Flex: EPD readiness for data‑center power
Flex builds the gear behind the world’s fastest data halls. Think power pods, switchgear, rack cooling and high‑density power modules. That footprint puts Flex in more construction specs than you might expect. The catch is EPD coverage, which lags the portfolio and can quietly block shortlist momentum when projects prefer or require product‑specific declarations.
Flex at a glance
Flex is a global design and manufacturing partner with net sales of about $25.8 billion in fiscal year 2025 (Flex Q4 FY2025 Results, 2025). The company expanded U.S. capacity in 2025 with a 400,000 square‑foot Dallas facility focused on power products, including power pods, PDUs and low‑voltage switchgear (Flex Dallas Facility Release, 2025). Flex also announced a data‑center platform aimed at faster deployment for AI‑scale sites (Flex AI Infrastructure Platform Release, 2025).
You can explore Flex’s broader sustainability commitments and progress in their sustainability reports.
What Flex actually sells into buildings
Flex’s construction‑adjacent catalog today spans data‑center power and thermal gear. That includes prefabricated power pods and skids, PDUs, low‑voltage switchgear, high‑density racks, liquid cooling components and DC/DC power modules. Its new modular rack‑level coolant distribution unit scales to 1.8 MW per rack bank for AI and HPC loads (Flex Modular CDU Release, 2025).
Across these families, the practical SKU count is easily in the dozens per line and likely in the hundreds across variants and regions.
EPD coverage today
We could not locate product‑specific EPDs published by Flex or Flex Power Modules in major public registries as of November 26, 2025. That gap is common for contract manufacturers that historically build for brand owners. For specifiers, the brand on the nameplate usually needs the declaration.
Why that matters in the spec room
When an electrical or MEP package calls for verified, product‑specific EPDs, the absence forces teams to model with conservative generics. That can add a penalty to embodied‑carbon tallies, which nudges buyers toward comparable products that do have third‑party verified data. Translation, you risk getting swapped late in design even when price and performance are on point.
Competitor reality check
Several electrical heavyweights actively publish declarations across switchgear, drives, breakers and ATS. Schneider Electric publicly reports more than 2,000 EPDs online as of 2024, with a program to scale coverage to tens of thousands of products (Schneider Electric Blog, 2024). ABB lists EPDs for categories like automatic transfer switches and disconnects in its publication library (ABB Electrification U.S. Publications, 2024–2025). Eaton, Legrand and Siemens also appear frequently in PEP Ecopassport and other operator catalogs.
Likely Flex best‑sellers that need declarations
If we prioritize by spec frequency in data centers and advanced industrial builds, five candidates jump out:
- Low‑voltage switchgear lineups and main boards
- Prefabricated power pods and skids
- Rack‑level and in‑row CDUs, manifolds and quick‑connect assemblies
- PDUs and busway components
- Board‑mounted DC/DC power modules where they constitute delivered equipment
These map cleanly to established rulebooks. Electrical and HVAC‑R products typically fit PEP Ecopassport PCRs, with UL Solutions and other operators offering EN 15804 or ISO 14025 programs where needed.
Picking the right PCR, fast
The pragmatic path is to scan what the nearest competitors used, then match that PCR to your offering. For electrical distribution and automation, PEP Ecopassport is often the default, with product‑family declarations possible when SKUs vary by rating. Where cooling hardware behaves more like building components than electronics, EPD International or regional systems can be a better fit. A seasoned LCA partner will validate scope, set the functional unit and align publication plans to commercial launch windows.
Making data collection painless
High‑quality EPDs live or die on plant data. The smoothest programs remove the burden from engineering and operations, harvest utility, waste and bill‑of‑materials data with minimal disruption, and keep audits predictable. Expect white‑glove help to stitch together supplier footprints, normalization rules and allocation for multi‑product lines. Do not settle for a process that leaves most of the data wrangling on your team’s plate, it slows everything.
Sustainability signals you can already use
Flex reports a 43 percent reduction in absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions from a 2019 baseline by 2024, which is a credible head start when owners ask about enviromental governance (Flex Sustainability Reports and Disclosures, 2025). Turning that enterprise progress into product‑level EPDs is what wins specs in electrical rooms.
The specability outlook
Flex has the manufacturing scale, a growing U.S. footprint, and a product mix that lives at the heart of modern data‑center builds. The commercial unlock now is straightforward. Publish a first wave of product‑specific EPDs for switchgear, PDUs and CDUs, then expand to pods and select power modules. That moves Flex from sustainability‑strong to spec‑ready where many bids quietly keep score.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Flex’s manufacturing footprint tied to power infrastructure in the U.S.?
Flex announced a new 400,000 square‑foot Dallas facility in February 2025 to scale power pods, PDUs and low‑voltage switchgear (Flex Dallas Facility Release, 2025).
Which program operator fits Flex’s electrical products best for EPDs?
For switchgear, PDUs and drives, PEP Ecopassport PCRs are widely used by peer brands. UL Solutions and EPD International also host programs aligned with EN 15804 and ISO 14025.
Do Flex’s sustainability metrics help if there are no product EPDs yet?
They help frame intent and progress. Flex cites a 43% Scope 1 and 2 reduction from 2019 to 2024, but specs usually require product‑specific, third‑party verified EPDs to count in scoring (Flex Sustainability Reports and Disclosures, 2025).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
