EPDs for Backing and Underlay in Europe

Europe’s Backing and Underlay at a glance

Across Europe, we count 33 currently valid EPDs issued in the last five years for Backing and Underlay. Those were published by 15 manufacturers working with 4 program operators and 6 distinct PCRs. The latest new EPD in the set landed on Feb 9, 2024.

What this signals in plain terms. The category is active, but concentrated. A handful of PCRs and one program operator carry most of the volume, so choosing where and how to publish is a strategic call, not a paperwork choice.

Who is publishing the most

Austrotherm GmbH leads with 10 EPDs. Placoplatre Saint‑Gobain follows with 4. ORSOL PRODUCTION has 3. Seven manufacturers show up with 2 each, and the remaining group holds single EPDs. That works out to about 2.2 EPDs per manufacturer, a sign of multi‑product coverage rather than one‑offs.

This matters for bids because specifiers like portfolios that cover multiple SKUs, not just a hero product. Think of it like a chess opening. Controlling the center early gives you options later.

Program operators buyers trust here

Program operator share in this dataset is clear. INIES accounts for 25 of 33 EPDs across 9 manufacturers. EPD International AB shows 6 EPDs across 4 manufacturers. EPD Hub and EPD Norway each appear once with one manufacturer.

Implication. INIES is the everyday path for French market access, and it is also accepted widely across Europe. EPD International AB remains the cross‑border workhorse for multi‑country rollouts. Diversity is healthy here since multiple competitors use the same operators, which means your choice signals familiarity, not novelty.

The PCR rulebook, simplified

A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. Six PCRs are in play in this category over the last five years:

PCR	EPDs	Latest expiry
Sustainability of construction works – National addition to NF EN 15804+A2	19	Feb 9, 2029
Sustainability of construction works – National addition to NF EN 15804+A1	6	Sep 1, 2027
PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) v1.3.3	5	Apr 5, 2028
PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804:A2) v1.2.5	1	Jun 9, 2028
Part B: EPD requirements for coatings with organic binders	1	Feb 21, 2028
EPD Hub Core PCR v1.0	1	Oct 19, 2028

Why this mix. The NF EN 15804 national additions dominate because of French market pull and INIES alignment. The EN 15804 A2 family under EPD International appears when manufacturers want a single template for multiple regions.

Note on validity. Under EN 15804 programmes, product‑specific EPDs are generally valid for five years before renewal is required for continued claim and comparability (EPD International, 2024).

Issue trend since 2021

Year	EPDs issued
2021	2
2022	6
2023	24
2024	1
2025	0

The surge in 2023 is unmistakable. That cohort now sets the renewal drumbeat starting in 2028. The low count in 2024 and none shown for 2025 likely reflect market digestion and operator backlogs, not a collapse in demand.

Renewal risk map for 2026 to 2029

Renewals cluster in one wave. Here is what is scheduled to expire among currently valid EPDs.

2026: 2 expire, both under NF EN 15804+A1, on Dec 23.

2027: 6 expire, 4 under NF EN 15804+A1 between Jul 4 and Sep 1, and 2 under EN 15804 A2 v1.3.3 on Dec 19.

2028: 24 expire. That includes 18 under NF EN 15804+A2 between Feb 28 and Nov 6. The balance are one coatings Part B on Feb 21, three EN 15804 A2 v1.3.3 between Mar 3 and Apr 5, one EN 15804 A2 v1.2.5 on Jun 9, and one EPD Hub Core PCR on Oct 19.

2029: 1 expires, an NF EN 15804+A2 record on Feb 9.

What to do next. If your commercial peak is Q3 2028, begin renewal planning now so your updated EPDs clear verification well before spring tender cycles. A clean handoff avoids last‑minute fire drills that pull engineers off core work.

The freshest EPD in the set

SPM INTERNATIONAL published “Panneaux PVC de protection et de décoration SPM” on Feb 9, 2024 with INIES under the NF EN 15804+A2 national addition. It runs through Feb 9, 2029. This is a good example of using a national addition PCR to win in France, while still remaining useful across Europe.

Where EPD consultants show up

Twelve of the 33 EPDs involved a third‑party EPD consultant or service provider, which is 36 percent of the set. This tracks with what we see across construction products when teams want speed and completeness without stealing time from production engineering. If you are evaluating partners, look for ruthless data collection, multi‑operator publishing experience, and a white‑glove process that removes internal admin. Parq is one example of an EPD service provider that does precisely that (Parq).

Notably absent or differently classified manufacturers

Interfloor Limited, a major UK underlay maker, does have current EPDs for products branded as underlay. Those EPDs appear under a floor coverings c‑PCR, which means they may not surface in a narrow Backing and Underlay slice. Translation. Competitors will show up next to carpet and resilient products in some operator catalogs, not only in a niche underlay category.

Ball & Young, another large UK underlay manufacturer, does not show current, product‑specific EPDs in the pan‑European public registry we analyzed as of Jan 20, 2026. If that is your rival, the opportunity to be first‑to‑spec with a verifiable underlay EPD is real.

Decora S.A. shows EPDs for SPC floors with integrated underlay and for XPS underlays through an operator active in Central Europe. That is another example of adjacent classification creating search friction. If you cannot find a competitor’s EPD, check floor coverings families first.

Picking the right PCR for your next EPD

Start with the competitive set. If most peers publish under the NF EN 15804+A2 national addition, copy that to stay apples to apples. If you plan to sell the same SKU across five countries, EPD International AB’s EN 15804 A2 family can simplify verification and reuse of LCA models.

Second, look at expiry math. If a PCR is near revision, you may prefer to publish now under the established version, then renew into the update. If your launch is more than six months out, verify that the chosen PCR will still be in force when your data is ready.

Third, consider operator familiarity. INIES carries weight in France. EPD International AB has high recognition in Scandinavia and Central Europe. EPD Hub and EPD Norway are credible, and can be a fit when their PCR options align with your product definition.

Practical steps that reduce cycle time

Pick a single reference year for utilities, production, and waste. Lock naming conventions across plants and bills of materials. Confirm BOM versions early with procurement so LCIs do not drift. These three habits alone shave weeks. It sounds boring, it is also definitately effective.

If you want hands‑on help, I am happy to hop on a quick call. Connect with me on LinkedIn and message me for the full dataset behind this article or any other questions (Tobias Urff).

Final notes on data and how to use it

This analysis is based on the global public registry of EPDs that most architects and specifiers use. Due to posting and loading delays, some EPDs from the last half of 2025 may not be reflected yet. Use the renewal wave timing to plan 2026 to 2029 workstreams, keep your PCR choice aligned with your competitors, and do not let an expiring declaration surprise your sales team in peak season.