EPDs for Chairs and Seating in Europe: data guide
If you make task chairs, office seating, or lounge chairs, this 2026 snapshot shows exactly who is publishing EPDs in Europe, which program operators and PCRs dominate, and when renewals will cluster. Use it to set your product roadmap and avoid renewal traffic jams.
The market at a glance
Chairs and seating in Europe have 145 currently valid EPDs across 44 manufacturers and 5 program operators, built on 14 distinct PCRs. The most recent issue we see is Artek’s Chair 611 on Sep 9, 2025 through Kiwa with an expiry on Sep 9, 2030.
Who publishes the most
Flokk leads with 36 chair EPDs. Helland Møbler and Fora Form follow with 10 each. Those three account for about 39% of all chair EPDs in the region. A long tail of 30+ brands carry one or two EPDs, which is common for categories where product families share frames and materials.
Where EPDs get published: program operators
Two operators carry nearly the entire category. EPD Norway hosts 82 EPDs, while EPD International AB hosts 55. The rest are EPD Hub with 3, NSF International with 4, and Kiwa with 1. EPD Norway’s volume is concentrated among fewer manufacturers, while EPD International AB serves a broader mix, which signals comfort among specifiers with either route.
Which PCRs are winning
One rulebook dominates. NPCR 026 Part B for Furniture underpins 83 chair EPDs. PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) shows steady traction, including the furniture c‑PCR pathway. Older seats‑specific PCRs still appear but are on their way out, so plan updates accordingly.
PCR usage details
| PCR | EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| NPCR 026: Part B for Furniture | 83 | Feb 21, 2029 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) (1.3.3) | 14 | Oct 11, 2028 |
| PCR 2012:19 Furniture, except seats and mattresses (2.01) | 11 | Apr 4, 2028 |
| PCR 2009:02 Seats (seating, chairs) | 7 | May 25, 2026 |
| PCR 2009:02 Seats (seating, chairs) (3.0.2) | 3 | Mar 9, 2028 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR v1.0 (Feb 1, 2022) | 3 | Aug 18, 2028 |
| Core Product Category Rules | 3 | Feb 4, 2029 |
| CEN EN 15804 (general) | 4 | Apr 20, 2029 |
| PCR 2012:01 Construction products and services (EN 15804:A1) | 1 | Jan 25, 2026 |
| PCR 2012:01 (EN 15804:A1) expired line | 4 | Jul 31, 2026 |
| PCR 2018:10 Boards, blocks, panels of plastics (non‑construction) | 1 | Jun 28, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14‑c‑PCR‑021 Furniture (Adopted from EPD Norway) | 4 | Nov 28, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14‑c‑PCR‑021 Furniture (Adopted from EPD Norway) | 1 | Aug 7, 2029 |
| Unknown PCR | 5 | Sep 9, 2030 |
If you are launching new chair EPDs in 2026, NPCR 026 remains the safe alignment choice. The PCR 2019:14 furniture c‑PCR pathway is a good fit when your product family crosses into broader construction contexts and you want A2 alignment baked in.
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Expiry waves you should plan around
Renewal walls are real. Here is the current expiry profile by year. Use it to time updates and resource your LCA data collection in advance.
- 2026: 19 EPDs
- 2027: 41 EPDs
- 2028: 56 EPDs
- 2029: 23 EPDs
- 2030: 5 EPDs
The 2028 peak is the one to watch. Many of those declarations sit on NPCR 026 and will refresh across the calendar year, which can strain verification capacity. Book your verifier early, or you risk a gap in spec readiness. Remember that an EPD’s five‑year validity impacts sales only if you let it lapse close to tenders.
Issuance trend: the last five years
2023 was the build year. 2024 and early 2025 slowed, which often reflects budget timing and registry lag rather than demand.
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19 |
| 2022 | 42 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 5 |
How work actually gets done: consultants vs DIY
132 of 145 chair EPDs in Europe were created with an EPD consultant or service provider. That is roughly 91%. If your team is juggling product launches, a partner will pull bills of materials, utility data, transport routes, and allocation logic together while you keep engineering moving. If you want a white‑glove option that removes heavy data wrangling, an EPD service provider like Parq is designed for speed and completeness. You can still choose your preferred operator. We are operator‑agnostic and frequently publish in Europe with IBU or others.
Notably absent brands in the public registry
Some well‑known European seating brands do not show current, product‑specific chair EPDs in the public registry as of Jan 18, 2026: Sedus, Wilkhahn, Fritz Hansen, Muuto, Actiu, Bene, and IKEA. They may publish under different categories, in national databases not fully synced, or have expired files in transition. If your sales team competes with these names, timing your EPD releases can create a clear spec advantage while they update. If we missed one, definately tell me.
Picking operator and PCR in 2026
Choose your program operator where your customers actually look. In this category, EPD Norway and EPD International AB cover the vast majority of chair EPDs. Align your PCR with what competitors use so your results are comparable in bids, then factor expiry timing so your renewal lands outside the biggest peaks. That single choice often shortens verification cycles and avoids back‑and‑forth on scope.
What to do next
- If you are new to EPDs for chairs, shortlist NPCR 026 and the PCR 2019:14 c‑PCR furniture route, then ask your verifier about current queues.
- If you have an EPD expiring in 2027 or 2028, start data collection one to two quarters ahead. Your plant data quality drives the speed of the update and the credibility of the results.
- If you sell across multiple seating SKUs, plan a family approach so you publish fewer, stronger EPDs that still cover variants.
Want the underlying dataset for this article or a sanity check on which PCR fits your next chair EPDs based on the competitive landscape? Connect with me on LinkedIn and send a note. I am happy to share the full up‑to‑date background data and hop on a quick call at no cost.
Data notes
This guide uses the global public registry of EPDs that most architects and specifiers consult. Due to typical publishing and syncing delays, some EPDs from the second half of 2025 may not yet appear. We keep our internal dataset refreshed and share it on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main program operators for chair EPDs in Europe right now?
EPD Norway and EPD International AB account for nearly all chair EPDs observed. Smaller shares appear with EPD Hub, NSF International, and Kiwa.
Which PCR should a chair manufacturer prefer in 2026?
NPCR 026 Part B for Furniture is the most common among competitors. The PCR 2019:14 furniture c‑PCR path is a credible A2‑aligned alternative when products intersect broader construction scopes.
When do most chair EPD renewals cluster next?
The largest renewal wave falls in 2028, followed by a significant wave in 2027. Plan verifier bookings ahead to avoid lapses.
Do most manufacturers create chair EPDs in‑house?
No. About 91% of chair EPDs in Europe were prepared with an external EPD consultant or service provider, which aligns with the category’s complexity.
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.
