton Science, Development and Evaluation of a Novel Bench-Top Mechanical Cotton Seed Delinter, https://journal.cotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/JCS21-018.pdf	Mechanical delinting technology context and acid-delinting exclusion note.
iso-14044-2006	standard	ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines.	Functional-unit, allocation, data quality, and validation framing.