EPDs for Plywood and OSB Sheathing in the U.S.
Planning an EPD for plywood or OSB sheathing in 2026? This is the field guide manufacturers use to benchmark competitors, choose the most defensible PCR, and pick a program operator that matches go‑to‑market plans. It is short on fluff and long on the numbers that matter.
The 2026 snapshot
Plywood and oriented strand board sheathing panels are moving from nice‑to‑have to expected in specs. Over the last five years, the U.S. category shows 9 current EPDs from 4 manufacturers and 4 program operators. That is a small but telling dataset for teams planning a first declaration or a renewal.
Who is publishing today
Four manufacturers account for the current declarations. LP Corporation and Roseburg Forest Products represent mainstream wood structural panels in the U.S. Smith & Fong appears with bamboo plywood, and UPM Plywood Oy brings a European perspective into the U.S. registry.
- LP Corporation: 2 EPDs
- Roseburg Forest Products: 2 EPDs
- Smith & Fong: 1 EPD
- UPM Plywood Oy: 4 EPDs
This split signals two things. First, buyers can already find product‑specific numbers for common sheathing SKUs. Second, there is still room to stand out with a crisp, product‑specific EPD that maps to the PCR your competitors already use.
Program operators by the numbers
We see four operators in play. Diversity is good, but usage patterns matter.
- EPD International AB: 4 EPDs, all from a single manufacturer. That concentration hints at a portfolio upload rather than broad U.S. adoption.
- UL: 2 EPDs for one manufacturer.
- ASTM International: 2 EPDs for one manufacturer.
- Smart EPD LLC: 1 EPD for one manufacturer.
Takeaway. Multiple operators are accepted for this category in the U.S. If you care about speed to publish and easy maintenance, focus less on the logo and more on the operator’s PCR fit, reviewer availability, and digital distribution.
PCRs that actually get used
Think of a PCR as the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. In sheathing, several rulebooks appear, which is why benchmarking competitors is step one before you write a single sentence of your own EPD.
Here is the mix we see among current EPDs and when the latest one in each group expires.
| PCR name | Current EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) 1.3.3 | 2 | Oct 25, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804:A2) | 2 | Oct 28, 2026 |
| Part B: Structural and Architectural Wood Products | 2 | Dec 27, 2029 |
| Smart EPD Part A for Building and Construction Products and Services v1.0 | 1 | Sep 18, 2028 |
| PCR Guidance Part B: Building Envelope Thermal Insulation, Standard 10010‑1, Ed. 3 | 1 | May 1, 2029 |
| Unknown PCR | 1 | Dec 13, 2028 |
What this means in practice. If you are launching a new OSB or plywood sheathing EPD now, two pathways dominate. The wood‑specific Part B path that many structural wood products use. Or an EN 15804‑aligned route used widely for construction products. The 2026 and 2028 expiration clusters below are your competitive timing cues.
Want the latest EPD news?
Follow us on LinkedIn to get relevant updates for your industry.
Upcoming expirations to watch
- 2026: 2 EPDs expire, both on Oct 28.
- 2027: none.
- 2028: 4 EPDs expire across three PCR streams, concentrated between Sep and Dec.
- 2029: 3 EPDs expire, including two under the wood‑specific Part B and one under the thermal insulation Part B.
If your products go head‑to‑head with any of these, you can plan a release to land slightly earlier. That keeps your spec sheets fresh when others are scrambling.
Year‑by‑year issuance
A simple curve tells the story. Activity paused in 2022, then picked up.
| Year | New EPDs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
The latest addition
The most recent entry is LP OSB Sheathing, issued Dec 27, 2024 with ASTM International using the Part B: Structural and Architectural Wood Products PCR. It is valid until Dec 27, 2029. Teams planning OSB or plywood can treat this as a current benchmark for scope and format choices.
How often do teams use an EPD consultant
Eight of nine declarations involved an outside EPD service provider. That is a high share for a mature commodity category and it tracks with what we see in practice. The heavy lift is not the modeling itself. It is clean data collection across plants, utilities, adhesives, resins, packaging, and transport, then airtight project management. If you want white‑glove help, an EPD consultant like Parq streamlines that flow so your experts stay focused on production and product.
Notably absent manufacturers
We looked for current U.S. product‑specific EPDs for plywood or OSB sheathing from several large producers commonly active in the market. As of Jan 23, 2026, we did not find current sheathing panel EPDs for West Fraser or Weyerhaeuser in the public registry most specifiers check. Georgia‑Pacific and Boise Cascade appear with other materials, not plywood or OSB sheathing. Some producers may publish under adjecent categories or non‑U.S. programs, so if you are competing with them, confirm the latest status before finalizing your play.
Picking the right PCR without second‑guessing
Start with the competitive set your sales team meets most often. Map their PCR choices and operators. Check each PCR’s next revision window and whether a Part B exists for your product type. Then decide. If two options are viable, prefer the one your key specifiers work with most and that gives you the cleanest route to renew.
Timing moves you can make now
- If your EPD will rely on 2025 production data, lock the reference year and start data collection this quarter. You will avoid the end‑of‑year rush when reviewers get stacked.
- If your rivals sit in the Oct 2026 expiry group, target publication several months earlier. That keeps your numbers fresh in submittals while theirs age out.
- If you make both plywood and OSB, consider separate product‑specific EPDs rather than a combined average. Spec teams value clarity per SKU when they can get it.
Why this matters commercially
Many public and private project owners in the U.S. require product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs for materials with sizable embodied carbon. Without one, your product often gets modeled with conservative default factors that cut its chance to be specified. An EPD will not close a deal on its own. It removes a blocker so the rest of your value proposition can do the work.
Get the underlying dataset and a second set of eyes
If you want the full spreadsheet behind this article, message me on LinkedIn. I am happy to share the latest pull and, if helpful, hop on a short call to recommend the best‑fit PCR based on your product and the competitive landscape. No sales pitch. Just clear next steps so you can move fast with confidence.
Note on coverage. The numbers above come from the public global EPD registry most specifiers use. Recent EPDs from the last half of 2025 may not all be visible yet due to loading delays. When in doubt, we verify directly with the program operator or the manufacturer’s sustainability team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operators are most common for plywood and OSB sheathing panels in the U.S.?
Four operators are active in current EPDs: EPD International AB, UL, ASTM International, and Smart EPD. Usage is spread across single‑manufacturer groupings rather than one dominant operator, so selection should focus on PCR fit and reviewer capacity.
What PCRs do competitors use for plywood and OSB sheathing?
Current EPDs reference a mix that includes Part B: Structural and Architectural Wood Products, PCR 2019:14 Construction products under EN 15804+A2 and EN 15804:A2, Smart EPD Part A, and a Part B for Building Envelope Thermal Insulation. Upcoming expiries cluster in 2026, 2028, and 2029.
When do many existing EPDs in this category expire, and how should that shape timing?
Two EPDs expire on Oct 28, 2026. Four more expire in 2028 and three in 2029. If your closest competitors fall in those windows, aim to publish months ahead to keep your declarations the freshest during renewals.
Do most plywood and OSB sheathing EPDs use consultants or in‑house teams?
Eight of the nine current EPDs used an outside EPD service provider, which aligns with the workload pattern where data collection and coordination drive the timeline. If you prefer a white‑glove approach, an EPD consultant like Parq can take over that heavy lift.
Are any major North American producers missing from current plywood or OSB sheathing EPD listings?
As of Jan 23, 2026, we did not find current U.S. product‑specific EPDs for West Fraser or Weyerhaeuser in the public registry. Some may list under adjacent categories or non‑U.S. programs, so verify before finalizing positioning.
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.
