CSR: Products and EPD coverage snapshot
CSR is a multi‑brand building materials heavyweight in Australia and New Zealand. Think plasterboard, fibre‑cement, autoclaved aerated concrete, insulation and permanent formwork. If your projects lean on walls, ceilings, façades or basements, CSR likely has a system in the mix. The big question for specifiers today is simple: how fully are those ranges covered by product‑specific EPDs, and where are the gaps that could slow down approvals or lose a spec at the last minute?
Who CSR is and what they actually sell
CSR sits behind several well‑known brands that show up across residential, commercial and industrial jobs. Core ranges include Gyprock plasterboard and compounds, Cemintel fibre‑cement façades and linings, Hebel AAC panels and blocks, Bradford glasswool and rockwool insulation plus reflective foils, and AFS permanent formwork for structural walls. Their sustainability overview is here for quick context (CSR Sustainability, 2025).
Breadth of the catalogue
Across those families, CSR participates in at least five distinct product categories used by architects and GCs every day. SKU count stretches into the hundreds across thicknesses, densities, formats, finishes and system accessories. That breadth makes EPD coverage strategy more like managing a squad than a solo act.
EPD momentum brand by brand
Coverage has stepped up materially since late 2024.
- Gyprock released a plasterboard EPD valid through November 2029, compliant with EN 15804 A2 (EPD Australasia, 2024) (EPD Australasia, 2024).
- Hebel published multiple EPDs covering systems such as SoundBarrier and PowerFloor, valid into late 2029 (EPD International, 2024) (EPD International, 2024).
- Cemintel launched three EPDs spanning Prefinished, Paint‑on‑site and Trade Essentials fibre‑cement ranges, valid to November 2029 (EPD Australasia, 2024).
- Bradford added EPDs for HVAC and roofing insulation products in April 2025, valid to April 2030 (EPD International, 2025).
- AFS Rediwall landed a permanent formwork EPD in March 2025, valid to March 2030 (EPD Australasia, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Net result. CSR now has live, third‑party verified EPDs across its flagship gypsum, fibre‑cement, AAC, insulation and permanent formwork lines. That is real progress.
Where the blind spots likely remain
Big portfolios always have stragglers. Accessories and system add‑ons tend to lag, such as plasterboard joint compounds, adhesives, sealants, sarking variants and sundry trims. Even when the board or panel is covered, missing EPDs on the supporting pieces can force teams to model with conservative defaults. That creates an avoidable embodied‑carbon penalty and slows documentation when carbon reporting is in scope for LEED v5‑aligned clients.
Why it matters commercially
When a product carries a product‑specific, EN 15804 A2‑compliant EPD, design teams can use that declared data directly rather than a generic or penalized factor. In tight tenders, the presence of a current EPD keeps the conversation on performance and availability rather than price alone. We see that effect across interiors and envelope packages, where one uncovered line item can make a whole system look heavier than it is.
The competitive set on live projects
- Plasterboard: Knauf Gypsum has a suite of plasterboard EPDs valid to August 2029 in Australia (EPD Australasia, 2024) (EPD Australasia, 2024).
- Insulation: Fletcher Insulation registered multiple EPDs across batts, roofing blankets and HVAC lines in June 2025, valid to 2030 (EPD Australasia, 2025).
- Permanent formwork and walling: alternatives like Dincel are common in basements and cores. Where a competitor has a current EPD and a comparable engineering pathway, that can sway projects in healthcare, education or mixed‑use where enviromental data is scrutinized early.
Translation. In head‑to‑head specs, CSR’s recent EPDs close historic gaps in gypsum, fibre‑cement, AAC and insulation, but continued work on compounds, foils and smaller accessories will tighten the defense against swaps.
A quick playbook to close remaining gaps
- Prioritize high‑volume accessories that ride along with already‑covered boards and panels. Joint compounds, adhesives and foils often unlock whole systems.
- Choose the dominant PCR used by competitors to keep comparisons apples to apples. A2 compliance is now table stakes in Australasia.
- Publish where your buyers search. EPD Australasia plus ECO Platform visibility speeds up design team adoption.
- Make data collection painless. A partner who handles plant‑level data pulls, QA, and operator submission end to end keeps R&D and ops focused on production while the paperwork moves. That’s how timelines shrink from quarters to weeks.
What we’d watch next
Three things. First, keep an eye on renewal cadence so nothing drifts inside the last six months of validity. Second, expand EPDs to the accessories that complete wall and façade systems. Third, align messaging across brand sites like Gyprock, Hebel, Cemintel, Bradford and AFS so specifiers dont hunt for documents.
If you’re planning new declarations, pick a recent reference year, lock the PCR, and confirm the publishing operator before modeling. It keeps the EPDs comparable, credible and ready for the next bid cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CSR brands currently have product-specific EPDs and until when are they valid?
Recent releases include Gyprock plasterboard valid to Nov 22, 2029 (EPD Australasia, 2024), multiple Hebel systems valid to late 2029 (EPD International, 2024), Cemintel fibre‑cement ranges valid to Nov 27, 2029 (EPD Australasia, 2024), Bradford insulation lines valid to Apr 14, 2030 (EPD International, 2025), and AFS Rediwall valid to Mar 18, 2030 (EPD Australasia, 2025).
Where are the likely EPD gaps in CSR’s portfolio today?
Accessories and add‑ons often lag, such as joint compounds, adhesives, sealants, certain reflective foils and system trims. Covering these closes carbon accounting loopholes that can penalize an otherwise covered wall or façade package.
Who are the main competitors with active EPDs in Australia and New Zealand?
Knauf Gypsum publishes plasterboard EPDs valid to 2029 (EPD Australasia, 2024). Fletcher Insulation registered multiple insulation EPDs in 2025 valid to 2030 (EPD Australasia, 2025).
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
