EPD Newcomers: mageba’s first EPDs hit the spec
Bridge bearings and expansion joints rarely get the spotlight, yet they decide whether a highway rides smooth or shudders. mageba just published its first Environmental Product Declaration(s), stepping into the transparency arena and making life easier for teams chasing verifiable, spec‑ready data.
What mageba just published
mageba now lists a product‑specific EPD for the TENSA‑MODULAR expansion joint family with validity through September 4, 2030, issued under EPD Hub and aligned to EN 15804 rules. The declaration reads as a product‑family coverage rather than a single SKU, which fits how modular joints are configured per bridge. Program operator shown is EPD Hub.
We also found an EPD hosted on mageba’s own site for RESTON SPHERICAL structural bearings produced in Hungary, signaling this is a true first wave and not a one‑off. See the bearing product page and EPD PDF here: https://www.mageba-group.com/ca/en/1026/Industry/Structural-bearings/SPHERICAL-BEARING/RESTON-SPHERICAL.htm.
If a developer or LCA consultant is named inside the PDF, it is not stated in the public summary we reviewed. That is common, yet naming the developer can help procurement teams understand methodology lineage.
Why this matters in specs
Project teams increasingly sort shortlists by whether a product has a verified, program‑listed EPD. It keeps them from using conservative default factors that can penalize a choice on carbon and knock it out of contention. EPD Hub’s program updates in March 2025 also tightened alignment to EN 15804 and ISO 14025, which boosts buyer confidence (EPD Hub Rules, 2025) (EPD Hub Rules, 2025).
For modular joints, mageba’s ETA‑24/0357 certification is a useful companion to the EPD in technical reviews because it confirms performance against Europe’s most demanding assessment route and comes dated June 19, 2024 (EOTA, 2024) (EOTA, 2024).
Product scope in plain English
- TENSA‑MODULAR expansion joints cover long‑movement bridge decks with multiple gaps and an elastic control system. That is exactly where many owners first ask for product‑specific EPDs today.
- RESTON SPHERICAL bearings are high‑load, rotation‑friendly bearings that show up on large or complex spans. An EPD here unlocks more of the typical bridge bill‑of‑materials.
Program operator snapshot
These first mageba declarations are published by EPD Hub, which was recognized as an Established ECO EPD Programme Operator in December 2025, improving cross‑market recognition and ECO Portal visibility (EPD Hub, 2025) (EPD Hub, 2025).
Competitive picture you can act on
Closest peers on North American bridge bearings and joints include MAURER, D.S. Brown, and Watson Bowman Acme. As of January 5, 2026, we did not find current, product‑specific EPDs for these brands in public program listings or EC3, which means mageba now has visible coverage where others appear light. That positioning helps when owners ask for verifiable enviromental data by component.
Two quick reads for sales and bids:
- Where a tender requests EPDs for modular joints or spherical bearings, mageba has an easier paperwork path right now.
- If a spec calls for EPDs by family, not single SKUs, the modular joint EPD format fits how joints are configured project by project.
What buyers should expect next
Bridge programs rarely stop at one component. Extending coverage to strip‑seal joints, pot or elastomeric bearings, and key seismic devices would let project teams document most of a typical interchange without switching brands mid‑spec. That is the commercial unlock many firms underestimate.
Website visibility check
We found the RESTON SPHERICAL bearing EPD directly on mageba’s product page, which is great for specifiers. We did not see a direct link to the modular joint EPD on the respective product pages yet. Adding it next to datasheets will raise hit‑rate from search and keep teams from hunting.
Bottom line
mageba has entered the transparency arena with EPDs where it counts for bridges. One family EPD can remove a costly paperwork penalty, and two families start to change the competitive math. Keep the momentum going and the spec pie gets bigger.
Notes on standards, kept simple
- EPDs translate a full LCA into comparable, third‑party verified numbers that owners can use in procurement and rating systems like LEED v5 drafts (GSA, 2025). They are not eco‑labels, they are data tools.
- EPD Hub’s program instructions and PCR were updated March 24, 2025 to mirror ECO Platform expectations, which improves acceptance in cross‑border work (EPD Hub Rules, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which program operator issued mageba’s first EPDs and how long are they valid?
EPD Hub published them. The TENSA‑MODULAR expansion joint EPD shows validity to September 4, 2030 in the public entry. EPD Hub’s program is aligned to EN 15804 and ISO 14025 and recognized by ECO Platform as of December 2025 (EPD Hub, 2025) (EPD Hub, 2025; EPD Hub Rules, 2025).
Does the EPD cover a single SKU or a family of joints?
The modular joint publication reads as a family declaration, which matches how modular joints are engineered per bridge. That format typically helps procurement compare alternatives at the system level.
Who developed the LCAs?
The public program summaries we reviewed do not list a developer organization by name. That is normal. If a developer is named inside the PDF, consider adding it to the product page to aid due diligence.
Do competing bridge joint and bearing brands show similar EPD coverage?
As of January 5, 2026, we did not find current, product‑specific EPDs for MAURER, D.S. Brown, or Watson Bowman Acme in public program listings or EC3. That can change quickly, so teams should re‑check during tendering.
About the Author
Hazel Brooks is an editor at EPD Guide covering EPDs and the fast-evolving sustainability data landscape. She tracks program-operator updates, standards and guidance changes, and new EPD releases, connecting the dots across the market to report on trends, shifting expectations, and the competitive EPD landscape. Her work focuses on making complex data sets easier to navigate and access, so manufacturers and sustainability teams can act with clarity and confidence.
