Oat milk

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to liquid plant beverages manufactured predominantly from oats (Avena spp.) and released as oat milk or oat drink. It covers plain and formulated products, including ambient-stable and refrigerated products, when the declared reference product is a finished oat beverage. The foreground production boundary includes ingredient receiving and preparation, aqueous extraction or slurry preparation, optional enzymatic treatment, separation, formulation, heat treatment, homogenisation, filling, cleaning, and factory release as applicable to the declared route.

Products made predominantly from another plant source, dairy milk and oat blends, fermented spoonable products, powdered beverage concentrates, infant formula, and food preparations in which oat beverage is only an ingredient are excluded. Agricultural oat production, production of purchased ingredients and packaging, distribution, retail, consumer use, and end-of-life are represented by linked upstream or downstream datasets when required by the study, rather than invented as foreground plant records.

This candidate PCR provides data-production rules. Its provisional screening ranges are not substitute data and shall be replaced by representative facility or supplier records for publication-critical modelling.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.beverages.oat-milk
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 24425 Oat milk
covered_products	Finished liquid beverages manufactured predominantly from oats, including plain, fortified, flavoured, ambient-stable, and refrigerated oat beverages
excluded_products	Dairy-containing milk blends; beverages predominantly made from other plants; fermented spoonable oat products; powdered concentrates; infant formula; downstream foods using oat beverage as an ingredient
representative_product	Packaged, heat-treated oat milk released by the manufacturing facility
production_route	Oat receiving or oat-ingredient preparation; water addition and extraction or slurry preparation; optional enzymatic conversion; separation; formulation; heat treatment; homogenisation; filling; cleaning; release
market_state	Finished liquid beverage, packaged for ambient or refrigerated distribution as declared

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Finished oat milk available as a liquid beverage or food ingredient
How much	1 kg of packaged oat milk at the manufacturing facility gate
How well	Meets the declared recipe, oat content, fortification, sensory and microbiological release specifications, heat-treatment route, packaging format, and storage condition
How long or cycle	At factory release; shelf life and storage regime are declared qualifiers, not a service-duration conversion
reference_flow_link	One kilogram of conforming packaged oat milk is the quantitative reference for normalising all included foreground flows

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Oat milk ad17fd2f-4977-4a51-b80b-f52061c153ec
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	oat share and oat ingredient form; recipe or product variant; solids or dry-matter basis where available; fortification and sweetener status; enzymatic treatment; heat-treatment route; homogenisation; packaging format and net fill; ambient or refrigerated storage; geography; production period

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers shall 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 oat milk and all normalised results	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report the net mass of conforming packaged product, excluding secondary and tertiary transport packaging; convert volume records using a measured or product-specific density and retain the density record.
ingredient_mass_basis	Oats, oat ingredients, additives, fortificants, oils, sweeteners, and processing aids	Mass	kg	Record received mass and declare wet, as-received, dry-matter, or active-substance basis where the distinction changes interpretation; do not mix bases without an explicit conversion.
water_mass_equivalence	Process and cleaning water	Mass or volume	kg or m3	Preserve measured volume where collected; if converted to mass, use the measured operating density or a disclosed water-density convention and retain the conversion.
energy_carrier_separation	Electricity, thermal energy, and fuels	Energy	kWh, MJ, or carrier-specific mass/volume	Keep purchased electricity, recovered heat, steam, and individual fuels as separate records. Convert units explicitly and do not combine energy carriers before linking their upstream datasets.
packaging_net_basis	Primary packaging and closures	Mass and count	kg and item	Derive packaging mass from issued or purchased mass, or from counted units multiplied by verified component mass; distinguish product net mass from packaging mass.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Purchased oats or oat ingredient, formulation materials, primary packaging, water, and utilities are received at the oat-milk manufacturing facility boundary
starting_condition_role	Foreground collection begins with facility-controlled receiving and processing; upstream agricultural and purchased-material burdens are linked through separate datasets
product_classification_scope	Finished oat beverages corresponding to CPC 3.0 code 24425, subject to the semantic inclusions and exclusions in this PCR
recursive_input_rule	If oat milk or an oat-milk intermediate within the same category enters the foreground system, record it once as a product input with its upstream dataset and declared processing stage; do not recursively recreate its production inside the receiving process
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link representative datasets for oats or oat ingredients, additives, fortificants, oils, sweeteners, packaging, water, electricity, fuels, heat, and externally treated wastes when included in the study boundary
disclosure	Declare the oat ingredient form and origin, foreground facility and period, recipe variant, included unit operations, co-product and waste status, allocation choice, packaging format, storage regime, excluded stages, and all upstream dataset substitutions

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
sb_foreground_minimum	Facility foreground boundary	Include all facility-controlled operations from receipt of oat ingredients and other inputs through extraction or slurry preparation, formulation, heat treatment, filling, cleaning, and release when they occur for the declared product.	eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019; epd-international-pcr-2025-03
sb_upstream_links	Complete cradle-to-gate model	Represent purchased oats, ingredients, packaging, and energy carriers with disclosed upstream datasets; do not treat their arrival at the plant as burden-free.	eu-pef-2021-2279; epd-international-pcr-2025-03
sb_route_specificity	Route-dependent operations	Include optional enzymatic treatment, dehulling or milling, chilled storage, aseptic treatment, and external treatment only when they occur or are required by the declared route; identify exclusions explicitly.	eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019
sb_downstream_scope	Distribution, retail, use, and end-of-life	Exclude downstream stages from the default plant-gate foreground package; add them as explicit downstream scenarios when the study goal or applicable declaration programme requires them.	eu-pef-2021-2279; epd-international-pcr-2025-03

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
prepare_oat_slurry	Oat receiving and slurry preparation	required	Always included; combine receiving, cleaning, milling, soaking, and enzymatic steps only when records cannot be separated and disclose the aggregation	Foreground ingredient preparation and aqueous extraction feed preparation	kg slurry or prepared extract transferred to separation per production period
separate_and_formulate	Separation and formulation	required	Always included; separation may be integral to extraction but its yields and residue fate remain separately reported	Foreground solids separation and recipe formulation	kg formulated oat base transferred to final treatment
treat_fill_release	Heat treatment, homogenisation, filling, and release	required	Always included; declare pasteurised, UHT, aseptic, or other validated treatment route and the actual packaging format	Foreground final manufacture and quantitative reference production	kg conforming packaged oat milk released
cleaning_and_utilities	Cleaning-in-place and shared utilities	required	Include facility cleaning and shared utility consumption allocated to the represented product period; disclose any utility records embedded in other processes	Foreground hygiene and shared plant services	production period serving the represented oat-milk output

Process: Oat receiving and slurry preparation (prepare_oat_slurry)

Inputs

Product flows

Oat grain, flakes, flour, or concentrate (oat_ingredient_input)

Record the mass of the actual oat-derived ingredient entering the foreground process and declare its form, moisture or dry-matter basis, origin, and upstream dataset.

• Selected flow: Oat ingredient (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: mass received into the represented production period, net of documented returns
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_materials_and_packaging
• Range: Provisional oat-input screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.03
  • Upper: 0.50
  • Unit: kg oat ingredient/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad formulation and yield screen across dilute drinks and concentrated oat ingredients; replace with recipe and receiving records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Process water for slurry preparation (slurry_water_input)

Record water added to the product stream during soaking, grinding, extraction, enzyme treatment, or dilution. Keep cleaning water in cleaning_and_utilities.

• Selected flow: Process water (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or metered water delivered to product-contact preparation steps
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional product-contact water screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.3
  • Upper: 3.0
  • Unit: kg water/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen including water retained in product and preparation losses; replace with recipe and meter records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Enzymes and preparation aids (preparation_aids_input)

Record enzymes, pH-control agents, and other aids that are actually used; omit absent aids and declare whether they remain in product, leave with residues, or enter wastewater.

• Selected flow: Enzyme or processing aid, route-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued quantity minus documented return, by product-contact preparation step
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_materials_and_packaging

Preparation electricity (preparation_electricity_input)

Record metered or allocated electricity for receiving, conveying, milling, mixing, pumping, and enzyme-treatment controls.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied at facility (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered use or documented allocation from a facility meter
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional preparation-electricity screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kWh/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: deliberately broad first-pass facility screen; replace with submeter or allocation records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared oat slurry or extract (prepared_oat_slurry_output)

Record the transferred intermediate as a calculated internal product flow so that preparation yield and transfers reconcile with the next process.

• Selected flow: Prepared oat slurry or extract, internal intermediate (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass or tank-volume change converted with product-specific density
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per production-period output from slurry preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_and_intermediate_yield

Waste flows

Receiving and preparation rejects (preparation_rejects_output)

Record screenings, foreign material, spills, and rejected oat material leaving preparation as waste unless a documented product or co-product use applies.

• Selected flow: Organic preparation rejects (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured waste container mass or calculated difference supported by inventory records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_waste_and_wastewater
• Range: Provisional preparation-reject screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.20
  • Unit: kg/kg oat ingredient received
  • Basis: broad first-pass reject fraction; replace with receiving and waste records
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Separation and formulation (separate_and_formulate)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared oat slurry or extract (prepared_oat_slurry_input)

Record the internal intermediate transferred from slurry preparation on the same mass and period basis.

• Selected flow: Prepared oat slurry or extract, internal intermediate (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched transfer from prepared_oat_slurry_output
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per production-period formulated oat-base output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_and_intermediate_yield

Formulation ingredients (formulation_ingredients_input)

Record oils, sweeteners, salt, flavours, stabilisers, minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients actually added to the recipe as separate supplier flows where material or environmentally relevant.

• Selected flow: Formulation ingredient, product-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued quantity minus return for each ingredient and recipe variant
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_materials_and_packaging

Separation and formulation electricity (separation_electricity_input)

Record electricity for screens, centrifuges, decanters, pumps, blending, cooling, and formulation controls.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied at facility (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered use or documented allocation from a facility meter
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional separation-electricity screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kWh/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: deliberately broad first-pass facility screen; replace with submeter or allocation records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Formulated oat base (formulated_oat_base_output)

Record the formulated liquid transferred to final heat treatment on the same production-period mass basis.

• Selected flow: Formulated oat base, internal intermediate (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass or tank-volume change converted with product-specific density
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per production-period output from formulation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_and_intermediate_yield

Separated oat solids for beneficial use (oat_solids_coproduct_output)

Record separated oat solids as a product output only when the facility controls a documented beneficial use or sale and the material meets the receiving specification; otherwise record the material as waste.

• Selected flow: Separated oat solids (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wet mass plus measured or representative dry-matter fraction for the declared period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_waste_and_wastewater
• Range: Provisional separated-solids screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kg wet solids/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: deliberately broad wet-mass screen sensitive to oat input, extraction yield, and dewatering; replace with residue weighing and dry-matter tests
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Separated oat solids managed as waste (oat_solids_waste_output)

Use this row instead of oat_solids_coproduct_output when the separated material has no documented product destination or fails the receiving specification; link the actual treatment route.

• Selected flow: Oat solids waste (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured wet mass and declared dry-matter fraction sent to each waste treatment route
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_waste_and_wastewater
• Range: Provisional oat-solids-waste screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 1.0
  • Unit: kg wet solids/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: use only when solids are waste; replace with residue weighing and dry-matter tests
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Heat treatment, homogenisation, filling, and release (treat_fill_release)

Inputs

Product flows

Formulated oat base (formulated_oat_base_input)

Record the internal formulated base transferred from formulation and reconcile it to final product, losses, and stock change.

• Selected flow: Formulated oat base, internal intermediate (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: matched transfer from formulated_oat_base_output
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per production-period released oat milk
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_and_intermediate_yield

Thermal energy for product treatment (thermal_energy_input)

Record steam, hot water, direct fuel, or other heat supplied for product treatment, including heat recovery as a separate disclosed credit or internal transfer rather than netting it invisibly.

• Selected flow: Thermal energy carrier, route-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered carrier use or calculated heat use from measured carrier quantity and documented conversion efficiency
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional thermal-energy screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 10
  • Unit: MJ/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen across pasteurisation, UHT, losses, and heat recovery; replace with meter and fuel records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Final-treatment and filling electricity (final_electricity_input)

Record electricity for homogenisation, pumping, cooling, sterilisation auxiliaries, filling, coding, conveying, and release controls.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied at facility (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: submetered use or documented allocation from a facility meter
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional final-electricity screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1.5
  • Unit: kWh/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: deliberately broad first-pass facility screen; replace with submeter or allocation records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Primary packaging and closures (primary_packaging_input)

Record each primary package, closure, label, seal, and directly product-associated component by material and actual mass. Secondary and tertiary packaging are separate flows when included by the study.

• Selected flow: Primary packaging component, material-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued packaging mass or component count multiplied by verified component mass, net of returned stock
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_materials_and_packaging
• Range: Provisional primary-packaging screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.005
  • Upper: 0.30
  • Unit: kg packaging/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen across cartons, bottles, pouches, closures, and fill sizes; replace with bill-of-material and component-mass records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Conforming packaged oat milk (oat_milk_reference_output)

Record only released product meeting the declared quality specification as the quantitative reference output.

• Selected flow: Oat milk ad17fd2f-4977-4a51-b80b-f52061c153ec
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: 1 kg reference output after normalising released net product mass
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Not applicable (not_applicable)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)

Waste flows

Off-spec product and filling losses (offspec_product_waste_output)

Record oat beverage that is not released, including start-up, changeover, filling, sampling, spill, and rejected-package contents, net of documented rework into the same represented product period.

• Selected flow: Off-spec oat beverage waste (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured rejected mass plus package-content mass from rejected units, minus documented same-period rework
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_and_intermediate_yield
• Range: Provisional product-loss screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.30
  • Unit: kg/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen for start-up and reject losses; replace with production and rejection records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Packaging scrap (packaging_scrap_output)

Record unused, damaged, trim, and rejected packaging by material and treatment route; do not include packaging that leaves with conforming product.

• Selected flow: Packaging scrap, material-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured scrap mass or issued mass minus packed-product packaging mass and returned stock
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_materials_and_packaging
• Range: Provisional packaging-scrap screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.10
  • Unit: kg scrap/kg packaging issued
  • Basis: broad first-pass packaging loss fraction; replace with stock and scrap records
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Cleaning-in-place and shared utilities (cleaning_and_utilities)

Inputs

Product flows

Cleaning and sanitation water (cleaning_water_input)

Record water used for cleaning-in-place, rinsing, sanitation, and product-contact cleaning separately from water incorporated into product.

• Selected flow: Process water (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered cleaning water or recipe-based cycle volume multiplied by verified cycle count
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_records
• Range: Provisional cleaning-water screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 10
  • Unit: kg water/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen across plant scale and cleaning regime; replace with meter or validated cycle records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Cleaning and sanitation chemicals (cleaning_chemicals_input)

Record formulated cleaning chemicals or active substances consistently, including concentration and dilution basis, and keep incompatible chemical types separate.

• Selected flow: Cleaning chemical, product-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: issued formulated-product mass or calculated active mass from concentration and dosing records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_records

Shared utility energy (shared_utility_energy_input)

Record electricity and thermal energy for cleaning, compressed air, refrigeration, boilers, and other shared services not already assigned to production processes; retain carriers as separate inventory flows.

• Selected flow: Shared utility energy carrier (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh or MJ
• Amount rule: submetered use or documented allocation from shared facility meters
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy
• Range: Provisional shared-energy screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 5.0
  • Unit: MJ or kWh, carrier preserved/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: deliberately broad first-pass screen; replace with submeter and allocation records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Process and cleaning wastewater (wastewater_output)

Record wastewater leaving the facility or entering on-site treatment, including the measured quantity and route; separately record material pollution indicators when measured and required by the study.

• Selected flow: Wastewater, route-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass or volume / kg or m3
• Amount rule: effluent meter reading or water-balance calculation, separated by treatment route where possible
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_residue_waste_and_wastewater
• Range: Provisional wastewater screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 12
  • Unit: kg wastewater/kg packaged oat milk
  • Basis: broad first-pass screen covering process loss and cleaning water; replace with effluent meter or water-balance records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Direct refrigerant emissions (refrigerant_emissions_output)

Record direct refrigerant losses to air when refrigeration or cooling equipment is within the foreground boundary. Keep the refrigerant substance and replenishment basis explicit.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant emission to air, substance-specific (Tiangong UUID unresolved)
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: annual or campaign refrigerant additions plus documented losses allocated to the represented production period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg conforming packaged oat milk released
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_water_and_energy

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
al_avoid_first	Multi-output and shared processes	Avoid allocation first by separately metering or subdividing oat-milk operations, recipes, packaging lines, cleaning cycles, and utilities whenever the records support it.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021-2279
al_residue_status	Separated oat solids	Classify separated solids as product/co-product only when a documented beneficial destination and receiving specification exist; otherwise model them as waste with the actual treatment route. Do not record the same mass in both rows.	iso-14044-2006; mass-balance-identity
al_physical_basis	Unavoidable co-product allocation	When subdivision cannot resolve shared burdens and the applicable study or programme does not prescribe another method, use a documented physical relationship that reflects the process, such as dry-matter mass for oat milk and separated solids. Record wet mass, dry-matter measurements, formula, and allocation fractions; fractions shall sum to one.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021-2279
al_economic_exception	Co-products lacking a defensible physical relationship	Use economic allocation only when a physical relationship is not defensible or an applicable programme requires it. Use a representative price period, identify price basis and currency, disclose volatility, and test sensitivity.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021-2279
al_recycling_substitution	Avoided-product or substitution claims	Do not apply substitution or avoided-burden credit unless required by the declared study method. Identify the substituted function, dataset, displacement ratio, and sensitivity separately from the foreground inventory.	eu-pef-2021-2279

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_materials_and_packaging	prepare_oat_slurry; separate_and_formulate; treat_fill_release	Oat ingredients, formulation materials, processing aids, and packaging	receiving, issue, return, recipe, bill-of-material, and stock records	material id; supplier; lot; received mass; issued mass; returned mass; moisture or concentration; package count; component mass; recipe variant	calibrated receiving or line scales, inventory system, supplier certificate, and verified bill of material	kg; item; mass fraction	each delivery and production issue; aggregate monthly	continuous 12 months or a declared representative campaign	representative facility and declared product variants	reconcile opening stock + receipts - closing stock - returns to issued or consumed mass; normalise by released net product mass	calibration records; stock reconciliation; supplier specifications; approved recipe and bill of material
cp_water_and_energy	all processes	Process water, electricity, heat, fuel, refrigeration, and shared utilities	meter, submeter, invoice, fuel receipt, and operating-hour records	meter id; opening and closing reading; unit; carrier; process or line; operating period; production period; allocation driver; heat-recovery transfer	calibrated meter or submeter preferred; otherwise documented engineering allocation from facility totals	kg; m3; kWh; MJ; carrier-specific unit	continuous or each batch where available; aggregate monthly	continuous 12 months or a declared representative campaign	represented production lines plus disclosed shared services	subtract documented non-production use and double-counted submeters; allocate shared totals using a causal driver; preserve carrier identity	meter calibration or verification; invoice reconciliation; allocation worksheet; operating log
cp_product_and_intermediate_yield	prepare_oat_slurry; separate_and_formulate; treat_fill_release	Intermediate transfers, final product, rework, rejects, and stock change	tank, flowmeter, filling-counter, weighbridge, release, rejection, and inventory records	batch id; start and end tank mass or volume; density; transfer mass; filled count; net fill; released mass; rejected mass; rework mass; stock change	calibrated tank or flow measurement and released-package reconciliation	kg; L with density conversion; item	each batch or campaign; aggregate by product variant and month	continuous 12 months or a declared representative campaign	represented process train and declared product variants	reconcile matched transfers and normalise only by conforming released net product mass	calibration; release certificate; density measurement; filling-control check; batch reconciliation
cp_residue_waste_and_wastewater	all processes	Oat solids, rejects, waste, and wastewater	container scale, weighbridge, dry-matter test, effluent meter, manifest, and treatment invoice	material type; wet mass; dry-matter fraction; destination; product or waste status; treatment route; effluent volume; sampling result; period	weigh each shipment or container; meter effluent; sample according to facility plan	kg wet; kg dry matter; m3; concentration unit	each shipment and continuous or batch effluent reading; aggregate monthly	continuous 12 months or a declared representative campaign	all represented waste and co-product destinations	separate product outputs from waste; convert wet to dry mass when used for allocation; reconcile waste shipments and effluent totals	scale or meter calibration; laboratory result; receiving specification; transfer note; treatment manifest
cp_cleaning_records	cleaning_and_utilities	Cleaning water, chemicals, cycles, and sanitation energy	cleaning-in-place recipe, dosing, cycle counter, water meter, chemical issue, and temperature-time log	circuit; cycle type; cycle count; water volume; chemical product; concentration; dose; temperature; duration; product line served	automated cleaning log and submeter preferred; otherwise validated recipe multiplied by cycle count	kg; m3; L; mass fraction; cycle; kWh; MJ	every cleaning cycle; aggregate monthly	continuous 12 months or a declared representative campaign	circuits and shared systems serving represented oat-milk production	assign dedicated cycles directly; allocate shared cycles by causal driver such as cleaned circuit time or product-contact volume	validated cleaning recipe; dosing calibration; sanitation verification; meter record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
cr_reference_normalisation	Every inventory amount	normalised amount = amount attributable to represented product / kg conforming packaged oat milk released	attributable flow amount; released net product mass	flow amount per 1 kg reference flow	mass-balance-identity; epd-international-pcr-2025-03
cr_volume_to_mass	Product and water volume records	mass = measured volume x measured or disclosed density at the recorded condition	volume; density; temperature or measurement condition	kg material	mass-balance-identity
cr_packaging_mass	Count-based packaging records	packaging mass = component count x verified mass per component; reconcile to issued mass and scrap	component count; component mass; issued mass; returned stock; scrap	kg packaging by material	mass-balance-identity
cr_dry_matter	Oat ingredients and separated solids	dry-matter mass = wet mass x measured dry-matter fraction	wet mass; dry-matter fraction	kg dry matter	mass-balance-identity
cr_mass_balance	Each process and represented period	residual = total mass inputs + opening stock - product outputs - co-product outputs - waste outputs - measured elementary mass outputs - closing stock; investigate and disclose material residuals without forcing them into an invented flow	all measured mass flows; opening and closing stock	mass-balance residual and reconciliation note	mass-balance-identity
cr_coproduct_fraction	Unavoidable physical allocation	allocation fraction for output i = selected physical quantity of output i / sum of the selected physical quantity for all co-products; use the same wet- or dry-matter basis for all outputs	output quantities on common physical basis	allocation fractions summing to 1	iso-14044-2006; mass-balance-identity

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	Reference product and recipe	Retain product specification, recipe or bill of material, oat ingredient form, process route, net fill, packaging, release status, and required qualifiers sufficient to distinguish the represented oat milk from excluded products.	approved product specification; recipe; batch and release records
dq_temporal	Foreground data period	Use a continuous 12-month period when representative annual production exists; a shorter campaign is acceptable only when seasonality, start-up, cleaning, product mix, and downtime are represented or their exclusion is disclosed.	dated meter, production, purchasing, cleaning, waste, and release records; representativeness rationale
dq_technology	Process and utility records	Match extraction, separation, enzyme, heat-treatment, homogenisation, filling, cleaning, and refrigeration technologies to the declared route; disclose aggregated or proxy operations.	equipment list; process flow diagram; operating log; allocation worksheet
dq_geography	Upstream and utility datasets	Use datasets matching the declared sourcing and production geography where material; disclose substitutions and their likely direction of bias.	supplier origin; facility location; electricity and fuel contract; dataset metadata
dq_completeness	Mass, water, energy, packaging, residues, waste, and direct emissions	Include all material flows in collection protocols and reconcile product, co-product, waste, water, and energy records. Explain missing records, zero values, and mass-balance residuals.	completeness checklist; mass and water balance; invoice-to-meter reconciliation; waste manifests
dq_precision	Measured and calculated values	Preserve raw readings, units, density or dry-matter conversions, calibration state, aggregation formulas, and allocation fractions so the normalised value can be reproduced.	source records; calibration evidence; calculation workbook or machine-readable transformation
dq_provisional_ranges	Every reasoned_estimate range	Treat the range only as a review and QA screen. Do not substitute its midpoint or bound for a missing foreground value without an explicit scenario decision, and replace it with reviewed evidence before publication-critical use.	range provenance flag; replacement or exception review record

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
va_product_identity	Product metadata	Fail identity validation when the product is not predominantly oat-based, contains dairy milk as a blended base, is not a finished liquid beverage, or lacks the required product and route qualifiers.	cpc-3-24425; eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019
va_reference_flow	Quantitative reference	Require exactly one reference output using Oat milk ad17fd2f-4977-4a51-b80b-f52061c153ec, Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, unit group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, and 1 kg after normalisation.
va_process_coverage	Process map and inventory	Require all four required processes or an explicit disclosed aggregation that preserves their inputs, outputs, yields, cleaning, and utility burdens without double counting.	eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019
va_transfer_reconciliation	Internal intermediates	Require prepared_oat_slurry_output to match prepared_oat_slurry_input and formulated_oat_base_output to match formulated_oat_base_input for the same period after documented stock changes and losses.	mass-balance-identity
va_mass_balance	Each foreground process	Calculate and report cr_mass_balance; investigate material residuals and do not close the balance by adding an unsupported emission, waste, or water flow.	mass-balance-identity
va_residue_exclusivity	Separated oat solids	Reject simultaneous reporting of the same separated-solids mass as both oat_solids_coproduct_output and oat_solids_waste_output; require destination, status, wet mass, and dry-matter evidence.	iso-14044-2006; mass-balance-identity
va_allocation	Multi-output and shared processes	Require documented avoidance effort, selected allocation rule, causal or physical basis, formulas, source records, and fractions summing to one; require sensitivity disclosure for economic allocation.	iso-14044-2006; eu-pef-2021-2279
va_range_use	Provisional ranges	Flag every reasoned_estimate as provisional and fail publication-critical validation if it has been used as a final foreground value without an accepted scenario or replacement evidence.
va_completeness	Dataset package	Require raw-record links or documented gaps for oat ingredients, formulation materials, process and cleaning water, electricity, thermal energy, packaging, product yield, residues, waste, wastewater, and direct refrigerant emissions where applicable.	eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019; eu-pef-2021-2279

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground oat-milk production dataset that may be published as a secondary_dataset or background_dataset after review, validation, and linkage of upstream datasets
downstream_use	Product carbon footprint, environmental footprint, EPD-supporting LCA, process datasets, and lifecyclemodel projections consistent with the declared boundary and programme rules
allowed_use	Facility- or route-specific modelling of packaged oat milk when product qualifiers, geography, period, upstream datasets, allocation, and data quality are visible
excluded_use	Unqualified comparison of nutrition or consumer function; representation of other plant beverages or dairy blends; substitution for missing foreground data using provisional ranges without scenario disclosure; claims outside the modelled boundary
required_metadata	canonical PCR id; product and recipe variant; oat ingredient form and origin; facility geography; production period; process route; heat treatment; packaging; storage regime; reference flow UUID and unit; included boundary; upstream datasets; co-product status; allocation method; collection protocols
required_quality_disclosure	temporal, geographical, technological, and product representativeness; measured versus allocated records; meter and scale coverage; mass-balance residuals; missing or proxy flows; provisional estimates; allocation sensitivity; external treatment routes
update_trigger	material recipe or oat-source change; new extraction, enzyme, separation, heat-treatment, filling, packaging, cleaning, energy, or waste technology; changed co-product destination or allocation; changed electricity or fuel supply; data older than the declared representativeness period; corrected UUID or source evidence

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
cpc-3-24425	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0, subclass 24425, Oat milk	Product-category identity and scope context
epd-international-pcr-2025-03	standard	EPD International, PCR 2025:03 Food and beverage products (main PCR), version 1.0.1, valid to 2030-07-14, https://www.environdec.com/pcr-library/pcr_fbd3e8c6-483c-48f5-d22f-08da0b49f7f5 (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Sector-level declared-unit and EPD modelling context; upstream and downstream boundary disclosure
eu-jrc-fdm-bref-2019	official_guidance	European Commission Joint Research Centre, Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Food, Drink and Milk Industries, JRC118627, 2019, https://bureau-industrial-transformation.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/food-drink-and-milk-industries (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Facility process coverage; water, energy, cleaning, waste, and emissions collection context
eu-pef-2021-2279	official_guidance	European Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279, Annex I: Product Environmental Footprint method, Official Journal L 471, 30 December 2021, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/2279/oj (retrieved 2026-08-11)	Life-cycle boundary, dataset quality, allocation, and disclosure rules
iso-14044-2006	standard	ISO 14044:2006, Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines, including Amendments 1:2017 and 2:2020	Allocation hierarchy, multi-output modelling, transparency, and sensitivity requirements
mass-balance-identity	method_factor	Conservation of mass applied through the calculation rules in this PCR	Transfer reconciliation, dry-matter conversion, packaging calculation, mass balance, and allocation-fraction QA