EPDs for Work Surfaces in Europe: The ultimate data guide
Planning a worktop or countertop EPD in 2026 and unsure which rulebook or operator to pick in Europe? This deep dive shows who is publishing, which PCRs dominate, when renewals hit, and where the white space is. It is written for manufacturers of work surfaces, worktops, benchtops, desktops, and table systems who want fast, low‑drama decisions that win specs.
What counts as a “Work Surface” here
Work surfaces in this guide cover horizontal tops you can work on in commercial interiors and fit‑outs. Think office worktops, counters, bench systems, and desk components that show up in FF&E packages and tenant improvements.
The data below reflects current EPDs visible in the leading public registry used by specifiers across Europe. It is a tight snapshot of actual declarations, not a theory about what could be declared.
Snapshot of the landscape
Over the last five years, Europe shows 30 current EPDs for work surfaces, coming from 10 manufacturers and handled by 3 program operators. The latest issue we see landed on Nov 24, 2023, for “S‑P‑10752 Zone Desk Screen, 800x650 mm,” by AJ Produkter AB with EPD International AB under the c‑PCR for Furniture, expiring on Nov 24, 2028.
What this says in plain terms. Momentum peaked in 2023, then paused in 2024 and 2025. If you are deciding whether to publish in 2026, you can still lead the conversation rather than follow it.
Year‑by‑year issuance
The cadence tells you when competitors invested and when they waited.
| Year | EPDs issued |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
A simple read. 2021 to 2023 built the baseline, 2024 to 2025 went quiet, likely due to teams regrouping around updated PCRs and EN 15804 A2 aligned pathways for furniture and wood‑based products.
Who is publishing: manufacturers to watch
Ten manufacturers account for the 30 EPDs. The heaviest publisher is Alucoil with 11, followed by AJ Produkter AB with 5 and ROL AB with 4. Rounding out the field are Kastamonu Entegre, ESTEL Group, Westag and Getalit, Woodio, Flokk, Götessons, and Nobia Denmark. The average sits at 3 EPDs per manufacturer.
Practical takeaway. If your line includes multiple SKUs or substrate variants, plan families of declarations rather than single one‑offs. It shortens bid cycles when a spec swaps finish or dimension but stays inside your verified family.
Where they publish: program operators in Europe
Operator choice strongly shapes timelines and reviewer expectations.
- EPD International AB carries 28 EPDs across 8 manufacturers, which makes it the common path and a familiar format for specifiers.
- EPD Norway hosts 1 EPD from 1 manufacturer.
- EPD Hub hosts 1 EPD from 1 manufacturer.
What that means for you. Concentration at EPD International AB signals efficient peer review patterns for furniture and allied products in Europe. Diversity is still present, yet the market “muscle memory” sits with Environdec templates. Pick the operator that matches your target markets and portfolio. We are operator‑agnostic, so we focus on speed, ease, and quality.
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PCRs that set the rules
A PCR is the rulebook of Monopoly. Ignore it and the game falls apart. For work surfaces in Europe, eight PCRs show up in current declarations, led by two furniture pathways and two construction product routes.
| PCR name | EPDs | Latest expiry |
|---|---|---|
| PCR 2012:19 Furniture, except seats and mattresses (2.01) | 13 | Jun 7, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14‑c‑PCR‑021 Furniture, c‑PCR to PCR 2019:14 | 6 | Nov 24, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14 Construction products (EN 15804+A2) 1.3.3 | 4 | Nov 14, 2028 |
| PCR 2019:14‑c‑PCR‑006 Wood and wood‑based products for use in construction | 3 | Feb 9, 2026 |
| PCR 2012:19 Furniture, except seats and mattresses | 1 | Jun 13, 2028 |
| NPCR 026 Part B for Furniture | 1 | Jan 1, 2028 |
| EPD Hub Core PCR v1.0 | 1 | Aug 9, 2028 |
| Part A Implementation of EN 15804 in Ireland | 1 | Sep 28, 2028 |
How to choose. If your product is sold as a worktop, bench or table surface within FF&E, the furniture PCRs above keep comparability clean across peers. If your surface is sold as a building product, for example fixed countertops integrated with casework or specialized wood composites, the EN 15804 A2 construction product route can fit. The right call depends on the competitive set you want to be compared with.
Renewal pressure: the 2026 to 2028 window
Renewals can sneak up on teams. Here is what expires next.
- 2026 has 4 total expiries. Three are tied to the wood c‑PCR mentioned above with the earliest on Feb 9. One more falls on Jul 1 under the furniture 2.01 PCR.
- 2027 has 11 total expiries. Ten are furniture 2.01, and one is an EN 15804 A2 construction product.
- 2028 has 15 total expiries. The mix spans every remaining PCR in the table, with the furniture c‑PCR running through late Q4.
What to do now. Slot renewal LCAs into your 2026 plan if you sit on the wood c‑PCR, since timing is tight. Everyone else should stage data collection by Q1 2027. A tidy renewal beats a last‑minute scramble that risks a gap in bids.
The consultant effect is real
Twenty‑nine of thirty EPDs list an external EPD consultant or service provider, which is roughly 97 percent. That is a strong signal that teams value project management and data wrangling help for multi‑site operations. If you prefer a white‑glove partner, an EPD service provider like Parq can shoulder data collection, modeling, and operator publication while your engineers stay on the line.
Product naming matters for findability
Some competitors publish functionally similar items under adjacent categories such as wood panels, laminates, or general furniture. If your worktop can also be searched as a countertop, bench surface, lab top, or desk surface, consider mirroring those terms in the EPD title and the PDF metadata. It sounds small, yet it helps specifiers land on your declaration inside registry search.
Notably absent inside “Work Surfaces,” yet active nearby
Several big brands are active with EPDs in Europe yet do not surface in this specific work surfaces slice.
- Cosentino publishes multiple DEKTON declarations within INIES for facade and wall applications with 2028 expiries, which suggests attention to building envelope and finishes rather than worktops.
- Formica and Wilsonart show active HPL and compact laminate EPDs, a natural adjacent path for countertop and casework makers.
- Kinnarps, Vitra, and Steelcase publish furniture EPDs that include tables and systems furniture. Those can touch desk platforms, yet may not be tagged as work surfaces in this dataset.
- EGGER and Kronospan publish wood‑based panel and laminate EPDs that commonly feed into countertop fabrication routes.
If your name belongs beside these and you sell worktops, there is room to claim category relevance with product‑specific work surface EPDs. The commercial upside can be immediate when large tenders require verified product data.
Operator choice, timing, and the ROI frame
Pick your operator for fit and speed. Where a segment concentrates on a single operator, reviewers know the terrain and timelines stabilize. Stage your data year, lock your bill of materials and upstreams, then pick the PCR that aligns with your competitive neighbors. The price of an EPD is typically dwarfed by the revenue from even one mid‑sized project win where verified data removes a selection penalty. That is the math we see again and agian.
A quick checklist for 2026 projects
- Decide your comparison set. Furniture PCR if you compete with desks and bench systems. EN 15804 A2 construction product route if you compete with fixed counters or panel systems.
- Map renewal dates if you already have EPDs. Wood c‑PCR users should act early in 2026.
- Group products into logical families to minimize verification cycles while covering the SKUs sales needs to quote.
- Line up an EPD consultant to unblock data capture and reviewer coordination. The time you save in R&D alone often pays for the whole effort.
One last thing, and where to go deeper
This review uses the global public registry most architects and specifiers rely on. Due to loading delays, some EPDs from the last half of 2025 may not yet appear. If you want the full, up‑to‑date background dataset behind this article or want help picking the best fit PCR for your next work surface EPD, connect with me on LinkedIn and send a note. I am happy to share the numbers and jump on a short call to talk options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operator is most common for European work surface EPDs and why does that matter?
EPD International AB hosts the large majority of current work surface EPDs in Europe. High concentration usually translates to reviewer familiarity and predictable timelines, which can shorten end‑to‑end publishing time.
Should a countertop be declared under a furniture PCR or a construction product PCR?
If it is sold and compared as a desk or bench surface in FF&E packages, the furniture PCRs seen here keep comparability clean. If it is integrated as a building element or specialized panel, EN 15804 A2 construction product routes often fit better.
When should we start a renewal if our EPD expires in 2027?
Plan LCA data collection at least six to nine months ahead. For 2027 expiries, start in early 2026 so verification and any PCR changes are fully absorbed without a publication gap.
Is it common to use an external EPD service provider for work surfaces?
Yes. About 97 percent of the EPDs in this set list an external consultant. Teams lean on service providers for data gathering, modeling, and operator coordination so engineering can stay focused on production.
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.
