EPDs for Water Closets in Europe
Planning a toilet, WC, or sanitary ceramic EPD this year? Here is the definitive 2026 snapshot for Europe, built from the public registry most specifiers consult. It shows who is publishing, which PCRs dominate, where expiries cluster, and how to choose a program operator without second‑guessing.
The 2026 snapshot at a glance
Across Europe, 68 currently valid EPDs for water closets and related sanitary ware were published in the last five years. These came from 16 manufacturers and 3 program operators. The most recent issue we saw landed on Aug 7, 2024 under INIES.
What does this mean in plain language. Enough data now exists to benchmark your next declaration against real competitors instead of guesses, and renewals in 2026 to 2028 will materially reshape the leaderboard.
Program operators European teams actually use
The operator picture is concentrated. INIES hosts 64 EPDs from 12 manufacturers, EPD International AB hosts 3 from 3, and EPD Hub has 1 from 1. That is a 94 percent share for INIES, which signals where specifiers are already looking for France‑authored declarations and where many EU teams publish when their products sell heavily in France (INIES, 2024). EPD International’s PCR 2019:14 remains a common backbone across Europe for multi‑country publications, with updates in 2024 guiding A2 conformity (EPD International PCR 2019:14, 2024). EPD Hub’s Core PCR series continues to serve cross‑border manufacturers seeking a neutral venue (EPD Hub Core PCR, 2023).
Two takeaways jump out. First, INIES is not just big, it is diverse in its submitter base, so buyers are already trained to find declarations there. Second, if your sales are pan‑European, a dual‑track plan that considers both INIES and EN 15804 A2‑aligned global operators prevents regional blind spots (INIES, 2024).
Who is actually publishing EPDs
Sixteen manufacturers have current declarations. The top five concentrate most of the volume. Geberit and Ideal Standard France lead with 11 each, Grohe France at 10, Hansgrohe Group at 9, and IBANA at 9. Together these five account for 50 of the 68 EPDs, roughly 74 percent of the field. Everyone else is playing catch‑up.
That concentration matters in bids. When a spec calls for a product‑specific EPD, competing against brands with a full slate of models means your catalog without an EPD is more likely to be swapped for one that has one. You dont need to win on price when your documentation already clears the box.
The PCR playbook for water closets
Manufacturers leaned on six PCRs. Two French National Additions to EN 15804 set the tone.
| PCR | EPDs using it | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| National addition to NF EN 15804+A2 | 35 | Aug 7, 2029 |
| National addition to NF EN 15804+A1 | 29 | Oct 31, 2027 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR v1.0 (Feb 1, 2022) | 1 | Feb 2, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) 1.3.3 | 1 | May 7, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) 1.2.5 | 1 | Jun 7, 2026 |
| c‑PCR‑013 Prefabricated buildings transportable units | 1 | Sep 25, 2027 |
The headline is simple. A2 rules are now the default in Europe, with the INIES National Addition carrying most water closet EPDs, and Environdec’s PCR 2019:14 supporting pan‑EU coverage where needed (INIES, 2024 and EPD International PCR 2019:14, 2024). If you are new to the category, start with the A2 family and pick the operator based on where your biggest customers specify.
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Expiry runway and renewal timing
EPDs typically run on five‑year validity. That matters now because renewals are stacked in three waves.
- 2026 has 12 expiries, almost all under the NF EN 15804+A1 National Addition, plus one older Environdec 1.2.5 entry. The earliest is Apr 2 and latest is Jun 7.
- 2027 brings 19 expiries, again dominated by NF EN 15804+A1, with outliers like a c‑PCR‑013 unit expiring Sep 25.
- 2028 peaks at 22 expiries, driven by NF EN 15804+A2, spanning Feb 2 to Dec 19.
- 2029 steps down to 15 expiries, all under NF EN 15804+A2, from Jan 10 to Aug 7.
If your EPD hits this window, pair the renewal with a data refresh and any production changes that lower impacts. That lets marketing relaunch the range with credible deltas rather than a same‑as‑before reprint.
Release cadence since 2021
Issuance was steady through 2024.
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 0 |
The flat 2025 line likely reflects loading delays in public registries rather than a real slowdown. Teams with 2025 publications should still plan renewals against the expiry stack above.
Where EPD consultants show up
Eight of the 68 EPDs were developed with a third‑party EPD service provider, roughly one in nine. For many manufacturers, that outside help is the difference between a six‑month internal scramble and a predictable eight to twelve week path to publication because the heavy data wrangling is done for them. If you prefer a white‑glove approach that minimizes internal lift, an EPD consultant like Parq is designed for that model.
Notably absent names in 2026
As of Jan 20, 2026, we did not find current, Europe‑published water closet EPDs in the public registry for several large bathroom brands that many buyers know, including Roca Group and Laufen Bathrooms. VitrA Bathrooms’ owner Eczacibasi showed only expired items. We also did not see category‑relevant European toilet EPDs for TOTO Europe or Kohler, although Kohler has several faucet and valve declarations valid through 2030. Duravit and Villeroy & Boch do appear with sanitary ceramic EPDs under IBU and Environdec.
Two cautions are important. Some brands file broader sanitary ceramic EPDs that cover toilets among other fixtures, and certain national publications may not yet be indexed in the global registry scope we analyzed. If your team has a current EPD we missed, send it our way and we will update this section.
How to act in 2026
- Choose an A2‑aligned PCR that matches where you sell most. NF EN 15804 A2 for France or the Environdec 2019:14 track for pan‑EU are the safest default choices in this category (INIES, 2024 and EPD International PCR 2019:14, 2024).
- Time your renewal to the 2026 to 2028 bulge. Budget review slots with your verifier at least eight weeks ahead of expiry so you are never dark in specs.
- Publish with a program operator your customers already consult. INIES has the clear lead today for this category in Europe.
One last thing
This analysis is based on the global public registry most architects and specifiers use. Because of loading delays, the last half of 2025 may not be fully reflected yet. If you want the full data tables behind this article or want a quick gut‑check on the best PCR for your upcoming EPD, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a message. Happy to share the latest cut and hop on a short call to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operator is most used for water closet EPDs in Europe?
INIES hosts 64 of the 68 current EPDs across 12 manufacturers, making it the dominant venue for this category in Europe (INIES, 2024).
What PCRs should a European toilet manufacturer consider first in 2026?
Start with A2‑aligned options. The INIES National Addition to EN 15804+A2 leads the category, and Environdec’s PCR 2019:14 supports pan‑EU publications (EPD International PCR 2019:14, 2024 and INIES, 2024).
When do most current EPDs in this category expire?
Renewal peaks in 2028 with 22 expiries, with earlier waves in 2026 and 2027. Planning verification windows now prevents any gap in specification.
Do many teams use external EPD consultants?
About one in nine of the current EPDs involved an external service provider, which can compress timelines by taking on data collection and modeling. If you want a white‑glove path, consider a specialist like Parq.
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.
