EPD Headlines: September 2025 in Five Regions
From fee hikes in Berlin to fresh steel data in Chicago and a new automated tool in Munich, September packed plenty of EPD plot twists. Here’s your speed-read so you can tweak road-maps and budgets before Q4 bites.
North America: Databases, Steel, and State Pushes
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released a long-awaited gap assessment for a public EPD database on September 22, confirming that 68 % of today’s declarations still sit behind paywalls (NIST, 2025). A week earlier the Steel Framing Industry Association refreshed its Cold-Formed Steel framing EPD—now valid through May 2026 and trimmed 4 % off cradle-to-gate GWP (SFIA, 2025). California’s DOT kept the pressure on suppliers as well; its Buy Clean portal logged a 38 % jump in asphalt and concrete EPD uploads since the February mandate went live (Caltrans, 2025).
Europe: Fees Up, Automation In
Europe opened the month with less-than-welcome news: IBU raised third-party verification fees from €2,000 to €2,700 effective September 1, citing a 40 % rise in auditor costs since 2019 (IBU, 2025). On the brighter side, Siemens secured program-operator approval for an in-house tool that slashes its own EPD turnaround to “days, not months,” according to the 9 September release (Siemens, 2025). Mid-month, Palermo hosted ISC 2025, where 400 delegates debated AI-driven verification and the incoming EU Green Claims directive (ISC, 2025).
Asia-Pacific: New Guidance Down Under and Digital Tools in the Cloud
Global GreenTag dropped version 2.3 of its General Program Instructions on 10 September, tightening data-quality scoring and adding a circularity annex (GreenTag, 2025). Although the update applies globally, Australasian manufacturers are first in line because Green Star will reference the new rules from January. Meanwhile, China’s Power EPD platform passed the 150-declaration mark—small in absolute terms but a three-fold climb since March—showing how fast digital pipelines can scale when local verifiers sign on.
Latin America: Quiet Month, One Big Pipe Story
Regional regulators stayed silent, yet manufacturers nudged transparency forward. Tenaris confirmed its June seamless-pipe EPD has already been downloaded 1,200 times—most by Brazilian project teams chasing EU export contracts. That figure may sound tiny, but it beats last year’s full-year tally in just twelve weeks, so don’t dismiss the momentum.
Middle East & Africa: Early-Stage Interest, Few Headlines
Aside from scattered press notes (and plenty of LinkedIn buzz) about Dubai-based fabricators investigating EN 15804+A2, no major program-operator moves hit the wire. Expect that to change once Gulf states finalise low-carbon concrete specs slated for public comment in November.
Why September Matters for Q4 Planning
Fee inflation in Europe and database moves in the U.S. both point in one direction: tighter verification capacity and higher compliance costs. Lock in auditor slots early, bundle similar products where possible, and lean on streamlined data-collection workflows to avoid paying rush premiums later. Skipping these steps could see your 2026 launch dates slip—and your sales team hates surprises even more than tranparency gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the IBU verification fee increase affect existing EPDs submitted before September 1 2025?
No. IBU grandfathered all EPDs filed up to 31 August 2025 under the old €2,000 rate, so only new or revised submissions pay the higher €2,700 fee.
How soon will Green Star reference Global GreenTag’s new GPI v2.3?
The Green Building Council of Australia has signalled a January 2026 cut-over, giving manufacturers a four-month window to align templates and background reports.
What does NIST’s database study mean for U.S. suppliers right now?
Nothing immediate—NIST merely mapped gaps—but it signals federal appetite for a free EPD repository. Suppliers should prep for public data uploads within the next 12-18 months.
Can Siemens’ new automated tool be licensed by other companies?
Not yet. Siemens framed the system as an internal accelerator; external licensing would require separate accreditation with EPD-Global or another operator.
Is the SFIA industry-wide EPD accepted for LEED v5 carbon caps?
Yes, under LEED’s industry-average pathway, but remember that project teams must still adjust for thickness and yield to stay within GWP limits.
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.
