Designtex: surfaces, textiles, and the EPD gap
Designtex is a go-to for contract textiles and wallcoverings. The palette is broad, the performance story is strong, and the sustainability messaging is active. Yet when specifiers ask for product‑specific EPDs, the trail gets quiet. Here’s the quick read on what they make, where EPDs show up, and how that affects getting written into projects that now expect declared impacts.
What Designtex makes
Designtex designs and manufactures applied materials for interiors: upholstery textiles, Type II wallcoverings, digitally printed wallcoverings, and coated textiles. Their Digital Studio library spans 80+ customizable patterns, which is a helpful scale signal for specifiers (Designtex, 2025) (Designtex, 2025). By the Yard printing runs out of a 26,000 sq ft Portland, Maine facility with SCS Indoor Advantage Gold noted across wallcovering substrates (Designtex, 2025) (Designtex, 2025).
Breadth and likely SKU volume
Across textiles and wallcoverings the commercial assortment runs into the hundreds of SKUs, from PVC‑free non‑vinyl Type II wallcoverings to classic woven upholsteries and new bio‑based coated options. A visible circularity initiative reports 65k pounds of textile waste upcycled into new yarn for the Loop to Loop platform, signaling scale and throughput (Designtex, 2025) (Designtex, 2025).
EPD coverage today
Based on a review of product resources on shop pages and major EPD operator registries as of December 19, 2025, we do not see product‑specific EPDs published for Designtex’s core wallcoverings or upholstery. Many items do carry HPDs and low‑VOC certifications, which are useful, but they are not a substitute for a verified EPD in carbon‑accounted projects.
Why that matters in specs
Teams pursuing LEED and owner sustainability policies often prioritize products with product‑specific EPDs so carbon accounting doesn’t rely on conservative defaults. Without an EPD, otherwise qualified materials can face a selection penalty. This matters more than it first apears.
A representative gap
Take Air Wall, a long‑running non‑vinyl Type II pattern. Its resources include HPD, SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, and LEED documentation, but no product‑specific EPD is listed on the page. Multiply that across similar substrates, and the portfolio’s EPD signal to specifiers stays faint.
Competitors likely to show up on the same projects
In wallcoverings and upholstery for workplace, healthcare, hospitality, and education, Designtex often meets Carnegie Fabrics and KnollTextiles. Carnegie publishes a third‑party verified EPD for Biobased Xorel unbacked textile under the International EPD System, valid through 2029, which gives them a clear declare‑and‑compare artifact for specs (EPD International, 2024). KnollTextiles communicates a suite of NSF‑verified EPDs across wallcoverings and upholstery, making EPD documentation easy to surface alongside other proofs (Knoll, 2025).
Where to start if EPDs become a priority
If the team wants fast traction, begin with high‑volume substrates that repeat across many patterns. For wallcoverings, one substrate‑level EPD can often unlock dozens of SKUs that share the same construction. Match the prevailing PCR competitors use in textiles and wall finishes so reviewers can compare apples to apples. Choose a program operator that specifiers know and trust, and keep renewals on a calendar so validity never becomes a surprise.
Sustainability posture worth noting
Designtex publicly states it became a PFAS‑free company as of October 1, 2024, and highlights bio‑based and circular materials in current launches, including a bio‑based polyurethane coated textile. The material‑health focus is strong, and the story will land even better once impact transparency is paired with EPDs. See their summary here: Designtex Sustainability.
The takeaway for manufacturers watching this space
Designtex shows how a respected brand with hundreds of SKUs, rich design IP, and clear material‑health credentials can still leave specification wins on the table by not publishing product‑specific EPDs. For anyone in a similar position, the fastest commercial lift usually comes from picking the few substrates that cover the most revenue and getting those EPDs done with a partner who makes data collection painless and keeps momentum high.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Designtex currently publish product-specific EPDs for wallcoverings or upholstery?
As of December 19, 2025, we could not locate product‑specific EPDs for their core wallcoverings or upholstery on product resources or major EPD operator registries. Many products do carry HPDs and low‑VOC certifications.
How broad is Designtex’s product range and how many SKUs do they likely have?
They serve multiple categories, notably wallcoverings, digitally printed wallcoverings, coated textiles, and upholstery fabrics. The active assortment appears to be in the hundreds of SKUs.
Which competitors in textiles and wallcoverings commonly present EPDs?
Carnegie Fabrics publishes an EPD for Biobased Xorel under the International EPD System (valid to 2029) and KnollTextiles lists NSF‑verified EPDs across select wallcoverings and textiles.
What quick EPD strategy covers the most SKUs with the least effort?
Prioritize high‑volume, common substrates used across many patterns. Develop one substrate‑level EPD under the same PCR competitors use, then extend to other substrates as sales data dictates.
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.
