Almond milk

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to liquid, ready-to-drink almond-based beverages manufactured from almonds, an almond extract, almond butter, or another declared almond ingredient and placed on the market as almond milk, almond drink, or almond beverage. It covers plain and flavoured products, fortified and unfortified products, and refrigerated pasteurised or shelf-stable heat-treated products when almond is the characteristic plant source.

The foreground boundary starts with received almonds or a declared almond ingredient, process water, formulation ingredients, processing aids, cleaning materials, and packaging at the beverage plant. It includes almond preparation when performed on site, aqueous extraction or reconstitution, separation when used, formulation, homogenisation or other physical stabilisation, thermal treatment, cooling, filling, packaging, cleaning-in-place, and management of almond residue, off-specification beverage, packaging scrap, and wastewater at the plant gate. Upstream production of almonds, ingredients, energy, water, packaging, and treatment services is represented by linked upstream datasets unless it is part of the reporting organisation's foreground.

Animal milk, soy-, oat-, rice-, coconut-, or other non-almond beverages; multi-plant beverages in which almond is not the characteristic plant source; fermented spoonable products; infant formula; dry beverage powder; concentrated almond base sold for further formulation; almond oil; and raw or prepared almonds sold as food are excluded. Distribution, retail, consumer refrigeration, consumption, and packaging end-of-life are outside this foreground production boundary and may be added in a downstream life-cycle model.

The term “almond milk” in this PCR identifies the CPC product category and a plant-based beverage, not animal milk or a Codex milk product. Applicable market labelling rules and the declared formulation remain controlling for a concrete dataset. Product composition varies with plant input, processing route, fortification, and added ingredients, so the required qualifiers below are mandatory.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.beverages.almond-milk
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 24422 Almond milk
covered_products	Ready-to-drink almond-based beverages whose characteristic plant source is almond; plain or flavoured; fortified or unfortified; refrigerated or shelf-stable
excluded_products	Animal milk; non-almond plant beverages; non-characteristic almond blends; fermented spoonable products; infant formula; powders and concentrates for further formulation; almond oil; raw or prepared almonds
representative_product	Plain packaged almond-based beverage at the beverage manufacturing gate
production_route	Received almond material or almond ingredient; preparation and aqueous extraction or formulation; optional separation; formulation; homogenisation or equivalent stabilisation; pasteurisation, UHT, or another validated heat treatment; cooling; filling and packaging
market_state	Finished liquid beverage, packaged, refrigerated or shelf-stable as declared

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provision of a finished liquid almond-based beverage for beverage use
How much	1 kg net almond-based beverage
How well	Meets the declared recipe, food-safety treatment, packaging configuration, and market-state specification
How long or cycle	One production-batch output at the beverage plant gate; shelf life is declared but not modelled unless storage is included
reference_flow_link	One kilogram of packaged Almond milk output from beverage_finishing

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Almond milk c2d5b4f7-ef33-477e-8b8c-4114e05d3346
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	almond input form and almond content or dry-matter basis; complete formulation and fortification status; extraction or reconstitution route; separation method and residue fate; homogenisation or stabilisation route; thermal-treatment route and validated time-temperature condition; refrigerated or shelf-stable market state; packaging material and net fill; production geography and reference period

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 output	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report net beverage mass excluding the packaging mass; normalize every foreground amount to 1 kg net packaged beverage.
water_mass_consistency	Water incorporated into product and process water	Mass	kg	Record water incorporated into the beverage separately from cleaning, cooling, and other process water; convert volume records using a measured or documented density and retain the conversion basis.
almond_basis_disclosure	Almonds, almond butter, paste, extract, concentrate, or powder	Mass	kg	Record the purchased input form and wet or dry basis; do not compare or aggregate almond inputs across forms without a documented dry-matter or solids conversion.
energy_carrier_separation	Electricity, fuel, steam, and purchased heat	Energy	kWh or MJ	Preserve the metered carrier and unit; convert only with a documented factor and do not merge electricity and thermal energy before upstream datasets are linked.
packaging_net_mass	Primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging	Mass	kg	Report packaging mass separately from net beverage mass and identify packaging material and reusable or one-way status.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Almonds or a declared almond ingredient and all other formulation, utility, cleaning, and packaging inputs received at the beverage plant
starting_condition_role	Foreground manufacturing-gate input condition
product_classification_scope	CPC 3.0 code 24422 as classification context; canonical scope is the almond-based beverage definition in this PCR
recursive_input_rule	An almond-milk or almond-beverage intermediate purchased from another producer is recorded once as an upstream product input with its own supplier dataset; do not recursively recreate its manufacturing inventory inside this foreground process.
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link upstream datasets for almond material, other ingredients, water, energy carriers, packaging, transport to the plant, and external waste or wastewater treatment. Supplier-specific datasets are preferred when material.
disclosure	Declare received almond form and origin, formulation route, on-site preparation and separation, thermal-treatment route, residue status and destination, packaging configuration, included transport, and any excluded or externally operated process.

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_complete_foreground	Beverage plant foreground	Include all material and energy flows for preparation/formulation, stabilisation, thermal treatment, filling, packaging, cleaning, and on-site waste handling that occur inside the declared plant boundary.	eu-pef-2021; iso-14044-2006
boundary_no_silent_cutoff	Inventory completeness	Do not omit a known flow solely because no default amount is supplied; collect it, document a justified negligible-flow screen, or disclose the data gap.	eu-pef-2021
boundary_upstream_links	Purchased inputs and treatment services	Represent excluded upstream production and off-site treatment with linked datasets and disclose dataset geography, technology, and reference period.	eu-pef-2021; iso-14044-2006
boundary_route_disclosure	Product and process identity	Declare whether the beverage is made by direct almond extraction or by formulation from almond ingredients and whether it is pasteurised, UHT-treated, or otherwise stabilised.	fda-pbma-guidance-2023; redan-2024-almond-beverage-htst

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
almond_base_preparation	Almond preparation, extraction, and formulation	required	Always; individual operations are conditional on received almond form and declared recipe	Foreground raw-material preparation and beverage formulation	kg formulated almond beverage transferred to finishing
beverage_finishing	Stabilisation, thermal treatment, filling, and packaging	required	Always; the validated technology and market state are route-specific	Foreground finishing and reference-product production	1 kg net packaged almond milk
cleaning_and_wastewater	Cleaning and wastewater management	required	Always for the wet-processing equipment in scope; external treatment remains an upstream service	Foreground hygiene utilities and wastewater transfer	kg net packaged almond milk

Process: Almond preparation, extraction, and formulation (almond_base_preparation)

This process covers inspection and preparation of received almonds when performed on site, aqueous extraction or use of a declared almond ingredient, optional separation, batching of formulation water, and addition of other recipe ingredients. The exact route is declared rather than inferred.

Inputs

Product flows

Almond material supplied to the beverage process (almond_material_input)

Record each received almond form separately, including whole or shelled almonds, almond butter or paste, almond extract, concentrate, or powder. Retain supplier, origin, moisture or solids basis, and lot identity.

• Selected flow: Almond material appropriate to the declared purchased form
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured received mass consumed by conforming batches, corrected for inventory change and returned material
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_almond_and_ingredient_records
• Sources: fda-pbma-guidance-2023
• Range: Provisional almond-input screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 0.50
  • Unit: kg/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad route- and formulation-dependent screening range; not a default recipe
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Formulation and preparation water (formulation_water)

Record water incorporated into the beverage separately from soaking, rinsing, and other preparation water so that the product water balance remains auditable.

• Selected flow: Water, process or potable quality as applicable
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered or batch-record water charged, separated by incorporated and non-incorporated use
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_wastewater_records
• Range: Provisional total preparation-water screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.50
  • Upper: 10.0
  • Unit: kg/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: incorporated water plus route-dependent soaking, rinsing, and preparation water
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Other formulation ingredients and processing aids (formulation_ingredients)

Record oils, sweeteners, salt, stabilisers, emulsifiers, flavours, vitamin and mineral premixes, and processing aids by material identity. Zero use is valid only when the recipe and batch record confirm absence.

• Selected flow: Recipe-specific ingredient or processing aid
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch issue less documented returns, grouped only when upstream datasets and functions are equivalent
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_almond_and_ingredient_records
• Sources: fda-pbma-guidance-2023; redan-2024-almond-beverage-htst

Electricity for preparation and formulation (preparation_electricity)

Record electricity for preparation, wet milling, pumping, separation, mixing, and transfer using submetered data or a documented allocation from a shared meter.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied to the site
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered electricity or calculated equipment load multiplied by operating time
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg formulated beverage transferred to finishing, then normalized to reference output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Range: Provisional preparation-electricity screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kWh/kg formulated beverage
  • Basis: broad first-pass screening range for preparation and formulation equipment
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Formulated almond beverage transferred to finishing (formulated_beverage_output)

Calculate the transferred beverage from calibrated vessel or flow measurements and reconcile it with batch inputs, retained material, samples, spills, and separated residue.

• Selected flow: Formulated almond beverage, intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass or volume converted with measured batch density
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per production batch
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Waste flows

Separated almond residue and preparation rejects (almond_residue)

Record wet residue, skins, screening rejects, and other almond-derived material separately by actual destination and whether it is a saleable co-product, animal-feed material, recovered material, or waste.

• Selected flow: Almond residue or preparation reject, destination-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dispatch or container mass, adjusted for inventory change and moisture basis
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_and_loss_records
• Range: Provisional residue screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kg wet residue/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: route-dependent wet residue and rejects; zero is possible for some reconstitution routes
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Stabilisation, thermal treatment, filling, and packaging (beverage_finishing)

This process covers homogenisation or equivalent stabilisation, a validated thermal treatment, cooling, product holding, filling, and packaging. The pilot-scale study supports the presence of formulation, homogenisation, and heat-treatment operations, but its formulation and operating conditions are not category-wide defaults.

Inputs

Product flows

Formulated beverage received from preparation (formulated_beverage_input)

Link this intermediate directly to formulated_beverage_output without duplicating the upstream almond and ingredient inventory.

• Selected flow: Formulated almond beverage, intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: equal to the measured transfer into finishing after documented holding loss
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_output_records

Electricity for stabilisation and filling (finishing_electricity)

Record electricity for homogenisation, pumping, heat-treatment auxiliaries, cooling, compressed air, filling, and packaging equipment.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied to the site
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered electricity or documented shared-meter allocation to the conforming product campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Range: Provisional finishing-electricity screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 2.0
  • Unit: kWh/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad first-pass screening range for stabilisation, cooling, filling, and packaging equipment
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Fuel, steam, or purchased heat for thermal treatment (thermal_energy)

Record the actual energy carrier used to heat the beverage and any attributable hot-water system losses inside the declared boundary.

• Selected flow: Route-specific fuel, steam, or purchased heat
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered carrier use or calculated useful heat and documented efficiency
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: redan-2024-almond-beverage-htst
• Range: Provisional thermal-energy screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 10.0
  • Unit: MJ/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad route-dependent screening range; zero applies only when all thermal energy is represented through electricity
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Packaging materials (packaging_materials)

Record primary container, closure, label, secondary grouping, and attributable tertiary packaging separately by material and recycled-content specification.

• Selected flow: Packaging material, material-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased or issued packaging less returns and inventory change, cross-checked against filled unit count and bill of materials
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Range: Provisional packaging-mass screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.005
  • Upper: 0.25
  • Unit: kg packaging/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad screening range spanning lightweight and heavy packaging configurations
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Packaged almond milk reference product (packaged_almond_milk)

This row is the quantitative reference. Net beverage mass excludes packaging and is reconciled to accepted filled units.

• Selected flow: Almond milk c2d5b4f7-ef33-477e-8b8c-4114e05d3346
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: PCR reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)

Waste flows

Off-specification beverage and filling loss (off_spec_beverage)

Record beverage not accepted as product by destination, including rework returned within the same batch system, recovered product, animal-feed use, wastewater discharge, or waste treatment.

• Selected flow: Off-specification almond beverage, destination-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured rejected, spilled, sampled, or drained mass net of documented in-process rework
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_and_loss_records
• Range: Provisional off-specification-loss screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.20
  • Unit: kg/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad campaign-level screening range before site evidence is available
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Packaging scrap (packaging_scrap)

Record damaged and unused packaging by material and destination; exclude packaging returned to usable inventory.

• Selected flow: Packaging waste, material-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured scrap mass or rejected unit count multiplied by verified component mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records

Elementary flows

Process: Cleaning and wastewater management (cleaning_and_wastewater)

This process covers water, chemicals, and energy for cleaning wet-processing equipment and transfer of wastewater from the foreground plant. External wastewater treatment is linked as a treatment service unless operated inside the declared foreground.

Inputs

Product flows

Cleaning and rinse water (cleaning_water)

Record cleaning-in-place, manual wash, and rinse water separately from formulation water and once-through cooling water.

• Selected flow: Water, process or potable quality as applicable
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered cleaning water or validated cleaning-cycle volume multiplied by completed cycle count
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_wastewater_records
• Range: Provisional cleaning-water screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 20.0
  • Unit: kg/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad first-pass range for batch and continuous cleaning configurations
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Cleaning agents (cleaning_agents)

Record alkali, acid, disinfectant, and other cleaning agents as supplied and retain concentration data needed to link the correct upstream dataset.

• Selected flow: Cleaning chemical, product-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued or dosed mass from chemical records and concentration settings
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_records
• Range: Provisional cleaning-agent screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.10
  • Unit: kg supplied chemical/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad site- and concentration-dependent screening range
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Process wastewater transferred to treatment (process_wastewater)

Record wastewater mass or volume and the receiving treatment route. Retain monitored pollutant data when available, including chemical oxygen demand, solids, pH, and nutrients relevant to the discharge permit or treatment model.

• Selected flow: Wastewater, treatment-route-specific
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: effluent meter reading or reconciled water balance, excluding separately measured uncontaminated cooling water
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net packaged almond milk
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_wastewater_records
• Range: Provisional wastewater screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 25.0
  • Unit: kg/kg net packaged beverage
  • Basis: broad screening range reconciled against non-incorporated water uses
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid_first	Shared operations and outputs	Avoid allocation first by process subdivision, separate metering, or expanding the data collection to preserve physical causality.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021
allocation_physical_then_economic	Unavoidable multifunctionality	When subdivision is not feasible, use a documented physical relationship that reflects causality; use economic allocation only when a defensible physical relationship cannot be established, and disclose prices, period, currency, and sensitivity.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021
allocation_residue_status	Almond residue and recovered off-specification product	Classify the output before allocation. Waste receives no co-product credit and carries its treatment; a saleable co-product receives the selected allocation only after its quantity, destination, and market status are evidenced.	eu-pef-2021
allocation_shared_utilities	Shared energy, water, cleaning, and packaging lines	Prefer submetered or cycle-specific use; otherwise allocate by documented equipment operating time, throughput, or another causal driver and report the driver.	eu-pef-2021

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_almond_and_ingredient_records	almond_base_preparation	Almond and recipe inputs	Purchase, receiving, inventory, and batch-issue records	material id; supplier; origin; lot; input form; moisture or solids basis; opening and closing inventory; issued mass; returned mass	Reconcile lot and batch records to calibrated scales	kg as supplied and kg dry matter when converted	Each batch; monthly reconciliation	At least 12 consecutive representative months when available; otherwise the declared production period	All included lines and products	Sum consumed mass equal to opening plus receipts minus closing, returns, and documented diversions; normalize to accepted output	Scale calibration; supplier specification; signed batch record; inventory reconciliation
cp_water_and_wastewater_records	almond_base_preparation; cleaning_and_wastewater	Formulation, preparation, cleaning water, and wastewater	Meter, batch, cleaning-cycle, and effluent records	meter start and end; batch charge; cycle volume; incorporated water; cooling water; effluent volume or mass; density; pollutant tests; destination	Read calibrated meters and reconcile with batch recipes and water balance	kg or m3 with documented density	Each batch or shift; monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as accepted product output, including seasonal and cleaning-cycle variation	All included water users and discharge points	Separate incorporated, evaporated, recirculated, and discharged water; normalize net use and effluent to accepted output	Meter calibration; recipe record; cleaning log; laboratory result; utility invoice reconciliation
cp_energy_records	almond_base_preparation; beverage_finishing; cleaning_and_wastewater	Electricity and thermal energy	Submeter, fuel, steam, purchased-heat, and equipment records	meter readings; carrier; energy unit; equipment load; run time; throughput; shared-meter allocation driver	Prefer submetering; otherwise calculate from verified load and time or allocate a reconciled shared meter	kWh or MJ by carrier	Each campaign or shift; monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period as accepted product output, including start-up, shutdown, and seasonal loads	All foreground equipment and utilities	Sum by carrier; subtract unrelated loads; allocate shared use with a causal driver; normalize to accepted output	Meter calibration; utility invoice; equipment specification; run log; allocation worksheet
cp_batch_output_records	almond_base_preparation; beverage_finishing	Intermediate transfer and accepted product	Vessel, flowmeter, density, filler, and quality-release records	batch id; transfer volume or mass; density; filled units; net fill; accepted units; samples; rework; hold and reject quantities	Measure transfer and accepted fill; convert volume with measured batch density	kg	Each batch	Every represented batch in the declared reporting period	All included production lines	Reconcile formulated transfer to accepted output, losses, samples, rework, and inventory change	Calibrated vessel or meter; density test; filler checks; release record; mass-balance sign-off
cp_packaging_records	beverage_finishing	Packaging inputs and scrap	Bill of materials, issue, unit-count, inventory, and scrap records	component id; material; mass per unit; recycled content; issued count or mass; accepted units; returned units; scrap; destination	Reconcile component issue and measured scrap against accepted filled units	kg	Each campaign; monthly reconciliation	Same reporting period and product-packaging configurations as accepted output	Primary, secondary, and attributable tertiary packaging	Calculate consumed mass by material and normalize to net beverage mass; keep reusable assets separate	Verified component mass; supplier specification; inventory record; scrap ticket
cp_residue_and_loss_records	almond_base_preparation; beverage_finishing	Almond residue, rejects, off-specification beverage, and packaging loss	Scale, dispatch, rework, waste-manifest, and destination records	material type; wet mass; dry-matter result when used; rework; destination; waste or co-product status; revenue if economic allocation is used	Weigh each material stream or verify container mass and collection frequency	kg wet and kg dry matter where relevant	Each batch or dispatch	Same reporting period as production, with dispatch timing and inventory change reconciled	All included loss and residue streams	Subtract internal rework; aggregate by destination and status; normalize to accepted output	Scale calibration; dispatch ticket; waste manifest; buyer record; dry-matter test
cp_cleaning_records	cleaning_and_wastewater	Cleaning agents and cleaning cycles	Chemical dosing, concentration, cycle, and inventory records	chemical id; supplied concentration; dose; cycle count; line; opening and closing inventory; returned chemical	Read dosing system or reconcile issued chemical to completed cycles	kg as supplied and kg active substance when converted	Each cleaning cycle; monthly reconciliation	Every cleaning cycle attributable to the declared production period	All included wet-processing and filling equipment	Sum by chemical; separate active-substance conversions; normalize to accepted output	Doser calibration; safety data sheet; concentration test; cleaning log; inventory reconciliation
cp_thermal_process_records	beverage_finishing	Food-safety and stabilisation route	Process-control and release records	treatment technology; inlet and outlet temperature; hold time; pressure; homogenisation settings; flow rate; cooling condition; deviations; disposition	Capture validated control-system records and retain deviation review	°C; s; bar; kg/h as applicable	Continuous or each batch	Every represented batch and deviation in the declared reporting period	Every included thermal-treatment and stabilisation line	Report route and approved operating window; do not average away excursions	Calibration; validation study; electronic process record; deviation and release approval

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	All foreground rows	normalized amount = attributable batch amount / accepted net packaged beverage mass	Attributable amount; accepted unit count; verified net fill or accepted mass	Amount per 1 kg net packaged almond milk	iso-14044-2006
calc_volume_to_mass	Water, beverage, and wastewater volume records	mass = measured volume multiplied by measured or documented density at the applicable temperature	Volume; density; temperature and conversion basis	kg	iso-14044-2006
calc_almond_dry_matter	Unlike almond input forms	dry-matter input = as-supplied mass multiplied by measured solids fraction	As-supplied mass; moisture or solids result	kg dry matter for comparability while retaining as-supplied mass
calc_mass_balance	Each batch and reporting period	input mass = accepted product + exported co-products + wastes and emissions + inventory change + documented mass-balance residual	Ingredient and water inputs; intermediate inventory; accepted output; residue; off-specification product; wastewater and measured losses	Reconciled mass-balance residual and completeness flag	eu-pef-2021
calc_shared_utility_allocation	Shared utilities	attributable utility = reconciled shared total multiplied by documented causal driver share	Shared total; equipment time, throughput, or cycle driver	Product-attributable utility by carrier	eu-pef-2021

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	Reference product and scope	Retain the recipe, label or product specification, almond input form, almond content or solids basis, fortification, treatment route, packaging, and market state for every represented product family.	Approved product specification; recipe; label; release record
dq_temporal_coverage	Foreground averages	Use at least 12 consecutive representative months when available; otherwise disclose the shorter period, seasonality, start-up or trial status, and why it represents the declared product.	Dated production, utility, procurement, and waste records
dq_meter_and_scale_control	Measured quantities	Use calibrated or verified meters and scales; record conversion factors, density, missing-data substitutions, and shared-meter allocation drivers.	Calibration certificates; meter logs; calculation workbook
dq_completeness	Inventory boundary	Account for all recipe inputs, major water and energy uses, packaging, accepted output, residue, off-specification product, wastewater, and known waste destinations; quantify or disclose every gap.	Completeness checklist; mass and water balances; waste manifests
dq_thermal_route	Stabilisation and thermal treatment	Retain validated process route and actual control records; disclose deviations and rejected or reworked product instead of substituting a generic pasteurisation or UHT assumption.	Validation study; electronic temperature-time record; deviation disposition
dq_upstream_representativeness	Linked datasets	Document supplier or database source, geography, technology, reference year, and any proxy for almonds, ingredients, utilities, packaging, transport, and treatment services.	Dataset metadata and proxy justification
dq_allocation_transparency	Multifunctional operations and co-products	Report subdivision attempts, allocation basis, factors, price period if used, residue status, and a sensitivity result when allocation materially affects outcomes.	Allocation worksheet; buyer or destination evidence; sensitivity result

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	Reference flow	The product flow UUID, Mass flow-property UUID, mass unit-group UUID, kg unit, and 1 kg net amount must match the reference-flow definition.
validate_required_qualifiers	Dataset metadata	Fail completeness when any required qualifier is missing or when plant source, treatment route, packaging, or market state is ambiguous.	fda-pbma-guidance-2023; codex-stan-206-1999
validate_process_coverage	Foreground inventory	Confirm that all three required process groups are represented and that omitted route-specific operations are explicitly not applicable rather than silently absent.	redan-2024-almond-beverage-htst; eu-pef-2021
validate_mass_balance	Batch and period inventory	Require a documented mass-balance residual and investigate material unexplained differences before the dataset is released.	eu-pef-2021
validate_water_separation	Water inventory	Confirm that incorporated, preparation, cleaning, cooling, recirculated, and discharged water are separated or that any aggregation is justified and non-duplicative.
validate_energy_carriers	Energy inventory	Confirm that electricity and each thermal-energy carrier are reported separately and converted with documented factors.	eu-pef-2021
validate_residue_allocation	Almond residue and off-specification output	Confirm destination and waste or co-product status before applying allocation or treatment; no unsubstantiated avoided-product credit is allowed.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021
validate_reasoned_estimates	Provisional ranges	Treat every reasoned_estimate range as a screening flag only; do not replace collected foreground values with its midpoint or publish it as an allowed range without review.
validate_data_quality_disclosure	Published dataset package	Confirm temporal, geographical, technological, completeness, meter-quality, proxy, allocation, and uncertainty disclosures and identify every skipped check.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground manufacturing dataset for packaged almond milk at the beverage plant gate
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset after review and publication
allowed_use	Product-system modelling in which the declared almond formulation, manufacturing route, geography, period, packaging, and market state are representative; comparison only after harmonising functional unit, boundary, allocation, and data quality
excluded_use	Nutritional equivalence claims; animal-milk substitution claims; unqualified extrapolation to other plant beverages, powders, concentrates, fermented products, or materially different extraction and treatment routes
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product and almond input identity; recipe or solids basis; fortification; extraction or reconstitution route; separation; homogenisation; thermal-treatment route; refrigeration or shelf-stable state; packaging; plant and geography; reference period; accepted output; upstream datasets; allocation; residue destinations
required_quality_disclosure	Record coverage and temporal representativeness; meter and scale status; mass- and water-balance residuals; route deviations; data gaps and substitutions; proxy datasets; allocation sensitivity; provisional reasoned-estimate ranges remaining in guidance
update_trigger	Material recipe, almond input form, plant or line, treatment technology, packaging, residue destination, allocation method, energy or water system, supplier geography, or evidence update; otherwise review at least every three years

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
eu-pef-2021	official_guidance	European Commission, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, Annex I Product Environmental Footprint Method. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021H2279 (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Life-cycle boundary, inventory completeness, multifunctionality, data-quality, reporting, and verification framework
iso-14044-2006	standard	ISO 14044:2006, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines, confirmed current in 2022. https://www.iso.org/standard/38498.html (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Goal and scope, inventory, allocation, interpretation, reporting, and review principles
fda-pbma-guidance-2023	official_guidance	U.S. FDA, Draft Guidance for Industry: Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements, February 2023, FDA-2023-D-0451. https://www.fda.gov/media/165420/download (retrieved 2026-08-11; draft, nonbinding)	Plant-based beverage identity, direct extraction and formulation routes, composition variability, ingredient and fortification disclosure
codex-stan-206-1999	standard	Codex Alimentarius, General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms, CODEX STAN 206-1999. https://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/332/CXS_206e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Distinction between animal milk or milk products and the plant-based beverage category
redan-2024-almond-beverage-htst	literature	Redan et al., Effect of pilot-scale high-temperature short-time processing on the retention of key micronutrients in a fortified almond-based beverage: implications for fortification of plant-based milk alternatives, Frontiers in Nutrition (2024), DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1468828	Almond-beverage formulation, homogenisation, thermal-treatment process decomposition, route disclosure, and process-record needs; experimental conditions are not category defaults