Kokuyo Workplace India’s first EPD puts seating in play

What Kokuyo just published

Kokuyo Workplace India Limited now has its first product-specific EPD listed in major databases as of January 5, 2026. The declaration covers the Fluence task chair, a flagship ergonomic model positioned for daily workplace use. The EPD is current through October 1, 2027. Program operator and LCA developer were not displayed in the entry we reviewed, so we will update this note when the operator’s listing is visible.

EPDs are not trophies, they are proof. Each one is third‑party verified against a Product Category Rule, making it comparable and credible for teams screening options.

Why this is timely for seating specs

EPDs have moved from niche to normal in furniture. The International EPD System reports more than 18,770 published EPDs globally, a clear signal that buyers expect transparent product data (EPD International, 2026) (EPD International, 2026). For task chairs, that transparency often determines whether a brand gets short‑listed when carbon accounting is in scope.

Product scope in plain English

This first EPD is product‑specific rather than a broad family declaration. That gives project teams a clean, named reference for Fluence. Architects and GCs can model impacts without guessing, which reduces the risk of being swapped late in the cycle for a chair that does carry verified results.

Competitive picture: who already shows up with seating EPDs

Kokuyo now stands in the same conversation as global seating leaders that have invested in EPD portfolios. Based on our review, Steelcase shows a deep bench of current seating EPDs across regions. Haworth also maintains a multi‑product EPD roster covering seating and related systems. Herman Miller carries a strong set of current seating EPDs as well. This means Kokuyo is catching up to established transparency leaders rather than chasing from a cold start.

Closer to home, we did not find current product‑specific seating EPDs for Godrej Interio or Featherlite in the database we checked on January 5, 2026. If that holds, Kokuyo’s published chair can speak to projects where competitors still rely on generic factors.

What this debut unlocks commercially

One EPD can open surprisingly many doors. Many project teams prefer products with product‑specific, third‑party verified results because using generic factors can trigger conservative assumptions that hurt scores. With Fluence documented, Kokuyo can compete on design and value without being penalized for missing data.

Smart next steps to build on the momentum

• Prioritize EPDs for the next two highest‑volume chairs to create a clear line of sight across the seating lineup. Two or three well‑chosen models usually cover most bids.
• Align all new seating EPDs to the commonly used BIFMA seating PCR so comparisons stay straightforward for specifiers.
• Publish results prominently. We could not locate EPD documents on kokuyo‑india.com or linked product pages at the time of writing. Adding a central sustainability page and linking the EPD PDF from Fluence and other chair pages will make it easier for project teams to verify details during submittals. Visibility wins.

The takeaway

Kokuyo has switched the light on for seating transparency. A single, current EPD for a high‑runner chair gets them into more spec conversations today, and a short, focused roadmap can turn that foothold into day‑to‑day advantage tomorrow. If they scale coverage across top sellers and surface the documents clearly on the website, momentum will accelerate fast. We’re bullish because the basics are now in place and the market is ready.