Plates, sheets and strip, of aluminium, of a thickness exceeding 0.2 mm

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to wrought aluminium or aluminium-alloy plate, sheet and strip with a finished nominal thickness greater than 0.2 mm, supplied as flat product, coil or cut length at the rolling or finishing plant gate. It covers unalloyed and alloyed products, rectangular and non-rectangular products, and mill-finished or surface-treated delivery states when the treatment is declared and included in the foreground boundary.

The PCR is application-neutral. It may support foreground data packages for battery enclosures, photovoltaic structures, transport, buildings and other uses, but no one application, alloy, temper, gauge, rolling route or coating may represent the whole category. A category-average dataset is permitted only when its product mix, production-volume weighting and route coverage are documented.

Aluminium foil of thickness not exceeding 0.2 mm, reroll stock that has not reached the declared delivery state, extruded profiles, bars, rods, wire, tubes, cast parts, fabricated enclosures or structures, and downstream stamping, forming, joining, installation, use and end-of-life activities are outside this product category.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.plates-sheets-and-strip-of-aluminium-of-a-thickness-exceeding-0-2-mm
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41534, exact
covered_products	Wrought aluminium or aluminium-alloy plate, sheet and strip with finished nominal thickness > 0.2 mm, in coil or cut-length form, including declared mill-finished, cleaned, pretreated, anodized, clad, painted or otherwise surface-treated states
excluded_products	Aluminium foil ≤ 0.2 mm; reroll stock not at the declared delivery state; extrusions, bars, rods, wire, tubes and castings; fabricated components; downstream product manufacture, installation, use and end-of-life
representative_product	1,000 kg of the declared aluminium plate, sheet or strip product at the producer gate; the concrete dataset represents its declared alloy, temper, thickness, route, surface and delivery state, not the category as a single undifferentiated grade
production_route	Declare ingot/slab hot rolling, continuous-cast or strip-cast rolling, cold-rolling sequence, annealing or other heat treatment, surface treatment, trimming/slitting and packaging; identify purchased versus on-site cast stock
market_state	Producer-gate semi-finished flat-rolled aluminium product ready for the declared customer delivery condition

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Aluminium or aluminium-alloy plate, sheet or strip with finished nominal thickness greater than 0.2 mm, at the declared producer-gate delivery state
How much	1,000 kg net saleable product, excluding packaging
How well	Conforms to the declared alloy designation, temper, nominal thickness and tolerance, geometry, surface treatment, finish and delivery specification
How long or cycle	One production campaign or reporting-period allocation normalized to the reference amount
reference_flow_link	4f197be4-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg
Reference product flow	aluminium sheet 4f197be4-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
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	alloy designation and composition specification; temper and heat-treatment state; finished nominal thickness > 0.2 mm and tolerance; plate, sheet or strip form and coil/cut-length geometry; hot-rolled, cold-rolled or continuous-cast/strip-cast route; ingot, slab, molten-metal or continuous-cast feedstock origin; annealing and other heat treatment; surface treatment, cladding or coating; primary, pre-consumer and post-consumer aluminium shares and calculation method; internal rolling-scrap return route; mill finish and final delivery state; plant, geography and reference period

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

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	Net saleable reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Normalize the package to 1,000 kg of unpackaged product at the declared delivery state; report packaging separately.
thickness_identity	Reference product	Nominal thickness	mm	Record the finished nominal thickness and applicable tolerance; every represented product must be greater than 0.2 mm.
area_to_mass	Data collected per unit area	Mass	kg	Convert area-based records using measured lot mass or declared geometry with product-specific thickness and density; disclose the conversion and do not use one alloy density to conceal a mixed product portfolio.
metal_balance	Aluminium-bearing inputs and outputs	Mass	kg	Use a common dry-metal mass basis and reconcile net stock change, saleable product, internal return scrap, exported scrap, dross and unrecovered metal.
recycled_share	Metallic charge composition	Mass fraction	%	Calculate primary, pre-consumer and post-consumer shares from traceable charge records; report internal scrap separately and state whether it is excluded from recycled-content claims.
energy_carriers	Electricity and fuels	Energy	kWh or MJ	Keep each carrier and unit explicit; conversion may be used for aggregation only when the original measured quantity and conversion factor are retained.

5. System Boundary

The foreground boundary begins with receipt of the declared metallic feedstock at the reporting plant, or with molten metal receipt when casting is controlled by the same product system, and ends with net saleable plate, sheet or strip in its declared delivery state at the producer gate. Include all selected route operations, utilities, consumables, direct releases, treatment of on-site wastes and internal scrap-remelting operations controlled within this boundary. Upstream primary aluminium, recycled ingot, alloying material, electricity, fuel, chemicals, water, packaging and off-site treatment remain linked product or waste inputs with appropriate upstream datasets.

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Receipt of identified ingot, rolling slab, molten aluminium, continuous-cast strip feedstock or purchased reroll stock at the reporting plant
starting_condition_role	Upstream product input whose primary/recycled origin, alloy family, geography and supplier dataset are disclosed; on-site casting is foreground when controlled by the reporting system
product_classification_scope	CPC 3.0 41534 plate, sheet and strip with finished thickness > 0.2 mm; foil ≤ 0.2 mm and other aluminium product forms are outside scope
recursive_input_rule	Purchased plate, sheet, strip or reroll stock in the same category remains an explicit product input; model only the downstream transformations performed in the foreground and link the purchased input to its upstream dataset instead of recreating the same category recursively
upstream_dataset_requirement	Use supplier-specific or otherwise representative datasets for primary aluminium, recycled wrought-alloy ingot, cast stock, alloying additions, energy, chemicals, water, packaging and off-site waste treatment; disclose geography, technology and temporal mismatch
disclosure	Declare route, cast-stock source, alloy/temper, gauge, annealing, surface treatment, primary/recycled shares, internal and exported scrap routes, delivery state, cut-offs and any operation performed outside the reporting plant

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_route_complete	Foreground production route	Include every controlled operation needed to reach the declared delivery state: feedstock preparation or on-site casting where applicable, hot or continuous casting/rolling route, cold rolling where used, annealing/heat treatment, surface treatment, trimming/slitting, internal scrap handling and packaging.	european-aluminium-epr-2024
boundary_upstream_visible	Purchased metallic feedstock	Keep primary aluminium, recycled wrought-alloy ingot, slab, molten metal and reroll stock visible as upstream product inputs with source-specific datasets and disclosed primary/recycled shares.	european-aluminium-epr-2024
boundary_recursive_input	Same-category purchased input	Do not recursively model purchased same-category plate, sheet or strip as if produced by the reporting plant; link it to an upstream dataset and include only the actual downstream transformation.	iso-14044-2006
boundary_downstream_excluded	Downstream application	Exclude fabrication into battery cases, photovoltaic supports, vehicles, building products or other components, and exclude distribution beyond the producer gate, installation, use and end-of-life unless a separately declared study extends the system.	unsd-cpc-3-0-41534

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
cast_stock_preparation	Metallic feedstock receipt, melt preparation and cast-stock production	required	Always record received metallic feedstock; include melting, alloying, melt treatment, casting and homogenization only when controlled within the foreground system	Establishes alloy, cast-stock source and metallic charge balance	per 1,000 kg net saleable product
hot_rolling	Slab reheating and hot rolling	conditional	Include for ingot/slab hot-rolled routes	Produces hot-rolled plate, sheet or coil and route-specific scrap	per 1,000 kg output from this process
continuous_casting_rolling	Continuous casting or strip casting and rolling	conditional	Include when molten metal is cast directly to strip or thin slab and rolled without the conventional ingot route	Produces continuous-cast strip or coil and route-specific scrap	per 1,000 kg output from this process
cold_rolling	Cold rolling	conditional	Include when hot-rolled or continuous-cast stock is reduced or finished by cold rolling	Achieves declared gauge, mechanical state and surface	per 1,000 kg output from this process
annealing_heat_treatment	Annealing and other heat treatment	conditional	Include every batch, continuous anneal, solution treatment, ageing or stabilization step needed for the declared temper	Establishes declared temper and delivery state	per 1,000 kg treated output
surface_treatment	Cleaning, pretreatment, cladding, anodizing or coating	conditional	Include when any surface treatment is part of the sold product; keep untreated mill-finish products explicit	Establishes declared surface and coating state	per 1,000 kg treated output
finishing_delivery	Trimming, slitting, inspection and packaging	required	Include the operations needed to make the product saleable in its declared coil or cut-length delivery state	Produces the reference flow and closes the metal balance	per 1,000 kg net saleable product

Process: Metallic feedstock receipt, melt preparation and cast-stock production (cast_stock_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Metallic charge and purchased cast stock (metallic_charge)

Record each primary aluminium, recycled wrought-alloy ingot, alloying addition, rolling slab, molten-metal or purchased reroll-stock input separately. Retain supplier, alloy, mass, pre-/post-consumer origin and whether the material is an internal return.

• Selected flow: Primary aluminium, recycled aluminium, alloying material, molten aluminium, rolling ingot/slab or purchased reroll stock; one exchange per distinct material identity
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted mass adjusted for documented stock change
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg output from cast_stock_preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cast_stock_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Casting utilities and consumables (casting_utilities)

When on-site melting or casting is included, record electricity, fuels, fluxes, grain refiners, degassing media, cooling water and other consumables as separate exchanges.

• Selected flow: carrier- or material-specific product flow; no aggregated generic substitute
• Flow property / unit: Energy or Mass / measured carrier unit, MJ, kWh or kg
• Amount rule: metered or purchased quantity attributable to the included campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg output from cast_stock_preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cast_stock_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared rolling stock (prepared_rolling_stock)

Record the alloyed slab, ingot or other route-specific rolling stock transferred to the next included operation.

• Selected flow: alloy- and route-specific rolling stock
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg output from cast_stock_preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cast_stock_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Waste flows

Dross, skimmings and unrecovered metal (casting_residues)

Keep dross, skimmings, filter residues and other metal-bearing residues separate by actual destination and metal recovery route.

• Selected flow: destination-specific aluminium-bearing residue or waste flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dispatched or internally treated mass and measured recovered metal
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg output from cast_stock_preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cast_stock_records
• Sources: iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

Elementary flows

Direct casting releases (casting_direct_releases)

Create a separate elementary exchange for each monitored direct air or water release attributable to included melting and casting operations.

• Selected flow: substance-specific Tiangong elementary flow confirmed during dataset construction
• Flow property / unit: substance-appropriate property / measured reporting unit
• Amount rule: monitored release or permitted mass-balance calculation, without substituting a generic emission flow
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg output from cast_stock_preparation
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cast_stock_records

Process: Slab reheating and hot rolling (hot_rolling)

Inputs

Product flows

Hot-rolling inputs (hot_rolling_inputs)

Record rolling stock, fuel, electricity, rolling oil, cooling water and roll-shop consumables as separate exchanges; preserve the slab/ingot source and alloy identity.

• Selected flow: route-specific rolling stock plus separate carrier- and material-specific inputs
• Flow property / unit: Mass or Energy / kg, kWh, MJ or measured carrier unit
• Amount rule: measured issue, meter or purchase records attributable to the hot-rolling campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg hot-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hot_rolling_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Hot-rolled plate, sheet or coil (hot_rolled_output)

Preserve the alloy, outgoing gauge, route and whether the output is an intermediate or the declared saleable state.

• Selected flow: alloy-, gauge- and route-specific hot-rolled intermediate or saleable product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted output mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg hot-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hot_rolling_records

Waste flows

Hot-rolling edge and crop scrap (hot_rolling_scrap)

Distinguish scrap returned inside the product system from scrap crossing the boundary; record alloy segregation and destination.

• Selected flow: route- and destination-specific aluminium scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured scrap mass before remelting or dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg hot-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hot_rolling_records
• Sources: iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

Elementary flows

Hot-rolling direct releases (hot_rolling_releases)

Record each monitored release separately and retain its link to the rolling campaign and relevant control equipment.

• Selected flow: separate substance-specific elementary flow for each monitored direct release
• Flow property / unit: substance-appropriate property / measured reporting unit
• Amount rule: monitored furnace, air-control and wastewater release attributable to the campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg hot-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hot_rolling_records

Process: Continuous casting or strip casting and rolling (continuous_casting_rolling)

Inputs

Product flows

Continuous-route inputs (continuous_route_inputs)

Record molten aluminium or other declared metallic feed, electricity, fuel, cooling water, lubricant and casting-roll consumables separately.

• Selected flow: route-specific molten-metal feed plus separate carrier- and material-specific inputs
• Flow property / unit: Mass or Energy / kg, kWh, MJ or measured carrier unit
• Amount rule: measured feed, meter or purchase records attributable to the campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg continuous-cast/rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_continuous_route_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Continuous-cast strip or coil (continuous_route_output)

Preserve alloy, outgoing gauge and the continuous-casting or strip-casting route identity through later operations.

• Selected flow: alloy-, gauge- and route-specific continuous-cast strip, thin slab or rolled coil
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted output mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg continuous-cast/rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_continuous_route_records

Waste flows

Continuous-route scrap and residues (continuous_route_scrap)

Separate internally returned metal from residues or scrap sent to another treatment or recovery route.

• Selected flow: destination-specific aluminium scrap, dross or casting residue
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass before internal return, treatment or dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg continuous-cast/rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_continuous_route_records
• Sources: iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

Elementary flows

Process: Cold rolling (cold_rolling)

Inputs

Product flows

Cold-rolling inputs (cold_rolling_inputs)

Record the incoming hot-rolled or continuous-cast stock, electricity, rolling lubricant, coolant and cleaning media separately.

• Selected flow: declared incoming aluminium stock plus separate carrier- and material-specific inputs
• Flow property / unit: Mass or Energy / kg, kWh, MJ or measured carrier unit
• Amount rule: measured issue, meter or purchase records attributable to the campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg cold-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cold_rolling_records
• Sources: european-aluminium-epr-2024

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Cold-rolled plate, sheet or strip (cold_rolled_output)

Preserve the incoming route, achieved gauge, alloy and temper stage for the output transferred or sold.

• Selected flow: alloy-, gauge-, temper-stage- and route-specific cold-rolled intermediate or saleable product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted output mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg cold-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cold_rolling_records

Waste flows

Cold-rolling trim scrap and spent media (cold_rolling_wastes)

Keep aluminium trim scrap separate from spent rolling oil, filters and wastewater-treatment residues.

• Selected flow: destination-specific aluminium scrap or non-metal waste flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured generated mass by waste identity and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg cold-rolled output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cold_rolling_records
• Sources: iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

Elementary flows

Process: Annealing and other heat treatment (annealing_heat_treatment)

Inputs

Product flows

Heat-treatment inputs (heat_treatment_inputs)

Record the aluminium intermediate, electricity, each furnace fuel and protective or process gas separately, and identify batch versus continuous treatment.

• Selected flow: declared aluminium intermediate plus separate energy-carrier and process-gas flows
• Flow property / unit: Mass or Energy / kg, kWh, MJ or measured carrier unit
• Amount rule: measured charge, meter and purchase records attributable to the heat-treatment cycle
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records
• Sources: iso-2107-2023

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Heat-treated aluminium product (heat_treated_output)

Link the accepted output to its furnace cycle and retain the alloy, gauge and resulting temper designation.

• Selected flow: alloy-, temper-, gauge- and route-specific treated intermediate or saleable product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted output mass associated with the recorded furnace cycle
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Heat-treatment direct emissions (heat_treatment_emissions)

Calculate only releases attributable to the recorded treatment cycle and keep each emitted substance separate.

• Selected flow: separate substance-specific elementary flow for each monitored direct release
• Flow property / unit: substance-appropriate property / measured reporting unit
• Amount rule: monitored or fuel-balanced direct furnace emissions attributable to the treatment cycle
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_heat_treatment_records

Process: Cleaning, pretreatment, cladding, anodizing or coating (surface_treatment)

Inputs

Product flows

Surface-treatment inputs (surface_treatment_inputs)

Record the aluminium substrate, water, electricity, cleaners, etchants, conversion chemicals, anodizing electrolyte, cladding material, paint or other coating material as separate exchanges.

• Selected flow: declared aluminium substrate plus treatment-specific material, water and energy flows
• Flow property / unit: Mass, volume or Energy / kg, m3, kWh, MJ or measured unit
• Amount rule: measured issue, bath make-up, meter or purchase records attributable to the treated product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_records
• Sources: iso-6361-1-2011

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Surface-treated aluminium product (surface_treated_output)

Preserve the substrate, treatment identity and retained treatment-material mass in the product record.

• Selected flow: product-specific treated plate, sheet or strip; do not use it as an untreated category proxy
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted output including retained coating mass, with aluminium substrate and coating masses disclosed
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_records

Waste flows

Surface-treatment wastewater and spent bath (surface_treatment_wastes)

Keep liquid, sludge, filter and coating wastes separate by composition and actual treatment destination.

• Selected flow: destination-specific wastewater, spent bath, sludge, filter or coating waste
• Flow property / unit: Mass or volume / kg or m3
• Amount rule: measured discharge or dispatched mass by treatment destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_records

Elementary flows

Surface-treatment direct releases (surface_treatment_releases)

Record monitored residual releases after on-site treatment as separate substance-specific elementary exchanges.

• Selected flow: separate substance-specific elementary flow for each monitored release after on-site treatment
• Flow property / unit: substance-appropriate property / measured reporting unit
• Amount rule: monitored air or water release attributable to the treated product
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg treated output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_surface_treatment_records

Process: Trimming, slitting, inspection and packaging (finishing_delivery)

Inputs

Product flows

Finishing inputs (finishing_inputs)

Record the incoming aluminium product, electricity, protective film, paper, pallets, straps and other packaging separately.

• Selected flow: declared aluminium intermediate plus separate energy and packaging material flows
• Flow property / unit: Mass or Energy / kg, kWh, MJ or measured unit
• Amount rule: measured issue, meter or purchase records attributable to saleable output
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records

Waste flows

Outputs

Product flows

Net saleable aluminium plate, sheet or strip (reference_product)

This is the reference product only after all declared route, heat-treatment, surface and delivery-state requirements have been met.

• Selected flow: aluminium sheet 4f197be4-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66 / kg
• Amount rule: exactly 1,000 kg net saleable unpackaged product
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)

Waste flows

Final trim scrap and packaging waste (finishing_wastes)

Record final trim/slitting scrap separately from packaging waste and state whether each scrap flow returns inside the product system or crosses the system boundary.

• Selected flow: destination-specific aluminium scrap or packaging waste flow
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured generated mass by identity and destination
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg net saleable product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_finishing_records
• Sources: iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivide	Multiple alloys, gauges, tempers, routes or surface states	Prefer campaign, line and process subdivision and direct metering. A single-alloy, single-coating or single-application dataset shall not be extrapolated to the category.	iso-14044-2006
allocation_shared_operations	Shared utilities and finishing operations	Use a physical relationship that reflects causality, such as metered energy, furnace occupancy, line time or processed mass; disclose the basis and test sensitivity when the choice materially changes results.	iso-14044-2006
allocation_internal_scrap	Edge, crop and trim scrap returned inside the same product system	Keep the return loop visible through gross scrap generation and remelting/return records, include controlled remelting burdens, and do not count the same internal scrap as both avoided primary aluminium and external recycled-content input.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
allocation_boundary_scrap	Process scrap entering or leaving the product-system boundary	State whether cut-off, substitution or co-product treatment is used and apply it consistently to both scrap generation and scrap use; do not combine credits from more than one approach.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
allocation_recycled_content	Primary and recycled aluminium shares	Calculate shares from traceable metallic charge after separately identifying internal return, pre-consumer and post-consumer scrap; disclose the product-system boundary and recycled-content definition.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
allocation_dross	Dross and skimmings	Record treatment and recovered metal explicitly; model residues and recovery operations according to their actual boundary and destination rather than assuming all dross is saleable co-product.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025

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_cast_stock_records	cast_stock_preparation	metallic charge, cast stock, utilities, residues and direct releases	weighbridge, charge sheet, inventory movement, meter, laboratory and environmental record	batch id; supplier; alloy; origin category; input/output mass; stock change; carrier quantity; residue mass; recovered metal; release quantity	reconcile charge, production and environmental records by cast campaign	kg, kWh, MJ, m3 or substance reporting unit	each cast/campaign with monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all included melting/casting lines and outsourced steps identified	sum accepted records, subtract documented stock change and normalize to accepted cast-stock output	calibrated scales/meters, certificates of analysis, supplier declarations, manifests and environmental reports
cp_hot_rolling_records	hot_rolling	rolling stock, energy, consumables, product, scrap and releases	production order, meter, tank, weighbridge and environmental record	campaign; slab id; alloy; input/output mass; fuel; electricity; oil; water; scrap mass/destination; release quantity	join records by rolling campaign and reconcile metal mass	kg, kWh, MJ, m3 or substance reporting unit	each campaign with monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all included hot mills and reheating furnaces	allocate direct records first, then documented causal physical driver	calibration records, production reconciliation and waste manifests
cp_continuous_route_records	continuous_casting_rolling	molten feed, energy, consumables, strip, scrap and residues	cast log, meter, tank, weighbridge and environmental record	campaign; alloy; molten input; strip output; fuel; electricity; water; lubricant; scrap/residue mass and destination	join records by casting campaign and reconcile metal mass	kg, kWh, MJ, m3 or substance reporting unit	each campaign with monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all included casting/rolling lines	allocate direct records first, then documented causal physical driver	calibrated meters/scales, cast logs and waste manifests
cp_cold_rolling_records	cold_rolling	incoming stock, energy, lubricant, output and wastes	coil genealogy, production order, meter, lubricant and waste record	coil id; alloy; temper stage; thickness in/out; input/output mass; electricity; lubricant; water; scrap; spent media	join by coil/campaign and reconcile metal mass	kg, kWh, m3 or measured unit	each coil/campaign with monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all included cold mills	sum product-specific records; shared loads use disclosed physical driver	coil genealogy, calibrated meters/scales and waste manifests
cp_heat_treatment_records	annealing_heat_treatment	charge, energy, gas, output and direct emissions	furnace batch, recipe, meter and emission record	furnace; cycle; alloy; temper in/out; charge/output mass; time/temperature; fuel; electricity; gas; monitored emissions	join furnace cycle to treated lots and normalize to accepted output	kg, kWh, MJ, Nm3 or substance reporting unit	each furnace cycle	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all included furnaces and outsourced treatment identified	direct batch record or occupancy/treated-mass allocation with basis disclosed	furnace logs, calibrated meters and conformance test records
cp_surface_treatment_records	surface_treatment	substrate, chemicals, coating, water, energy, product, wastewater and releases	treatment lot, bath log, coating record, meter, discharge and waste record	lot; treatment; substrate/coating mass; chemical make-up; water; energy; wastewater; sludge; release quantity	join treatment lot and bath records; allocate shared bath losses by causal driver	kg, m3, kWh, MJ or substance reporting unit	each lot with bath and monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	every included treatment/coating line and outsourced step	direct lot record or documented area/mass/line-time driver	bath analyses, coating tests, meter calibration, discharge reports and manifests
cp_finishing_records	finishing_delivery	incoming product, saleable output, trim scrap, packaging and energy	coil/cut-length genealogy, scale, inspection, packing and dispatch record	product id; alloy; temper; thickness; route; surface; input/output mass; scrap; package mass; delivery state	join final genealogy to accepted output and dispatch; exclude packaging from reference mass	kg, kWh or measured unit	each saleable lot with monthly reconciliation	representative 12 consecutive months or declared campaign	all finishing and packing lines	sum accepted lot records to 1,000 kg reference product	calibrated scale, inspection certificate, packing list and dispatch record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	All inventory exchanges	normalized amount = reporting-period exchange × 1,000 kg / reporting-period net saleable unpackaged product mass	exchange quantity; net saleable unpackaged mass	exchange per 1,000 kg reference product	iso-14044-2006
calc_metal_balance	Aluminium-bearing flows	metallic inputs + opening stock = net saleable product + internal return + exported scrap + dross/residue metal + closing stock + documented unrecovered metal; report the reconciliation difference	charge masses; product; scrap; residues; stock change	metal-balance statement and closure difference	european-aluminium-epr-2024
calc_recycled_shares	Metallic charge	calculate primary, pre-consumer and post-consumer aluminium shares on the declared metallic-input basis; show internal return separately and apply the declared scrap methodology	supplier declarations; charge records; internal return; scrap origin	disclosed primary/recycled shares and denominator	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
calc_area_mass	Area-based records	mass = measured area × declared finished thickness × product-specific density, or use direct lot mass where available; retain coating mass separately	area; thickness; density/composition; coating mass	kg of aluminium substrate and kg of coating	iso-6361-1-2011
calc_shared_burden	Shared lines and utilities	apply the selected causal physical driver to each product group and document denominator, coverage and sensitivity	metered total; line time; furnace occupancy; throughput; product groups	allocated foreground exchange by product group	iso-14044-2006

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	Reference product	Preserve alloy designation/composition standard, temper, thickness/tolerance, form/geometry, route, cast-stock source, annealing, surface treatment and delivery state for every represented product group.	inspection certificate, certificate of analysis, production route and dispatch record; iso-6361-1-2011; iso-2107-2023
dq_route_coverage	Product mix	A category-average dataset must document production-volume weighting and coverage of material routes; otherwise publish a product- or route-specific dataset.	production ledger and weighting calculation
dq_recycled_origin	Metallic charge	Supplier evidence must distinguish primary aluminium, pre-consumer scrap, post-consumer scrap and internal return, with mass and geographic source.	supplier declaration, purchase/charge record and scrap traceability; iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
dq_temporal	Foreground records	Use a representative 12-month period unless a campaign-specific dataset is declared; document shutdowns, abnormal production and inventory changes.	reporting-period completeness check
dq_completeness	All included operations	Reconcile production orders, meters, purchases, wastes, direct releases and outsourced steps; explain omitted flows and demonstrate they do not compromise the study goal.	signed reconciliation and omission register; iso-14044-2006
dq_uuid_identity	UUID-bearing references	Confirm each selected Tiangong flow without storing a dataset version; a narrower alloy-, coating- or gauge-specific candidate cannot replace the category reference flow.	Tiangong identity readback record retained outside PCR content

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	Reference flow	Require product flow 4f197be4-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66, Mass property 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66, Units of mass group 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66, kg and exactly 1,000 kg net unpackaged product.	unsd-cpc-3-0-41534
validate_thickness_scope	Product scope	Reject any represented product with finished nominal thickness not greater than 0.2 mm and reject foil, extrusion, casting or fabricated-component outputs.	unsd-cpc-3-0-41534
validate_required_qualifiers	Dataset metadata	Reject a package missing alloy/temper, thickness, route, cast-stock source, annealing, surface treatment, primary/recycled shares, scrap-return route or delivery-state declarations; explicit not-applicable values require justification.	iso-6361-1-2011; iso-2107-2023
validate_no_narrow_proxy	Representativeness claim	Reject a category-average claim based only on one alloy, temper, coating, gauge, application or narrow Tiangong candidate unless the dataset is labelled product-specific and makes no category-average claim.	iso-14044-2006
validate_route_sequence	Process map	Require one declared cast-stock starting condition and the complete applicable sequence of hot rolling or continuous casting/rolling, cold rolling, heat treatment, surface treatment and finishing; exclude inapplicable steps explicitly.	european-aluminium-epr-2024
validate_metal_balance	Aluminium-bearing flows	Require a disclosed metal-balance equation, stock change and reconciliation difference; internal return scrap must not be double-counted as external input or net output.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
validate_scrap_method	Scrap and recycled content	Require separate internal, pre-consumer and post-consumer quantities and one consistently applied, disclosed cut-off, substitution or co-product approach for boundary-crossing process scrap.	iai-aluminium-scrap-2025
validate_surface_mass	Surface-treated products	Require treatment identity and retained coating/cladding mass; do not use a coated product dataset as an untreated or whole-category default.	iso-6361-1-2011
validate_data_period	Foreground data quality	Require declared geography, plants/lines, reference period, product-mix coverage, allocation drivers and evidence for outsourced operations.	iso-14044-2006

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground producer-gate dataset for a declared aluminium plate, sheet or strip product or a documented production-weighted product mix
downstream_use	Secondary dataset and background dataset for downstream process or lifecyclemodel construction when product identity, geography, period, route and allocation match the intended use
allowed_use	Product- or route-specific LCA; supplier data packages; battery, photovoltaic, transport or building models that consume the declared semi-finished product; documented production-weighted category mixes
excluded_use	Representing foil ≤ 0.2 mm, extrusions, castings or fabricated components; claiming one alloy/coating/application as the whole category; comparative assertions where product function or omitted life-cycle stages differ
required_metadata	PCR id; reference-flow UUIDs; alloy and composition specification; temper; thickness/tolerance; form/geometry; route and cast-stock source; annealing; surface treatment; primary/pre-/post-consumer shares; internal/exported scrap routes; delivery state; plant/geography; reference period; allocation and cut-off methods
required_quality_disclosure	Product-mix coverage; foreground record coverage; supplier-data coverage; metal-balance closure; meter/scale quality; temporal and geographic representativeness; proxies; outsourced steps; allocation sensitivity; unresolved identity gaps
update_trigger	Material change in alloy/product mix, cast-stock or primary/recycled sourcing, rolling route, annealing, coating, scrap treatment, energy supply, plant technology, allocation method, data period or reference-flow identity

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-3-0-41534	Official guidance (official_guidance)	United Nations Statistics Division, Central Product Classification Version 3.0, subclass 41534 explanatory notes and structure, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/CPC (retrieved 2026-08-09)	Product-category boundary, >0.2 mm threshold and distinction from foil and other aluminium forms
iso-6361-1-2011	Standard (standard)	ISO 6361-1:2011, Wrought aluminium and aluminium alloys — Sheets, strips and plates — Part 1: Technical conditions for inspection and delivery, https://www.iso.org/standard/51842.html (confirmed current in 2022; retrieved 2026-08-09)	Delivery-state identity, flat-rolled scope, inspection information and product-specific thickness/surface disclosure
iso-2107-2023	Standard (standard)	ISO 2107:2023, Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Wrought products — Temper designations, https://www.iso.org/standard/85023.html (retrieved 2026-08-09)	Mandatory temper and heat-treatment-state identification
iso-14044-2006	Standard (standard)	ISO 14044:2006 with Amendments 1:2017 and 2:2020, Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines, https://www.iso.org/standard/38498.html (confirmed current in 2022; retrieved 2026-08-09)	System-boundary, inventory, allocation, data-quality and reporting framework
european-aluminium-epr-2024	Dataset (dataset)	European Aluminium, Environmental Profile Report 2024, https://european-aluminium.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Environmental-Profile-Report_2024-V20.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-09)	Aluminium value-chain decomposition; slab-to-sheet rolling boundary; primary, remelted wrought-alloy and semi-fabrication route separation; foreground process coverage
iai-aluminium-scrap-2025	Official guidance (official_guidance)	International Aluminium Institute, How to Treat Scrap Flows in Carbon Footprint Calculations for Aluminium Products, October 2025, https://international-aluminium.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Carbon-Footprint-of-Recycled-Aluminium-IAI-Document-Final.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-09)	Internal versus process scrap definitions, recycled-content disclosure, dross treatment and consistent cut-off/substitution/co-product modelling