EPDs in Greece: What Manufacturers Need to Know
Selling into Greek projects is shifting from nice-to-have documentation to quantified climate reporting. The recast EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive makes whole‑life global warming potential disclosure mandatory for large new buildings from 1 January 2028 and for all new buildings from 1 January 2030, which raises the value of product‑specific EPD data in design teams and tender packets (European Commission, 2025). If you have a plant in Greece or supply Greek jobs from abroad, an EPD becomes a commercial gatekeeper rather than a green add‑on.
The Greek EPD landscape in one view
Greece does not run a national EPD program. Manufacturers serving Greek projects typically publish with pan‑European operators that are recognised across the EU, then point specifiers to ECO Platform’s common listing. This keeps declarations portable for cross‑border projects and aligns neatly with EN 15804.
Why EPDs matter in Greek projects
The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires disclosure of a building’s life‑cycle global warming potential on the Energy Performance Certificate. The rule applies to large new buildings over 1,000 m² from 1 January 2028, then to all new buildings from 1 January 2030, which directly increases demand for material EPDs to populate the A1 to A3 part of those calculations (European Commission, 2025).
Think of the building LCA like assembling a football lineup. If a product has a robust EPD, it is match‑fit and easy to select. Without it, project teams must substitute generic or pessimistic factors that can knock a product off the squad.
Who publishes EPDs used in Greece
Most Greek teams choose established European operators. For scale, as of 1 July 2025 the International EPD System hosted 12,749 EPDs, IBU listed 2,565, EPD‑Global powered by EPD Norge 3,716, and EPD Italy 1,906, all recognised by ECO Platform (ECO Platform, 2025). This matters because reviewers and buyers know these logos, which shortens back‑and‑forth in tender clarifications.
Procurement and permitting signals to watch
Greece’s National Climate Law 4936/2022 tightened climate reporting. Large enterprises must calculate Scope 1 and Scope 2 and submit an annually verified emissions report by 31 October, a compliance drumbeat that nudges better product data flows too (TÜV HELLAS, 2025). Special building permits filed from 1 January 2023 require solar systems sized to cover at least 30% of consumption for certain non‑domestic buildings over 500 m², a detail that frequently appears alongside material documentation in permitting files (eRed, 2022).
On public procurement, Greece only began centrally recording green public procurement data in early 2024, so robust national statistics are not yet published. Teams should expect more measurable environmental criteria in tenders as that registry fills with data (MDPI, 2024).
PCRs and standards, simplified
For construction products in Greece, EN 15804 with A2 amendments is the norm. ISO 14025 provides the disclosure framework. When several PCRs could apply, pick the one most common among your direct competitors, factor in its expiry window, and confirm that your chosen operator accepts it without added local annexes. A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly, ignore it and the game falls apart.
Picking a program operator, fast
Select the operator your buyers already recognise in the markets you target, confirm ECO Platform alignment, check typical review timelines, and verify that the operator publishes to a searchable portal. If a project team in Athens says “epd greece” in an email thread, they usually mean they want a credible EN 15804 EPD, not a local badge.
Data and scope set up for a Greek plant
Decide early whether the declaration will be plant‑specific or a group average. Lock a reference year, gather bills of materials, energy by carrier, inbound and outbound transport, wastes, and packaging. If you export, model realistic transport legs to Greek sites so designers do not overestimate A4. Small detail, big trust.
Timelines and resourcing without burnout
Most delays come from internal data wrangling, not the verification step. The fastest teams assign one empowered coordinator, give them clear access to metering and purchasing records, and agree on a short weekly checkpoint. A partner that actually collects and quality‑checks data for you prevents the spreadsheet ping‑pong that can eat months and patience. You should not have to chase shift logs at midnight to hit a bid.
Commercial takeaways for Greece
As GWP disclosure becomes standard in building files, an EPD moves you from friction to flow. It reduces the risk of substitution when projects apply whole‑life carbon targets, it speeds clarifications, and it keeps pricing debates focused on performance instead of missing paperwork. The cost of a solid EPD is often dwarfed by a single mid‑sized project you otherwise might not even see.
Your next move
Audit which SKUs appear on Greek or EU project shortlists, map existing EPD coverage, then prioritise plant‑specific declarations for the highest‑volume lines. Choose an operator with strong EU recognition, lock data for one reference year, and plan verification around your seasonal production rhythm. Do this well and you will recieve more straightforward requests for quotation, fewer last‑minute scrambles, and a cleaner path to specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Greek authorities require EPDs by law today?
There is no standalone Greek law mandating EPDs for all products. Demand is driven by EU rules that make building‑level GWP disclosure mandatory from 2028 and 2030, which increases reliance on product EPDs (European Commission, 2025).
Is a Greek‑specific program operator needed?
No. Most manufacturers publish with European operators recognised by ECO Platform such as the International EPD System or IBU, which are widely accepted on Greek projects (ECO Platform, 2025).
What if my competitor uses a different PCR?
Pick the PCR common to your product category, ensure EN 15804 A2 alignment, and confirm operator acceptance. If PCRs differ, disclose assumptions clearly so specifiers can compare apples to apples.
How soon should we start for a 2026 bid?
Start now. Data collection is the long pole. Lock a reference year, secure utility and purchasing data, and book verification to avoid the pre‑bid crush.
Will a 2023 EPD still help in 2026?
Yes, provided it is within its validity window and based on current rules. Most buyers value that it is third‑party verified more than whether it is the newest by a few months.
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.
