Synthetex enters the EPD arena with HYDROTEX
Synthetex just published its first Environmental Product Declaration, putting its signature HYDROTEX fabric‑formed concrete system on the record for carbon and impacts. For civil, water, and coastal projects that are increasingly EPD‑aware, this flips the spec conversation from why to why not. Here is what dropped, how it sizes up, and where the transparency edge shows up in bids and prequals.
What just launched
As of January 5, 2026, Synthetex has one current, third‑party verified EPD covering the HYDROTEX fabric‑formed concrete mattress system. The declaration sits with EPD Hub and is based on the Construction Products Part A2 ruleset. It is valid through July 3, 2030. That means teams can now reference a product‑specific EPD for HYDROTEX rather than leaning on generic factors.
What the EPD covers
HYDROTEX is a geosynthetic formwork that is pumped with fine‑aggregate concrete to create permanent revetments and linings for scour and erosion control. Think bridge abutments, canals, levees, geomembrane protection, and subsea work. The EPD describes the product family as a fabric‑formed concrete mattress system, which is how most owners and engineers specify it in practice.
Why this matters in specs and bids
More owner RFQs now ask for product‑specific EPDs to streamline embodied‑carbon tracking and comparability. Program operators also keep tightening alignment with EN 15804 and ISO 21930, which improves confidence for reviewers (EPD Hub Rules, 2025). EPD Hub reported a 132 percent increase in published EPDs in 2024, a clear signal that transparency is accelerating in construction materials (EPD Hub, 2024).
Quick company snapshot
Synthetex manufactures HYDROTEX and supports design through installation for infrastructure, energy, water, and environmental markets. The system is used on land and underwater and is tailored per project, which is why an umbrella EPD for the mattress system is a practical starting point for submittals.
Competitive snapshot
Solmax has a current product‑specific EPD for its Armormax anchored HPTRM erosion control system, verified and published through SCS Global Services. This shows established transparency in adjacent erosion control systems. Tensar lists multiple current EPDs for geogrids. Those are not one‑to‑one substitutes, yet they influence many of the same embankment and stabilization scopes. NAUE holds current EPDs for geotextiles, signaling broader geosynthetics coverage. Against that backdrop, Synthetex’s HYDROTEX EPD brings fabric‑formed concrete into the conversation rather than leaving spreadsheets to fill gaps with conservative default values.
What this changes on project teams
With an EPD in hand, HYDROTEX can be compared on declared unit impacts alongside turf reinforcement mats, geotextiles, and alternative hard armor. Reviewers get a clean checkbox and a clearer apples‑to‑apples narrative. Sales and engineering avoid the penalty that comes when a product lacks a verified declaration and gets modeled with pessimistic estimates.
Verified who and where
Program operator: EPD Hub. The ruleset is aligned to EN 15804 A2 and ISO 14025 at the operator level (EPD Hub Rules, 2025). Public communications from Geoquest, Synthetex’s parent group, note EPD Hub approval in July 2025 for HYDROTEX, which matches the current validity window (Geoquest Group, 2025). If the EPD lists a separate LCA developer, it was not stated in the materials we reviewed.
Website visibility check
We looked for the EPD on synthetex.com and did not find a posted PDF or EPD library page at the time of writing. Adding a direct download in the Resources section would shorten reviewer back‑and‑forth and help teams specifiying under tight timelines. Visibility is the last mile of credibility.
How manufacturers can replicate the move
Pick the right PCR used by your closest competitors, scope the product family so it serves how spec packages are written, and publish with a program operator that makes verification predictable. The heavy lift is data collection across utilities, materials, and transport. A partner who owns that wrangling and publishes cleanly with EPD Hub or another recognized operator will save teams weeks.
The takeaway
Synthetex has entered the transparency arena with HYDROTEX. In erosion control, that puts them shoulder to shoulder with peers already carrying EPDs in geosynthetics and HPTRM systems. It also gives owners and engineers the documentation to choose fabric‑formed concrete on performance first, price second, and paperwork without drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many EPDs did Synthetex publish and what do they cover?
One current EPD covers the HYDROTEX fabric‑formed concrete mattress system, verified by EPD Hub, valid through July 3, 2030.
Which program operator issued the HYDROTEX EPD?
EPD Hub issued and hosts the declaration, whose operator rules align with EN 15804 A2 and ISO 21930 (EPD Hub Rules, 2025).
Do close competitors have EPDs for similar erosion control systems?
Yes. Solmax has a current EPD for Armormax under SCS Global Services. Tensar lists multiple current EPDs for geogrids, and NAUE has current EPDs for geotextiles. Coverage varies by product type and scope.
Where can specifiers find the EPD on Synthetex’s website?
We could not locate it on synthetex.com during our review. Posting the PDF in the Resources section will speed submittals and reviews.
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.
