EPDs in Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2025 Field Guide
If EU-bound sales matter or tenders are getting tougher at home, an Environmental Product Declaration can be the difference between shortlisted and sidelined. Here is the no-drama path to an EN 15804‑credible EPD for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the signals that actually move specs and exports.
What an “EPD Bosnia” really means in 2025
For construction products, credibility rests on EN 15804 and its companion documents. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s standards body has adopted supporting standards such as EN 15941 on data quality in 2025 and EN 17672 on business‑to‑consumer communication in 2024, and has published c‑PCRs for concrete that explicitly reference EN 15804. That tells specifiers your declaration can speak the same language as EU buyers. [ISBIH, 2025] [ISBIH, 2024]
Where manufacturers publish from Bosnia
There is no national program operator, so manufacturers typically publish with European schemes recognized across the single market. The International EPD System listed 12,749 EPDs and IBU listed 2,565 as of July 1, 2025, with EPD‑Global and PEP ecopassport also operating at scale. These footprints matter when your PDF lands in a buyer’s library. (ECO Platform, 2025)
EU pull factors you can bank on
CBAM moves from reporting to paid certificates on January 1, 2026. A new 50‑tonne annual de minimis per importer simplifies admin while still covering about 99 percent of embedded emissions in scope. Well built EPDs make supplier emissions data verifiable and reusable across clients. (Consilium, 2025) [Taxation and Customs Union, 2023]
LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025 and certification tooling opened in Arc in November 2025. For projects that chase North American green building points, product‑specific EPDs remain a straightforward way to lift embodied‑carbon credit potential. (USGBC, 2025)
What domestic buyers in BiH are starting to ask
Public procurement reform for 2024–2028 names green procurement as a strategic priority. That does not auto‑mandate EPDs on day one, yet it signals that environmental criteria will be written into more tenders, beginning with energy, infrastructure, and standardized materials. [UNDP, 2025] [Council of Ministers of BiH, 2024]
Standards to reference on your cover page
Keep the title block simple and consistent with EU practice. Anchor to EN 15804:2012+A2, cite EN 15941 for data quality and use any applicable c‑PCRs such as concrete, ceramic tiles, or others adopted by ISBIH. This reduces reviewer back‑and‑forth and speeds verification. [ISBIH, 2025] [ISBIH, 2024]
Picking a program operator, pragmatically
Choose an operator your target specifiers already search. IBU is common on German‑speaking tenders and the International EPD System travels well across Europe. Both are ECO Platform members, which eases recognition across databases. If your sales team focuses on Nordics or Italy, check EPD‑Global or EPD Italy for fit. (ECO Platform, 2025)
The data Bosnia plants struggle with most
Electricity mix varies by entity and site. Document the actual supplier contracts and meter data for the reference year rather than assuming a national average. Cross‑border transport to EU customers also dominates some A4 results. Small corrections here can shift GWP by meaningful percentage points.
Fast, low‑friction workflow that actually gets published
- Scope and PCR check. Confirm competitors’ PCRs and expiry to avoid repainting mid‑project.
- One clean reference year. Pull utilities, volumes, waste, fuels, inbound and outbound transport, plus packaging. For new lines, a prospective EPD can start with three months and be updated later.
- Verification and publish. Align on operator templates early so your verifier is not asking for format fixes at the finish line. It sounds basic, but it saves weeks.
CBAM‑exposed categories to prioritize now
If you make cement or clinker, steel or aluminum products, you already feel EU scrutiny. Even though CBAM reporting is not the same as an EPD, using EPD‑grade datasets and site‑specific modeling will make your importer’s filings easier and your price discussions calmer. [Taxation and Customs Union, 2025]
Cost signals and ROI
Reliable Bosnia‑only cost averages are scarce and vary by product complexity and verification route. The commercial logic is clearer. For EU‑facing SKUs, a single mid‑sized tender win usually outweighs development effort. Sales cycles shorten when buyers can compare apples to apples instead of applying conservative defaults that penalize non‑EPD products. That is the real margin play.
Avoidable mistakes we still see
Referencing outdated A1 rules, mixing site and industry‑average datasets, or forgetting to lock transport assumptions with Sales until the last week. Fix those and you look instantly more mature to reviewers. Also, do not bury language info. Provide both English and BCS PDFs to accomodate local contracting authorities.
Tie it together without drama
If your team is typing “EPD Bosnia” into a browser, you likely sell into EU markets or face greener local tenders. Publish to a widely recognized operator, align to EN 15804 with the ISBIH‑adopted companions, and make data collection the hero so verification flies. The companies that treat this like a product launch, not a paperwork chore, get specified more often and move pricing conversations away from pure cost. It’s definately worth doing right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Bosnia-specific EPD rulebook or do we follow EN 15804?
There is no Bosnia-specific core PCR. Manufacturers follow EN 15804 and supporting standards that ISBIH has adopted, such as EN 15941 for data quality and EN 17672 for B2C communication. [ISBIH, 2025] [ISBIH, 2024]
Which EPD program operators are most recognized for Bosnia-based manufacturers?
Common choices include The International EPD System and IBU. Both are ECO Platform members with large libraries, which helps visibility in EU procurement portals. (ECO Platform, 2025)
Do new EU CBAM rules make EPDs mandatory?
No. CBAM requires embedded-emissions reporting and, from 1 January 2026, certificates. EPDs are not mandatory, yet their site-specific, verified data makes CBAM reporting smoother and more defensible. A 50‑tonne de minimis will exempt many small importers while still covering ~99% of emissions. (Consilium, 2025)
What is the status of LEED v5 and why should my products care?
LEED v5 was ratified on March 28, 2025 and Arc opened certification tooling in November 2025. Product‑specific EPDs help teams document embodied‑carbon credits under the new framework. (USGBC, 2025)
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
