Arkema and Bostik: EPD coverage snapshot
Arkema plays across the construction value chain through Bostik adhesives and several specialty resin brands. For specifiers, the question is simple. Where do EPDs already cover the catalog, where are the holes, and how can a team close them fast to win more project bids that prefer or require product‑specific declarations.
Who they are and where they play
Arkema is a specialty materials group with touchpoints in buildings through Bostik adhesives and sealants, architectural coatings ingredients, PMMA sheets, and PVDF resins used in high‑durability coatings. They are not a pure play. The portfolio spans many ranges, with Bostik as the most construction‑facing brand, while materials like Kynar PVDF and Sartomer resins sit upstream in coatings and composites.
What they sell into buildings
Bostik covers tile setting systems, flooring adhesives, grouts, self‑leveling underlayments, primers, moisture mitigation, waterproofing membranes, and interior and exterior sealants. Across regions, that translates to hundreds of construction SKUs, from commodity mortars to premium one‑component adhesives. Arkema’s upstream brands supply resins and polymers that end up inside third‑party finishes and assemblies rather than job‑site pails and bags.
EPD coverage today
Bostik has product‑specific EPDs across multiple categories, including grouts, flooring adhesives, primers, and select sealants and coatings. Coverage is in the dozens and published with a mix of North American and European program operators, which fits how these goods are marketed and sold. Many documents are valid for several years beyond 2025, giving sales teams runway rather than a scramble.
Where the gaps show up
Coverage thins outside the core tile and flooring families. Specialty adhesives for panels, foam, and facade applications are not consistently backed by current EPDs across regions. Upstream Arkema materials like PVDF resins are typically embedded within a paint maker’s finished coating EPD, so the resin itself rarely carries a construction EPD. That can still be a blind spot if a customer asks for documentation at the component level.
A live spec risk and how competitors respond
On large interiors packages, spec teams often expect EPDs for waterproofing systems and high‑performance sealants used alongside tile and flooring. When an SKU lacks an EPD, specifiers default to conservative accounting that can penalize the product, so it is more likely to be swapped for a brand that has a verified declaration. Direct competitors in these lanes frequently include Mapei, Laticrete, Ardex, Sika, Tremco, and Soudal, many of whom publish product‑specific EPDs for comparable adhesives, mortars, membranes, or sealants. That makes the absence of an EPD less a technical gap and more a commercial handicap.
Where EPDs are strongest
Tile grouts and setting materials, wood and resilient flooring adhesives, and prep coats show the most consistent EPD presence. Group or family EPDs cover variants within a system, which is helpful when a project flips between similar performance grades. Regional coverage exists in both North America and Europe, reducing the usual headache of matching documentation to project location.
Practical moves to close the distance
Prioritize the top twenty SKUs by bid volume across tile, flooring, and building envelope. Pair family EPDs for mortar and SLC lines with product‑specific EPDs for hero adhesives that drive margin. Align to the common PCRs that competitors already use for adhesives, sealants, and architectural coatings so apples‑to‑apples comparisons are possible at submittal time. Keep regional variants inside the same declaration family when feasible, which trims future maintenance.
Why this matters for LEED‑minded buyers
LEED v5 continues to reward projects that specify product‑specific EPDs under materials credits, so every missing declaration is a chance for a rival to slot in. Teams that arrive with complete EPD sets avoid last‑minute substitutions that eat margin and delay approvals. The math is simple. One mid‑sized win often repays the documentation effort many times over.
Sustainability positioning and where to look
Arkema publishes broader goals on climate and circularity, while Bostik highlights safer chemistries and lower‑VOC solutions. For a quick pulse on targets and roadmaps, start with Arkema’s sustainability hub (Arkema Sustainability). It provides directional context that can amplify EPD messaging in RFPs and sales decks.
What this means for product and sales leaders
Arkema’s construction footprint is wide, and Bostik has a meaningful base of EPDs, yet room remains to strenghten coverage in specialty adhesives and envelope‑adjacent systems. Closing those gaps protects price, keeps SKUs in spec when carbon reporting tightens, and shortens the back‑and‑forth at submittal. Treat EPDs like a top‑of‑funnel accelerator and a late‑stage deal shield at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arkema a single‑category manufacturer or multi‑line player in construction?
Multi‑line. Construction touchpoints include Bostik adhesives and sealants, PMMA sheets, and PVDF resins used in architectural coatings. Bostik is the primary job‑site brand.
Roughly how many SKUs does Bostik sell into construction markets?
Hundreds globally, spanning tile setting, flooring, surface prep, waterproofing, and sealants. Exact counts vary by region and distribution.
Where is EPD coverage strongest for Arkema’s portfolio?
Tile and flooring systems, select primers and coatings, and some sealants show consistent EPD availability across North America and Europe.
What are typical gap areas for EPDs?
Specialty adhesives for panels and envelope, certain membranes, and component‑level documentation for upstream resins used by third‑party coating manufacturers.
Who does Arkema frequently compete with on EPD‑sensitive bids?
Mapei, Laticrete, Ardex, Sika, Tremco, and Soudal in adhesives and sealants, plus paint and coating manufacturers that publish EPDs for finished systems.
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.
