From the Forest: product range and EPD reality
From the Forest makes American‑made engineered wood floors and DIY‑friendly wall panels that hit a sweet spot for style, speed, and price. The open question for spec‑driven projects is simple. Do their best sellers come with third‑party EPDs that help teams clear LEED v5 and owner decarbonization gates, or are they leaving wins on the table?
Who they are
From the Forest is a Wisconsin manufacturer focused on engineered hardwood flooring and wood wall paneling, including nickel‑gap shiplap and sound‑damping panels. The offer is intentionally DIY‑friendly with click‑lock options, trims, adhesives, and install guides. Their sustainability page spotlights CARB Phase II, zero‑VOC finishes, and GREENGUARD Gold for low emissions (Sustainability).
What they sell, roughly how many
Two core families dominate the catalog. First, engineered hardwood in multiple species and plank formats. Second, decorative wall systems that span finished, printed, unfinished, and acoustic slat‑style panels, plus matching trims and supplies. Counting visible variants and accessories, the total selection sits in the dozens rather than hundreds, which keeps the line navigable for dealers and builders.
EPD coverage check
As of January 7, 2026, we did not find product‑specific EPDs for their flooring or wall panels on their site or among major public operator listings we reviewed. That absence does not reflect product quality. It does affect specability when owners require verified declarations to avoid conservative default factors in whole‑building carbon tools.
Why it matters in bids
Verified EPDs are a fast pass in many submittals. Most construction EPDs carry a five‑year validity window, which keeps refresh cycles predictable and planning sane (EPD International, 2024) (GPI FAQ). Teams chasing LEED v5 credits and corporate carbon budgets prefer products with third‑party declarations so they can count real numbers, not penalties.
How peers show up with EPDs
Engineered wood is a category where several manufacturers already publish product‑specific EPDs. Kährs lists EPDs covering multiple engineered thicknesses and plants, a helpful precedent for format and scope (Kährs, 2025). Junckers publishes EPDs for solid wood floors through EPD Denmark, frequently referenced on commercial sports and multipurpose jobs (Junckers, 2025). Tarkett’s wood collections are represented on EPD International as well (EPD International, 2025). These examples set the bar that specifiers compare against.
Wall panels, acoustics, and alternates
From the Forest’s sound‑damping wall panels compete with acoustic systems where EPDs are common. Cement‑bonded wood wool brands like Troldtekt and BAUX publish declarations that project teams routinely pull into LCA models. Troldtekt’s latest operator‑posted numbers show a 12 to 20 percent footprint drop versus its 2021 EPDs, a sign of how quickly category baselines move (EPD Denmark, 2025) (Troldtekt update). If a slat‑panel line lacks an EPD, it can be swapped for an alternative that has one when carbon targets are tight.
Where the EPD gaps likely are
EPDs appear absent for the flagship engineered collections and for the decorative and acoustic wall panels. Flooring is the commercial priority because it touches healthcare, workplace, education, and multifamily. Wall systems are next, especially SKUs marketed for sound control in offices and classrooms. If a hero SKU is winning retail mindshare but shows up without an EPD in plan‑spec‑bid, it risks being treated as a higher‑carbon assumption when modeled.
Competitors you will meet on plans
On wood floors, expect Kährs, Junckers, and Tarkett. In North America, AHF’s portfolio often shows up as the domestic alternative for engineered and solid wood. On acoustic walls, BAUX and Troldtekt are frequent presences, alongside PET‑felt panel suppliers in workplace fit‑outs. Different materials can fill the same slot on drawings when performance and paperwork match the brief.
A simple playbook to close the gap
Start with one product‑specific EPD for the highest‑velocity engineered line, scope under EN 15804 with the current construction PCR, then extend to two or three top variants so the range feels covered. Pick an LCA partner that actually collects plant data for you, not one that makes your team chase meters, energy bills, and waste tickets. That white‑glove lift is the difference between a six‑month slog and a clean, dependable EPD that sales can use tomorrow. EPDs typically remain valid for five years, which means the effort pays back across many bid cycles (EPD International, 2024) (General Programme Instructions).
Bottom line
From the Forest is well positioned on indoor air quality and American‑made storytelling. Publishing EPDs for the headline floors, then for the sound‑damping panels, would make those stories quantifiable in specs and prevent easy swaps when carbon caps bite. It is the shortest path to recieve more yeses in plan‑spec‑bid without changing the products at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which From the Forest product lines should receive EPDs first to maximize spec wins?
Begin with the highest‑volume engineered hardwood collection, then cover two or three top colorways or constructions, followed by the sound‑damping wall panels used in offices and education. This sequence protects the most bids fastest.
Are industry‑wide wood flooring EPDs enough for specs?
They help for baselines, but many teams now request product‑specific EPDs to avoid conservative default factors and to align with LEED v5 materials credits. Product‑specific declarations reduce the risk of being value‑engineered out late.
How long will an EPD stay valid after publication?
Most construction EPDs are issued with a five‑year validity period set by the program operator, after which they must be refreshed to remain current (EPD International, 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.
