SuMPO EPD (EcoLeaf) program operator, explained
Japan’s long‑running Type III program now trades under SuMPO EPD at ecoleaf-label.jp. If your sales teams chase specs in Japan or with Japanese OEMs, understanding how SuMPO runs PCRs, verification, and publishing helps you launch faster and avoid rework. Here is the operator in plain English, plus what matters commercially when your product needs an EPD to compete.
What SuMPO EPD is
SuMPO EPD is Japan’s Type III environmental declaration program operated by the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization. It originated as EcoLeaf in 2002 and was renamed SuMPO EPD in April 2024 to improve international alignment and clarity (SuMPO EPD History, 2024).
SuMPO hosts and verifies product EPDs on its bilingual site, ecoleaf-label.jp. The program covers products and services across sectors, including construction materials.
Why manufacturers pick it
For teams selling into Japan or supplying Japanese OEMs, publishing with SuMPO reduces friction for procurement and government bids that expect locally familiar EPDs. The site is searchable in Japanese and English, which keeps reviews and submittals moving.
If most of your buyers are outside Japan, SuMPO can still work when your PCR and verifier align cleanly with international norms. Your LCA partner should validate acceptance early in the bid markets you target.
Standards, scope, and verification
SuMPO states conformance with ISO 14025, ISO 14040 and 14044, uses ISO/TS 14027 for PCR development, and applies ISO 21930 for construction products. EPDs can be cradle to gate or cradle to grave, and only independently verified declarations are published.
Expect typical third‑party review, traceable datasets, and program‑specific General Program Instructions. That means fewer surprises at audit, provided your data model is tidy.
Scale and momentum
The program reports more than 300 organizations and over 5,000 cumulative declarations since inception, counting both EPD and past CFP entries (SuMPO EPD, 2024).
As of January 2026, the public directory showed 2,369 valid EPDs, which signals active use across building and industrial categories (SuMPO EPD, 2026).
PCRs, including a 2025 electronics push
SuMPO runs an open PCR process aligned with ISO 14025 and ISO/TS 14027. In January 2025 it announced a new electronics PCR initiative with participation from 20 companies, pointing to deeper coverage in IT, imaging, switchgear, and related components (SuMPO, 2025).
Construction PCRs remain available and commonly used for doors, panels, metal products, and precast elements.
Publishing mechanics you should know
SuMPO lists only valid EPDs in its search results. Declarations carry a five‑year validity period and must be updated if material changes occur, otherwise communication with expired documents is prohibited (SuMPO EPD, 2025).
Plan your data refresh cadence now. Lock the reference year, collect utilities and volumes consistently, and keep supplier changes traceable so renewals are light‑lift rather than start‑from‑scratch.
Fit for spec‑driven construction sales
If your pipeline includes Japanese public tenders or projects led by Japanese GCs, a SuMPO EPD helps prevent defaulting to conservative generic values that penalize selection. That can keep you on shortlists without cutting price.
For multinational bids, confirm whether ISO 21930 output from SuMPO satisfies the scheme or if EN 15804 formatting is required. A capable LCA partner will flag this before verification to avoid rework.
Practical workflow tips
Align on the PCR first, ideally the one competitors already use for close comparisons. Then map the data owners for energy, materials, and waste, and set milestones to unblock them quickly. Small errors compound later, so keep unit processes and cut‑off rules explicit in your model, not buried in emails. One tiny enviromental factor left undocumented can stall verification.
What to do next if Japan is in scope
Clarify where your product will be specified in the next 12 to 24 months. If Japan is material, shortlist SuMPO and validate PCR coverage, verifier availability, and directory lead times. If the bulk of demand sits elsewhere, confirm cross‑recognition expectations before you commit, then publish where acceptance risk is lowest while keeping the data pipeline identical across programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official site for SuMPO’s EPD program and what is it called now?
The program operates at ecoleaf-label.jp and has used the name SuMPO EPD since April 2024 (SuMPO EPD History, 2024).
How many EPDs are currently listed in SuMPO’s directory?
The SuMPO EPD directory showed 2,369 valid EPDs in January 2026 (SuMPO EPD, 2026).
How long are SuMPO EPDs valid?
Five years, with publishing of expired EPDs prohibited by program rules (SuMPO EPD, 2025).
How large is the program’s historical footprint?
SuMPO reports more than 300 organizations and 5,000 cumulative declarations since 2002, including legacy CFP entries (SuMPO EPD, 2024).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
