Congrats, Karava — first EPDs are live

What just launched

Karava has one current, product‑specific EPD covering thermally modified planed timber made from Nordic pine and spruce in common dimensions. It was published in October 2025 and sits with the program operator EPD Hub. Scope matters here. This is a family declaration that spans multiple sizes and both species rather than a single SKU, which is exactly what specifiers want when profiles vary across elevations.

Why this matters in specs

Project teams increasingly default to products with verified, product‑specific EPDs because those simplify carbon accounting and avoid generic penalties. When a cladding line shows up with transparent, third‑party numbers, the spec conversation shifts from “can we use it” to “where can we use it.” That shortens submittal back‑and‑forth and keeps pricing discussions focused on performance and fit, not paperwork.

A quick look at Karava’s lane

Karava is a family‑owned manufacturer founded in 1988, with production in Pirkkala, Finland. The portfolio leans into interior paneling and sauna products, plus exterior cladding in thermo‑pine for durability and dimensional stability in wet‑dry cycles (Karava company pages, 2025). For architects weighing warm, dark‑toned modified wood against metals or composites, this EPD puts Karava’s flagship timber into the same evidence pool as established players.

Competitive snapshot

Thermory has multiple current EPDs, including thermally modified pine boards and glulam posts under EPD Hub and RTS program routes. That gives broad coverage for common board formats and a clear reference point for façade packages.

Accoya lists current EPDs for acetylated wood, including cladding, published via the Dutch database NMD. Different chemistry, similar use case. Specifiers often compare these side by side when the conversation is high‑durability timber.

Kebony previously published EPDs but, as of today, we do not see current ones in the major public aggregators. That leaves a window where Karava can meet EPD‑required bids while a well‑known rival may need renewals before claiming similar coverage.

Program operator context

Karava’s debut sits with EPD Hub, a fast‑growing operator now recognized by ECO Platform as an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator, which improves visibility in the ECO Portal and across European workflows (ECO Platform, 2025). For teams working across the Nordics and EU markets, that recognition lowers discovery friction when consultants pull records into LCA tools.

What this unlocks next

Two practical plays stand out. First, extend coverage to clear adjacent families like exterior profiles with distinct geometries or surface treatments, so schedules don’t split between “covered” and “not yet.” Second, prepare a renewal calendar tied to production data cycles, so updates land cleanly without last‑minute scrambles when big tenders drop. We see producers that plan this cadence keep momentum and avoid avoidable price pressure.

Can we find the EPD on Karava’s site?

We could not locate a dedicated EPD or downloads page on karava.fi at the time of writing. Adding a simple Sustainability or Downloads hub with the current PDF and a short scope note will help sales, reps, and specifiers grab the right document fast. Visibility wins, and specs dont wait.

The takeaway

Karava has entered the transparency arena with a category‑relevant EPD that covers real‑world cladding choices. Against Thermory and Accoya it now competes on measured impacts, not assumptions. Against brands without current EPDs it holds a clean edge on bids that ask for proof. That is how a trusted wood maker turns craft into commercial advantage.