Congrats Forterra: first‑ever brick EPDs go live
Forterra just joined the transparency arena with its debut Environmental Product Declarations. For UK brick specifiers who keep spreadsheets of who has what, this flips Forterra from “ask us later” to “send the EPD.” Here is what launched, how it stacks up against the closest rivals, and why it matters for bids where product‑specific data now decides shortlists.
What Forterra just published
Forterra Building Products Ltd has two current, third‑party verified EPDs covering clay facing brick product groups. One covers a Measham soft‑mud body, the other covers a Kirton wirecut body. Both are written to EN 15804 rules and manufactured to BS EN 771‑1. The first went live in October 2025, with a second wave published in December 2025.
These are group EPDs that bundle multiple named bricks rather than a single SKU, which is exactly how many brick ranges are bought and specified. The program operator is EPD Hub. PCR coverage notes show both EPD Hub’s Core PCR v1.1 and a BRE‑based EN 15804+A2 reference used across the two declarations.
Why this moves the commercial needle
On projects running whole‑building LCA, a product without a product‑specific EPD often gets modeled with conservative defaults. That can push a brick out of contention even when its actual footprint is competitive. Forterra’s enviromental data now replaces that penalty with verified numbers. Sales teams get to answer “yes” when submittals ask for a product‑specific EPD, which shortens back‑and‑forth and reduces swap risk.
Where this puts them in the brick pack
Closest rivals for UK clay bricks are Ibstock and Wienerberger. In European markets, Wienerberger already shows broad brick EPD coverage across multiple countries. Ibstock, by contrast, currently shows no live brick EPDs in the dataset we reviewed. Forterra’s first wave lands them shoulder‑to‑shoulder with one heavyweight and ahead of another for EPD availability in clay facing units. That changes shortlist math fast when bids filter for verifiable product data.
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Scope details that matter to specifiers
The Measham EPD covers soft‑mud, frogged units with typical 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm dimensions and multiple finishes. The Kirton EPD covers vertically perforated, extruded wirecut units. Group EPDs help design teams because they let submittals reference a body family rather than re‑issue paperwork for each exact finish or blend.
Program operator context
EPD Hub was recognized by ECO Platform in December 2025 as an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator, which improves cross‑market recognition and ECO Portal visibility for eligible EN 15804 EPDs (ECO Platform, 2025). The operator reports a rapidly growing library that doubled in 2024, signaling more consistent rule application across big portfolios (EPD Hub, 2026). If your roadmap spans many brick bodies and plants, consistency and speed at verification start to matter as much as the modeling.
Quick company backdrop
Forterra manufactures clay bricks, aircrete and aggregate blocks, precast floors and walling systems for UK residential and commercial work. Public materials note more than 1,800 employees across 16 UK manufacturing facilities, which underscores the scale behind these new declarations (Made in Britain, 2025). That footprint means EPD coverage can expand quickly to the ranges buyers see most.
Competitive takeaway
For clay facing units, Forterra has entered the transparency arena and done it in the product‑group format specifiers prefer. Against Wienerberger, the gap narrows. Against Ibstock, it likely flips a few prequals and framework conversations where EPDs are becoming table stakes. The message to buyers is simple. Forterra’s brick bodies now come with verifiable, project‑ready data.
Can we find the EPDs on Forterra’s site today
We could not locate the new EPD PDFs on forterra.co.uk product or sustainability pages as of January 16, 2026. Adding them to relevant product pages and a central sustainability library will boost discovery and make submittals smoother for architects and merchants. Visibility is part of the job.
What teams should do next
If you compete in UK bricks, assume EPD availability becomes a default ask under LEED v5‑aligned LCA practices and public sector frameworks. Extend coverage methodically. Brick bodies at high sales volume come first, then blocks and precast where buyers increasingly request plant‑specific data. Keep the data collection simple for factory teams, pick one clear ruleset per family, and make the PDFs easy to find. That is how EPDs turn into more wins, not more admin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which month did Forterra first publish its EPDs and what products are covered?
The debut landed in October 2025 and covers clay facing brick product groups for Measham soft‑mud and Kirton wirecut bodies.
Who is the program operator for Forterra’s first EPDs?
EPD Hub, an operator recognized by ECO Platform as an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator in December 2025 (ECO Platform, 2025). See overview: EPD Hub on EPD Guide.
Do competitors already have EPD coverage for bricks?
Yes for Wienerberger across multiple regions, and no live brick EPDs observed for Ibstock in the dataset reviewed. That places Forterra closer to Wienerberger’s stance and ahead of Ibstock on EPD availability.
Are these single‑product or product‑group EPDs?
They are product‑group EPDs that cover multiple named bricks within each body. This fits how bricks are specified and sold.
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.
