EPDs for Buried Piping in Europe, the ultimate guide
Planning an Environmental Product Declaration for underground piping in Europe in 2026 can feel like spelunking without a headlamp. This guide lights the path with current numbers, clear PCR choices, and practical timing advice. We cover buried piping, sewer and stormwater pipes, drainage pipework, and underground pipe systems so you can benchmark the field and pick a winning route to publication.
Buried piping EPDs in a nutshell
Europe’s buried piping market is active and getting more competitive. In the last five years, 76 current EPDs were published across 17 manufacturers using 17 distinct PCRs. The most recent addition hit on Dec 18, 2025, for Meltex Oy Plastics’ telescopic water and rainwater chambers under EPD Hub with PCR NCPR 019, expiring Dec 17, 2030.
The 2021 to 2025 surge, by the numbers
The issuance curve is not subtle. 2025 more than doubled any previous year, which hints at teams aligning to EN 15804+A2 rules and buyers tightening documentation on public works.
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 34 |
Quick read on the latest: Meltex Oy Plastics published “Telescopic water and rainwater chambers, 400 mm chamber diameter” on Dec 18, 2025 under EPD Hub with NCPR 019 and a validity to Dec 17, 2030.
Program operators manufacturers actually use
Three program operators cover the field.
- EPD Hub accounts for 49 EPDs across 9 manufacturers. That scale suggests broad acceptance for utility and stormwater systems. Diversity is healthy since many brands contribute.
- EPD International AB hosts 26 EPDs across 7 manufacturers. This remains the familiar home for EN 15804 construction products in the region.
- EPD Turkey appears with a single EPD from one manufacturer. Good to know, not yet a center of gravity for European buried systems.
Takeaway for teams planning 2026 releases. Both EPD Hub and EPD International AB are proven lanes for buried utilities, so selection can pivot on PCR fit, internal preference, and reviewer availability.
Who is publishing the most
Seventeen manufacturers are on the board. Activity concentrates around a handful of names.
- Uponor leads with 16 EPDs.
- Polypipe follows with 11.
- Tosçelik entities are a combined force. Tosçelik Profil ve Sac has 8 and Tosçelik Spiral Boru adds 7.
- Pipelife Norge AS contributes 7 and Meltex Oy Plastics adds 5.
- A long competitive tail includes Evopipes, Greenpipe Group, Wapro, Pipelife Finland, SSAB, FRÄNKISCHE, FITT, Subor, DANOSA, and Marshalls Bricks and Masonry.
For sales and spec teams, this stack means buyers already see multiple EPD backed options for stormwater and sewage applications. Without an EPD, a product often carries a carbon accounting penalty in bids, which weakens win rates compared to similar products that publish.
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PCRs that set the rules, with real usage
Pick the rulebook your competitors already use unless you have a strong reason to diverge. Here is how the last five years break down, including each PCR’s most future facing expiry.
| PCR | EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| EPD Hub Core PCR version 1.1, 5 Dec 2023 | 16 | Dec 17, 2030 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804:A2) (1.2.5) | 17 | Feb 8, 2027 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR version 1.0, 1 Feb 2022 | 12 | Jan 5, 2029 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) (1.3.3) | 8 | Jul 24, 2030 |
| EPD International PCR for Construction Products 2019:14 (EN 15804:A2:2019/AC:2021) v1.3.4 | 3 | Dec 5, 2030 |
| NPCR 028: 2020 Part B for cable pipes | 3 | Dec 5, 2030 |
| Product Category Rule for “Higher Performance Polyethylene Pipes and Fittings for Building Equipments (intermediate goods）” | 4 | Dec 5, 2030 |
| NCPR 019: Part B for Piping systems for use in sewage and storm water systems (under gravity) | 2 | Dec 17, 2030 |
| Part B: Requirements on the EPD for Metal pipes for domestic installations | 2 | Apr 4, 2030 |
| Part B: EPD requirements for metal pipes for domestic installations | 1 | Apr 11, 2030 |
| Part A: Construction Products and Services | 1 | Dec 17, 2030 |
| Sustainable Minds Part A LCA Calculation Rules and Report Requirements | 1 | Feb 27, 2030 |
| Specific Rules for Cable Management Solutions | 1 | Sep 30, 2030 |
| PCR 2012:01 Sub PCR A Mortars applied to a surface | 1 | Mar 4, 2030 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804:A2) | 2 | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Construction products, 2019:14 | 1 | Oct 25, 2026 |
| Unknown PCR | 1 | Dec 17, 2030 |
What this means in practice. If you are publishing in 2026, EPD Hub Core PCR 1.1 and EN 15804 based 2019:14 variants dominate recent long dated expiries. They will help avoid a near term rewrite cycle while keeping your product comparable to peers.
Renewal clock and the 2026 to 2030 expiry map
Expect a renewal wave in 2026 when 22 EPDs reach the end of their validity window, largely from EN 15804 2019:14 branches including version 1.2.5. Another 13 follow in 2027 with a spread across EPD Hub Core PCR 1.0, 1.1, NCPR 019 and EN 15804 1.3.3. Volumes thin in 2028 with 5 expiries, rise slightly to 4 in 2029, then jump to 32 in 2030 anchored by EPD Hub Core PCR 1.1 and several niche Part B rule sets.
Teams with expiries in the second half of 2026 should lock scope and data collection early. Most European programs treat EPD validity as five years for product specific declarations, so planning backwards from expiry date is the sanest path (EPD International, 2024).
Consultants and service providers are in the loop
Forty five of the 76 EPDs used an EPD consultant or service provider. That is about 59 percent, a useful signal that many manufacturers prefer specialists to move faster and reduce internal friction. If your team wants the white glove route, an EPD service provider like Parq can streamline data collection, keep reviewers happy, and get the declaration out without pulling engineers off the line.
How competitors are choosing program operators
- EPD Hub hosts the largest share in this category and shows a mix of nine manufacturers, not a single brand’s portfolio. That diversity helps specifiers see multiple comparable datasets in one registry.
- EPD International AB remains a trusted option for EN 15804 based construction products with seven manufacturers represented in this dataset.
- EPD Turkey shows up as a fringe presence in this category with one manufacturer.
The practical move. Pick the operator that aligns with your PCR and target market, then confirm reviewer bandwidth and expected lead times. Those two details often decide when your EPD goes live, not the modeling itself.
Notably absent or labeled differently
A few large names in underground utilities do not appear in this specific five year buried piping cut, or they publish EPDs under adjacent categories that may not be captured by this slice.
- Wavin has current EPDs in Europe, including inspection chambers and infiltration systems. These often sit under utilities or plumbing systems categories, which may place them outside narrow buried piping counts.
- Amiblu, including Hobas and Flowtite, publishes EPDs for pressure and gravity pipes for water and wastewater, typically under utilities related classifications.
- Saint Gobain PAM shows EPDs for ductile iron pipe systems, sometimes grouped under utilities or metal product classifications.
- Molecor is a sizable PVC O pipe producer. As of Jan 19, 2026 we do not see current public EPDs for them in this slice, which is an opportunity for first mover advantage in certain bids if that holds.
For each of the brands above, a precise product to PCR mapping can make your comparison cleaner. Similar pipe, same rulebook, apples to apples.
What to do next to pick the right PCR in 2026
Start with the competitive baseline. If your direct peers use EPD Hub Core PCR 1.1 or EN 15804 2019:14 v1.3.4 for sewage and stormwater products, match that unless your product clearly fits a more specific Part B. Check the expiry runway so your launch does not force a rewrite within a year. Then confirm operator capacity and the verifier’s availability before booking internal workshops. This sequence saves weeks.
If you want the underlying data that powers the tables and trendlines here, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a quick note. I am happy to share the full dataset, recieve feedback, and even hop on a short call to help you pick the best fit PCR for your next EPD at no cost.
Small note on scope. The numbers here are based on the global public registry most specifiers use. Due to normal loading delays, some EPDs from the last half of 2025 may not yet be included at the time of writing.
Footnote for standards watchers
Most buried piping EPDs in Europe follow EN 15804 based PCRs for construction products, with program operator rules that reference ISO 14025 for program requirements and validity windows, typically five years for product specific EPDs (EPD International, 2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operators are most used for buried piping EPDs in Europe from 2021 to 2025?
EPD Hub leads with 49 EPDs across 9 manufacturers, EPD International AB follows with 26 EPDs across 7 manufacturers, and EPD Turkey appears once with 1 EPD across 1 manufacturer.
Which PCRs provide the longest runway for buried piping EPDs started in 2026?
EPD Hub Core PCR 1.1 shows latest expiries in 2030. EN 15804 2019:14 v1.3.4 and several niche Part B rule sets also extend to late 2030, which helps avoid near‑term rewrites.
How many buried piping EPDs in Europe used an EPD consultant or service provider?
Forty five of 76, roughly 59 percent, indicating many teams prefer specialist support for speed and reviewer alignment.
When is the next renewal wave for buried piping EPDs in Europe?
A large group expires in 2026 with 22 EPDs, followed by 13 in 2027, a lighter year in 2028, a small group in 2029, then another peak in 2030 with 32 expiries.
What was the most recent buried piping EPD issued in Europe and when?
Meltex Oy Plastics published “Telescopic water and rainwater chambers, 400 mm chamber diameter” on Dec 18, 2025 under EPD Hub using NCPR 019, valid to Dec 17, 2030.
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
