Cream, fresh

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to liquid fresh cream obtained by physical separation of milk, followed by fat standardization as needed, pasteurization or a validated equivalent heat treatment, optional homogenization, cooling, and filling. It supports foreground data packages for unpackaged or packaged fresh cream leaving a dairy processing facility under a declared refrigerated condition.

The covered product is a pourable fat-in-skimmed-milk emulsion whose milkfat content, milk species, heat treatment, and packaging state are declared. It excludes raw high-fat milk sold without separation; fermented, cultured, acidified, sweetened, flavoured, whipped, frozen, concentrated, dried, sterilized, or UHT cream; cream cheese; butter and anhydrous milkfat; and reconstituted or recombined cream. Those products require a separate product boundary or a documented broader study.

This PCR defines a dairy-processing foreground boundary. Dairy farming, raw-milk production, off-site energy and material production, packaging manufacture, distribution after the facility gate, retail, use, and end-of-life are represented by linked upstream or downstream datasets when included in the study, not duplicated inside the foreground processes below.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.dairy-products-and-egg-products.cream-fresh
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 22120, Cream, fresh
covered_products	Pourable fresh cream physically separated from milk; pasteurized or equivalently heat-treated; optionally fat-standardized and homogenized; packaged or bulk at dairy-facility gate
excluded_products	Raw high-fat milk; fermented, cultured, acidified, sweetened, flavoured, whipped, frozen, concentrated, dried, sterilized, or UHT cream; cream cheese; butter; anhydrous milkfat; reconstituted or recombined cream
representative_product	Refrigerated pasteurized fresh cream, physically separated from milk and filled at the dairy plant
production_route	Chilled raw-milk receiving; centrifugal separation and fat standardization; cream pasteurization; optional homogenization; cooling; filling; refrigerated storage; cleaning-in-place and wastewater dispatch
market_state	Finished liquid product, bulk or packaged, at dairy processing facility gate under declared refrigerated conditions

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Fresh liquid cream obtained by physical separation of milk and prepared for direct consumption or further food processing
How much	1 kg net fresh cream
How well	Meets the declared milk species, milkfat content, physical-separation route, heat-treatment validation, packaging state, and applicable food-safety specification
How long or cycle	One production batch represented at the dairy facility gate; declared shelf-life and cold-chain conditions are metadata, not additional product quantity
reference_flow_link	fresh_cream_at_plant

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Cream, fresh e58b11a6-5d86-40a3-bed6-e365a95d0981
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	milk species; milkfat content as mass percent; physical-separation route; heat-treatment type and validated time-temperature condition; homogenization status; bulk or packaging format; net product mass; facility location; production period; product exit temperature or refrigerated condition

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 fresh cream	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Report net product mass. Convert volume records to mass only with a lot- or product-specific measured density and retain the density, temperature, sampling method, and conversion record.
milkfat_mass_fraction	Raw milk, separated cream, skimmed milk co-product, and reference cream	Milkfat mass fraction	% by mass	Measure or obtain from verified compositional records for each representative batch or aggregation period; do not substitute a label category for a numeric mass fraction.
dry_matter_mass_fraction	Reference cream and every dairy co-product used in allocation	Dry matter mass fraction	% by mass	Use product-specific measured or verified formulation data for dry-matter allocation. A default may be used only as an exceptional, disclosed fallback and must not support a current PEF-conformity claim.
energy_preservation	Electricity and thermal energy	Energy	kWh and MJ	Preserve electricity and thermal energy separately. Convert units with explicit factors and do not combine heat and electricity before linking the corresponding background energy datasets.
water_volume	Process and cleaning water; wastewater	Volume	m3 or L	Preserve measured water and wastewater volumes by source and discharge route. Use 1 m3 = 1,000 L; do not infer wastewater mass from product mass without a measured or documented water balance.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Chilled raw milk accepted at the dairy processing facility gate with recorded mass, milk species, milkfat and dry-matter or total-solids information, receipt time, temperature, and supplier or upstream-dataset identity
starting_condition_role	Foreground initial product input; upstream dairy farming and raw-milk production are outside the foreground boundary
product_classification_scope	Fresh cream physically separated from milk and delivered as a refrigerated liquid product; excludes the product forms listed in Section 1
recursive_input_rule	If fresh cream from the same category enters as rework or transferred intermediate, record it as a distinct product input with quantity, composition, origin, and an upstream dataset; do not recursively recreate its prior production inside this PCR boundary
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link raw milk, transferred dairy intermediates, electricity, thermal energy carriers, water supply, cleaning agents, refrigerants, packaging materials, transport, and off-site treatment to geographically and temporally representative datasets when those activities are in study scope
disclosure	Declare facility location, production period, milk species, product milkfat and dry matter, heat-treatment and homogenization status, packaging state, cold-chain exit condition, included process modules, allocation method and factors, exclusions, data gaps, and every use of a provisional estimate

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_required_operations	Dairy processing foreground	Include raw-milk receiving and separation, cream standardization, heat treatment, cooling, filling, refrigerated on-site storage, cleaning, product losses, wastewater dispatch, and applicable direct refrigerant emissions. An operation may be reported as zero only with facility evidence that it did not occur.	dairy-pefcr-2025; epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines
boundary_upstream_separation	Raw milk and other incoming products	Stop foreground recursion at the declared facility-gate inputs and require linked upstream datasets; do not omit their upstream burdens from a cradle-to-gate or broader study.	dairy-pefcr-2025
boundary_heat_treatment	Fresh cream heat treatment	Include the actual validated time-temperature treatment and associated heating and cooling. For cream pasteurization, use at least 75 degrees C for 15 seconds or a validated equivalent appropriate to product composition and applicable law; retain the validation record.	codex-cxc-57-2004; eu-reg-853-2004
boundary_cold_chain	Intermediate and finished cream	Include on-site refrigeration until the declared facility-gate exit and record product temperature or equivalent refrigerated condition. Downstream refrigerated distribution is outside this foreground boundary unless explicitly added.	codex-cxc-57-2004
boundary_no_silent_cutoff	Foreground activity data	Collect the mandatory material, energy, water, chemical, refrigerant, co-product, wastewater, and direct-emission fields. Any omitted item must be shown immaterial and disclosed; a data gap is not a zero flow.	dairy-pefcr-2025

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
milk_receiving_and_separation	Raw-milk receiving, separation, and fat standardization	required	Always	Foreground separation producing cream and skimmed-milk co-product	Per measured kg of separated cream transferred to heat treatment
pasteurization_and_cooling	Cream pasteurization, optional homogenization, and cooling	required	Always; homogenization is included only when performed	Foreground microbiocidal treatment and refrigerated product preparation	Per measured kg of pasteurized cream transferred to filling
filling_and_cold_storage	Filling, packaging, and on-site refrigerated storage	required	Always; packaging input is zero only for documented bulk dispatch	Foreground finished-product preparation	Per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
cleaning_and_wastewater	Cleaning-in-place, sanitation, and wastewater dispatch	required	Always	Shared foreground support process allocated to the represented cream line	Per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate after allocation

Process: Raw-milk receiving, separation, and fat standardization (milk_receiving_and_separation)

Inputs

Product flows

Accepted raw milk (raw_milk_input)

Raw milk crosses the facility gate and supplies the milkfat and non-fat solids separated into cream and co-products.

• Selected flow: Raw milk
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted raw-milk mass attributable to the represented production period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_milk_and_composition
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional raw-milk input screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: kg raw milk
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending reviewed plant evidence
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Separator and transfer electricity (separation_electricity)

Electricity used by receiving pumps, storage agitation, separation, standardization, and transfers is recorded separately from thermal energy.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied to dairy processing
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered electricity or calculated share from equipment power and operating time
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of separated cream transferred to heat treatment
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional separation-electricity screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg of separated cream; broad authoring screen pending reviewed metering
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Separated cream transferred to heat treatment (separated_cream_intermediate)

The intermediate cream output is measured or calculated from calibrated tank and composition records before heat treatment.

• Selected flow: Cream, separated intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred mass, reconciled with milkfat and total-mass balances
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: mass-balance-identity
• Range: Provisional intermediate-to-finished mass screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.2
  • Unit: kg separated cream
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; includes downstream product losses
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Skimmed-milk co-product (skimmed_milk_coproduct)

Skimmed milk leaving separation is a co-product, not a negative raw-milk input or unreported avoided product.

• Selected flow: Skimmed milk, at separator
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured co-product mass with measured dry matter or total solids
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional co-product mass screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: kg skimmed milk
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending product-specific milkfat balance
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Separation rejects and dairy product loss (separation_product_loss)

Separator sludge, off-spec dairy material, spills, and unrecovered start-up or change-over product are recorded by destination.

• Selected flow: Dairy processing residue or product loss
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured or mass-balance-calculated loss sent to recovery, feed, wastewater treatment, or disposal
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of separated cream
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines; mass-balance-identity
• Range: Provisional separation-loss screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg dairy material
  • Basis: per kg of separated cream; broad authoring screen pending reviewed plant balance
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Cream pasteurization, optional homogenization, and cooling (pasteurization_and_cooling)

Inputs

Product flows

Separated cream input (cream_to_pasteurizer)

The separated cream transferred from the prior foreground process is reconciled by batch or production period.

• Selected flow: Cream, separated intermediate
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: transferred mass from separated_cream_intermediate
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: mass-balance-identity
• Range: Provisional pasteurizer-input screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.1
  • Unit: kg separated cream
  • Basis: per kg of pasteurized cream output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Thermal energy for pasteurization and hot-water service (pasteurization_heat)

Fuel or purchased heat used for cream heat treatment and attributable hot-water service is recorded by carrier before conversion to MJ.

• Selected flow: Thermal energy, supplied to dairy processing
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered fuel or heat multiplied by documented net calorific value and allocated to the represented process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; codex-cxc-57-2004
• Range: Provisional pasteurization-heat screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.01
  • Upper: 5
  • Unit: MJ
  • Basis: per kg of pasteurized cream output; broad authoring screen pending reviewed heat metering
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Pasteurizer, homogenizer, and cooling electricity (thermal_process_electricity)

Electricity for heat-exchange pumping, optional homogenization, chilling, and transfers is recorded by equipment or allocation period.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied to dairy processing
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered electricity or calculated equipment-power-by-runtime use
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional thermal-process electricity screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per kg of pasteurized cream output; broad authoring screen pending reviewed metering
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Pasteurized and cooled cream (pasteurized_cream_output)

Cream output is accepted only when the batch heat-treatment record and product specification meet the declared control criteria.

• Selected flow: Cream, pasteurized and cooled
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted mass transferred to filling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_and_product_release
• Sources: codex-cxc-57-2004; eu-reg-853-2004
• Range: Pasteurizer output-reference check
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg pasteurized cream
  • Basis: per kg of measured pasteurized cream output
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
  • Sources: mass-balance-identity

Waste flows

Pasteurizer start-up, shut-down, and off-spec loss (pasteurization_product_loss)

Rejected or unrecovered cream from thermal-process start-up, shut-down, change-over, or failed release is recorded by destination.

• Selected flow: Dairy processing residue or product loss
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured rejected mass or difference in the reconciled cream balance
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines; mass-balance-identity
• Range: Provisional pasteurization-loss screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg dairy material
  • Basis: per kg of pasteurized cream output; broad authoring screen pending reviewed plant balance
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Refrigerant released from attributable cooling equipment (cooling_refrigerant_emission)

Record actual refrigerant type and calculated leakage from inventory reconciliation for equipment serving the represented line or storage zone.

• Selected flow: Refrigerant, emitted to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening inventory plus additions minus closing inventory and documented recovery, allocated to the represented cream line
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per measured kg of pasteurized cream output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_refrigerant_inventory
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional refrigerant-leakage screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.02
  • Unit: kg refrigerant
  • Basis: per kg of pasteurized cream output; intentionally broad authoring screen pending equipment-specific inventory
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Process: Filling, packaging, and on-site refrigerated storage (filling_and_cold_storage)

Inputs

Product flows

Pasteurized cream transferred to filling (cream_to_filling)

Accepted pasteurized cream enters the filling system and is reconciled with net filled product and filling losses.

• Selected flow: Cream, pasteurized and cooled
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred mass from pasteurized_cream_output
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_product_coproduct_and_loss
• Sources: mass-balance-identity
• Range: Provisional filling-input screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1.1
  • Unit: kg pasteurized cream
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging (packaging_materials)

Packaging is recorded by material, component, recycled content where known, and net mass. Bulk dispatch records zero primary packaging with the bulk-container arrangement disclosed.

• Selected flow: Packaging materials, by material
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: bill-of-material mass attributable to accepted filled product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_and_finished_product
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional packaging-mass screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.3
  • Unit: kg packaging
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; zero allowed only for documented bulk dispatch
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Filling and cold-storage electricity (filling_storage_electricity)

Electricity for filling, packaging, cold-room operation, and local warehouse storage through facility-gate exit is recorded.

• Selected flow: Electricity, supplied to dairy processing
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered use or documented allocation of line and cold-store electricity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_energy_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; codex-cxc-57-2004
• Range: Provisional filling-and-storage electricity screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.001
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kWh
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending reviewed metering and storage duration
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Fresh cream at dairy facility gate (fresh_cream_at_plant)

This is the reference product after acceptance of net mass, composition, heat treatment, packaging state, and refrigerated exit condition.

• Selected flow: Cream, fresh e58b11a6-5d86-40a3-bed6-e365a95d0981
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: fixed reference output of 1 kg net fresh cream
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: reference flow
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Collection protocol:
• Sources: codex-cxs-288-1976
• Range: Reference-flow identity check
  • Range role: Allowed range (allowed_range)
  • Lower: 1
  • Upper: 1
  • Unit: kg net fresh cream
  • Basis: per declared reference flow
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Method formula (method_formula)
  • Sources: mass-balance-identity

Waste flows

Filling loss and rejected packaging (filling_and_packaging_waste)

Record dairy product loss and rejected packaging as separate waste materials and preserve their recovery, treatment, or disposal routes.

• Selected flow: Filling and packaging waste, by material
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: measured reject mass by dairy and packaging material category
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_and_finished_product
• Sources: epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines
• Range: Provisional filling-and-packaging waste screen
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.1
  • Unit: kg waste
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; report dairy and packaging fractions separately
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Cleaning-in-place, sanitation, and wastewater dispatch (cleaning_and_wastewater)

Inputs

Product flows

Process and cleaning water (cleaning_water)

Record potable, reclaimed, and recirculated water separately by source and intended use; reclaimed water requires a documented hazard assessment.

• Selected flow: Water supplied to dairy processing, by source
• Flow property / unit: Volume / L or m3
• Amount rule: measured make-up water and final-rinse water attributable to the represented process line
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_water_chemicals_and_wastewater
• Sources: codex-cxc-57-2004; dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional cleaning-water screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.1
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: L water
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending site water balance
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Cleaning and sanitation agents (cleaning_agents)

Cleaning agents are recorded by chemical identity, concentration, delivered mass, and allocation to the represented line.

• Selected flow: Cleaning agent, by chemical
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: purchase, dosing, or batch-record mass reconciled for the production period
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_water_chemicals_and_wastewater
• Sources: codex-cxc-57-2004; dairy-pefcr-2025; epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines
• Range: Provisional cleaning-agent screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.0001
  • Upper: 0.2
  • Unit: kg cleaning agent
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending dosing records
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Dairy-processing wastewater sent to treatment (dairy_wastewater)

Wastewater includes cleaning rinses and product-bearing discharges; record volume, COD where measured, discharge route, and treatment destination without netting product loss against water use.

• Selected flow: Wastewater from dairy processing
• Flow property / unit: Volume / L or m3; COD / kg when available
• Amount rule: measured wastewater volume and COD load attributable to the represented line or allocated facility remainder
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cleaning_water_chemicals_and_wastewater
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines
• Range: Provisional wastewater-volume screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.05
  • Upper: 20
  • Unit: L wastewater
  • Basis: per 1 kg net fresh cream at facility gate; broad authoring screen pending site discharge records
  • 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_subdivide_first	Metered process inputs, wastes, and direct emissions	Assign data directly to the specific process stage and product flow wherever line- or equipment-specific records exist. Do not allocate packaging or ingredients that are directly attributable to one product.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_dry_matter_joint_process	Raw milk and inseparable joint separation burdens for cream and skimmed-milk co-products	When subdivision cannot resolve a joint dairy process, calculate each product allocation factor as (product mass x product dry-matter fraction) / sum(product mass x dry-matter fraction for all co-products). Use measured product-specific dry matter and retain the mass, dry-matter, period, and factor calculation.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_partial_metering	Facility totals with some directly assigned process data	Assign the detailed data first, subtract those assigned quantities from the same facility-period totals, and allocate only the remaining unassigned energy, water, cleaning agents, chemicals, and wastewater by co-product dry-matter output.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_no_avoided_product_default	Skimmed milk and other dairy co-products	Report co-products as positive outputs. Do not apply avoided-product substitution unless a separately declared study method requires it and provides a complete sensitivity result.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_mass_balance_disclosure	All allocation results	Allocation factors for a joint process must sum to 1 within documented rounding tolerance, and allocated quantities must reconcile to the unallocated total. Disclose any default dry-matter value as a data limitation.	dairy-pefcr-2025; mass-balance-identity

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_milk_and_composition	milk_receiving_and_separation	Raw milk and dairy composition	Scale tickets, tank meters, laboratory results, supplier receipts	receipt_id; supplier; milk_species; gross_mass; tare_mass; accepted_mass; receipt_temperature; milkfat_mass_fraction; dry_matter_fraction; sample_id; test_method; timestamp	Calibrated weighbridge or flow meter plus representative compositional sampling	kg; degrees C; % by mass	Each receipt or tank lot	All receipts represented by the dataset period	All suppliers and receiving points feeding the represented line	Sum accepted mass; mass-weight composition; retain rejected receipts separately	Calibration certificates; chain of custody; laboratory QA; supplier reconciliation
cp_product_coproduct_and_loss	milk_receiving_and_separation; pasteurization_and_cooling; filling_and_cold_storage	Cream, skimmed milk, and dairy losses	Calibrated meters, tank levels, batch records, waste tickets	batch_id; flow_role; opening_mass; inflow_mass; outflow_mass; closing_mass; milkfat_fraction; dry_matter_fraction; destination; timestamp	Batch or period mass and milk-solids reconciliation	kg; % by mass	Each batch and monthly reconciliation	Complete represented production period	All relevant tanks, separators, pasteurizers, fillers, and loss destinations	Sum flows by role; calculate mass and solids imbalance before normalization	Meter calibration; signed batch record; destination ticket; reconciliation report
cp_energy_records	milk_receiving_and_separation; pasteurization_and_cooling; filling_and_cold_storage; cleaning_and_wastewater	Electricity and thermal energy	Submeters, utility invoices, fuel meters, equipment runtime	meter_id; carrier; opening_reading; closing_reading; unit; net_calorific_value; equipment_power; runtime; production_line; storage_duration; period	Prefer line or equipment meters; otherwise documented same-period allocation	kWh; MJ; fuel unit	Continuous or per batch, reconciled monthly	Same period as represented output	Receiving, separator, pasteurizer, homogenizer, chiller, filler, cold store, and CIP serving the line	Difference readings; convert fuel to MJ; assign direct meters first; allocate only remainder	Meter calibration; invoice match; conversion factor source; no overlapping meter hierarchy
cp_heat_treatment_and_product_release	pasteurization_and_cooling	Heat treatment, cooling, and accepted cream	Continuous recorder, batch chart, diversion log, product release record	batch_id; product_fat; inlet_temperature; legal_or_validated_target; holding_temperature; holding_time; flow_diversion_events; phosphatase_or_equivalent_result; outlet_temperature; release_status	Validated time-temperature recorder and release review under HACCP	degrees C; seconds or minutes; pass/fail	Every batch or continuous production run	All reference product represented	Each pasteurizer and product route	Accept only released mass; segregate diversion and rejected output	Calibration; validation study; signed release; deviation and corrective-action record
cp_packaging_and_finished_product	filling_and_cold_storage	Packaging, finished product, and filling rejects	Bill of materials, packaging issue/return record, checkweigher, warehouse release	sku; package_component; material; issued_mass; returned_mass; reject_mass; filled_units; net_mass; bulk_flag; exit_temperature; release_time	Reconcile issued packaging and accepted net product by SKU	kg; count; degrees C	Each batch or packaging campaign	Complete represented production period	All filling lines and local warehouse releases in scope	Net material use and accepted product mass; separate dairy and packaging waste	Supplier specification; checkweigher verification; stock reconciliation; release record
cp_cleaning_water_chemicals_and_wastewater	cleaning_and_wastewater	Water, cleaning agents, and wastewater	Water meters, CIP recipes, dosing logs, effluent meter and laboratory data	water_source; meter_reading; reuse_volume; use_category; chemical_name; concentration; dose_mass; rinse_volume; wastewater_volume; COD_concentration; discharge_route; period	Metered balance plus recipe and effluent sampling	L or m3; kg; kg COD/m3	Each CIP cycle where available; monthly reconciliation	Same period as represented output	Process line and shared CIP or wastewater systems serving it	Direct assignment first; allocate facility remainder per Section 7; calculate COD load as volume x concentration	Meter calibration; chemical stock reconciliation; laboratory QA; discharge invoice or permit record
cp_refrigerant_inventory	pasteurization_and_cooling; filling_and_cold_storage	Direct refrigerant emissions	Equipment register, service logs, purchase and recovery records	equipment_id; refrigerant_type; opening_charge; additions; recovered_mass; closing_charge; service_date; served_zone; period	Refrigerant mass inventory reconciliation by equipment	kg refrigerant	Each service event and annual closure	Period overlapping represented output; disclose mismatch	Cooling equipment serving process and storage zones	Calculate leakage; assign direct equipment first; allocate shared remainder by documented cooling service	Technician record; purchase/recovery evidence; charge verification; no negative leakage without correction

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	All foreground rows	normalized amount = same-period attributable amount / accepted net fresh-cream mass; convert the denominator to kg before division	Attributable flow amount; accepted net output mass	Amount per 1 kg fresh cream	mass-balance-identity
calc_mass_and_solids_balance	Separation, pasteurization, and filling	For each bounded process and period, reconcile opening inventory + inputs = outputs + closing inventory + measured losses for total mass; repeat for milkfat and dry matter where compositional data exist	Tank inventory; input/output mass; milkfat; dry matter; recorded losses	Mass, milkfat, and dry-matter imbalance with explanation	mass-balance-identity; dairy-pefcr-2025
calc_dry_matter_allocation	Joint dairy processing burdens	AF_i = (Q_i x DM_i) / sum(Q_j x DM_j) for all co-products; allocate only the joint or residual burden by AF_i	Co-product mass Q; product-specific dry-matter fraction DM; joint burden	Product allocation factors and allocated quantities	dairy-pefcr-2025
calc_wastewater_cod_load	Wastewater to treatment	COD load = wastewater volume x COD concentration, with compatible volume and concentration units	Metered wastewater volume; sampled COD concentration	kg COD for the period and normalized kg COD/kg cream	dairy-pefcr-2025
calc_refrigerant_leakage	Cooling equipment	leakage = opening charge + additions - recovered mass - closing charge; investigate negative or implausible values before allocation	Refrigerant inventory and service records	kg refrigerant released by type	mass-balance-identity

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity_and_composition	Reference product and dairy flows	Declare milk species, milkfat, dry matter, heat treatment, homogenization, package state, and reference flow UUID; composition must cover the represented products and co-products.	Product specification; laboratory results; Tiangong identity; batch release
dq_temporal_alignment	All foreground data	Use the same production period for output, inputs, co-products, losses, utilities, wastewater, and allocation. Disclose any substituted or extrapolated period.	Meter periods; production ledger; reconciliation workbook
dq_meter_hierarchy	Energy, water, and material data	Prefer product-line or equipment data; prevent double counting between submeter and parent meter; document the allocation of only the unassigned remainder.	Meter tree; invoice reconciliation; allocation record
dq_mass_balance	Dairy materials	Quantify total mass and, where available, milkfat and dry-matter imbalance. Investigate discrepancies before accepting a dataset; do not hide imbalance as allocation.	Signed balance and corrective-action record
dq_heat_treatment	Pasteurized cream	Retain validated time-temperature criteria and run-specific evidence. Record diversion, failed verification, rework, and rejected mass.	Recorder chart; validation; calibration; release and deviation logs
dq_water_and_wastewater	Water use and wastewater	Distinguish potable, reclaimed, and recirculated water; preserve wastewater destination, volume, and COD measurement basis.	Water balance; hazard assessment; effluent laboratory report; discharge record
dq_estimate_disclosure	Provisional ranges and substituted data	Every reasoned_estimate is a screening aid only. Replace it with foreground or reviewed source evidence, or disclose and explicitly accept it during methodology review before publication-critical use.	Data-gap register; reviewer decision; replacement evidence

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	Reference flow	Require exactly 1 kg of Cream, fresh e58b11a6-5d86-40a3-bed6-e365a95d0981 using the Mass property and Units of mass group UUIDs declared in Section 3.
validate_required_qualifiers	Foreground data package	Fail completeness when any required qualifier in Section 3 is absent or when the product falls within an excluded form.	codex-cxs-288-1976
validate_pasteurization_record	Each represented production run	Require a valid time-temperature record and release evidence. Cream pasteurization below the declared validated minimum, unexplained diversion, or missing applicable phosphatase/equivalent verification is an error.	codex-cxc-57-2004; eu-reg-853-2004
validate_process_coverage	Foreground inventory	Require all four processes in the Process Map, including cold storage, cleaning, wastewater, losses, and applicable refrigerant emissions; zero values require facility evidence.	dairy-pefcr-2025; epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines
validate_mass_balance	Dairy material flows	Require total-mass reconciliation and reported milkfat/dry-matter reconciliation where data exist. Unexplained negative losses, missing co-products, or an undisclosed imbalance are errors.	mass-balance-identity
validate_allocation	Joint or shared burdens	Require direct assignment before allocation, measured output mass and dry matter, factors summing to 1 within rounding tolerance, and reconciliation of allocated quantities to the joint total.	dairy-pefcr-2025; mass-balance-identity
validate_activity_data	Energy, water, chemicals, packaging, refrigerants, co-products, wastewater, and emissions	Require same-period foreground values or an explicit data gap. A missing record must not be silently converted to zero.	dairy-pefcr-2025
validate_estimate_status	Every amount range	Treat a reasoned_estimate only as a replaceable screening range. It cannot establish legal compliance, an allowed production range, or publication-critical performance without reviewer acceptance.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground dairy-processing data package for physically separated fresh cream at the dairy facility gate
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset after review, publication, and linkage of required upstream datasets
allowed_use	Product carbon-footprint or LCA modelling for a declared fresh-cream product, route, facility geography, production period, packaging state, and boundary; scenario comparison when allocation and data quality are consistent
excluded_use	Raw, fermented, acidified, sweetened, whipped, frozen, concentrated, dried, sterilized, UHT, reconstituted, or recombined cream; legal food-safety certification; current PEF-conformity claim; cross-product comparative assertion without a compatible reviewed method
required_metadata	PCR id and version; reference flow UUID; facility and geography; production period; milk species; milkfat and dry matter; heat treatment and validation; homogenization; package format; net mass; cold-chain exit; process coverage; allocation formula and factors; upstream datasets; data sources; estimation flags
required_quality_disclosure	Meter coverage; composition sampling; mass/solids imbalance; heat-treatment evidence; allocation level; co-product dry matter; water and wastewater basis; refrigerant inventory; temporal/geographic representativeness; unresolved UUIDs; all provisional estimates and data gaps
update_trigger	Change in milk source or species, product milkfat or formulation, separation or heat-treatment route, homogenization, packaging, refrigerant, energy system, wastewater route, allocation method, facility geography, production period, reference UUID, legal control criterion, or replacement evidence for an important flow

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
codex-cxs-288-1976	standard	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXS 288-1976, Standard for Cream and Prepared Creams, official PDF: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/ua/?lnk=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworkspace.fao.org%2Fsites%2Fcodex%2FStandards%2FCXS+288-1976%2FCXS_288e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Cream identity as a fluid fat-in-skimmed-milk emulsion obtained by physical separation; scope, product qualifiers, milkfat and heat-treatment disclosure
codex-cxc-57-2004	official_guidance	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXC 57-2004, Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products, official PDF: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCXC%2B57-2004%252FCXC_057e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Validated process controls; minimum 75 degrees C for 15 seconds for cream or equivalent; verification records; cold chain; water reuse; cleaning and sanitation
eu-reg-853-2004	standard	European Union, consolidated Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, Annex III Section IX, 2026-01-27 consolidation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/853/2026-01-27/eng (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Legal-context heat-treatment alternatives, validation, and record expectations for milk and dairy products; facility-specific applicable law remains controlling
dairy-pefcr-2025	standard	European Dairy Association, Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for Dairy Products, Final PEFCR, February 2025: https://eda.euromilk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PEFCR-DairyProducts_update_final.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10; document states validity through December 2025)	Sector process inputs/outputs; mandatory company-specific activity data; meter hierarchy; co-product dry-matter allocation; technical evidence only, not a current PEF-conformity claim
epa-dairy-effluent-guidelines	official_guidance	United States Environmental Protection Agency, Dairy Products Processing Effluent Guidelines, 40 CFR Part 405 overview: https://www.epa.gov/eg/dairy-products-processing-effluent-guidelines (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Cleaning residues, spills, pasteurizer start-up/change-over losses, spoiled products, detergents, wastewater, BOD5, TSS, and pH inventory coverage
mass-balance-identity	method_factor	Conservation of total mass and constituent mass across a declared process boundary	Mass, milkfat, dry-matter, refrigerant, and allocation reconciliation formulas; no empirical performance range