Holcim Elevate’s EPD picture, product by product
Holcim Elevate, built on the former Firestone Building Products platform, is a roofing and building‑envelope heavyweight. The catalog spans membranes, insulation, cover boards and more, yet public EPD coverage is uneven by region. Here is where they are strong today, where gaps likely cost specs, and the first moves that would shift momentum fast.
Who Elevate is, and where they play
Elevate is Holcim’s building‑envelope brand focused on low‑slope commercial roofing and adjacent components. Think full systems rather than single items, sold into healthcare, education, logistics, retail, and office footprints.
What they sell in practical terms
Core lines include EPDM and TPO single‑ply membranes, asphaltic modified bitumen, polyiso roof and wall insulation, high‑density cover boards, adhesives and primers, walkway pads, fasteners, and edge metal. It is not a pure play in one material type. Across variants, thicknesses, and formats, the active catalog likely runs into the hundreds of SKUs.
EPDs in the wild today
Public program‑operator records show current EPDM membrane EPDs for the European market under EN 15804+A2, hosted on INIES with validity running into 2029 (INIES, 2029). North American listings are thinner. Elevate’s own sustainability page references EPDs for TPO, EPDM, asphalt sheets, low‑VOC adhesives, and polyiso, yet several appear older or limited to certain assemblies, which suggests coverage gaps by product, region, or both.
See Elevate’s sustainability hub for how they frame the portfolio.
Where coverage looks solid
- EPDM membranes in Europe have current, product‑specific EPDs aligned to EN 15804+A2 (INIES, 2029).
For teams selling into EU public tenders or private projects with EN‑aligned requirements, that is a credible foundation.
The notable gaps holding back specs
In the United States, TPO membranes and polyiso insulation are likely best‑sellers by volume, yet up‑to‑date, easily discoverable, product‑specific EPDs are hard to find across the full range. When a project team cannot locate a current EPD, they default to conservative factors that create a carbon penalty in material accounting. That makes a product less "specfication ready" on LEED v5‑targeted work and many owner standards.
Competitors that already show up with paperwork
This is not a materials beauty contest, it is a paperwork reality check.
- GAF lists current EPDs for several TPO membranes and for multiple polyiso lines, with validity dates extending into 2029 and 2030 (NSF International, 2029) (NSF International, 2030).
- Carlisle Construction Materials publishes EPDs for EPDM and TPO membranes with validity into 2028 and 2029 under the ASTM program (ASTM International, 2028) (ASTM International, 2029).
If a project mandates product‑specific EPDs, these competitors are simpler to select on day one. That does not mean their impacts are lower, only that their documentation removes friction.
What would move the needle fastest
Start with the workhorses. Fresh, product‑specific EPDs for the main TPO assemblies and headline polyiso SKUs in North America would unlock the broadest spec access. Next, cover boards and key adhesives should follow, since many public footprints require full‑system documentation. Pick the PCRs commonly used by peers so comparability is clear to reviewers, and confirm the program operator aligns with where the spec lives.
Why this matters to commercial ROI
Most buyers do not parse EPD vintage inside the validity window. They do care whether a compliant, third‑party EPD exists at all, since it keeps the submittal clean and avoids default penalties in carbon reporting. In competitive bids, that single PDF often makes the difference between easy acceptance and a week of back‑and‑forth that ends in a swap.
How to approach the work with less strain
Data wrangling, not modeling, is the schedule killer. A partner who can orchestrate utility pulls, batch BOM exports, and plant‑level waste tracking across sites in weeks rather than quarters keeps engineering and operations focused on production while the paperwork moves. The result is credible, comparable EPDs published with the operator your market prefers.
Bottom line for Elevate watchers
Elevate’s product depth is an asset, and their EU EPDM EPDs show the path. Closing US gaps on TPO and polyiso first would pay back quickly in spec wins, especially on LEED v5‑oriented campuses and owner standards that already prefer product‑specific EPDs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Elevate’s main product families and why does that matter for EPDs?
They sell full roof systems: membranes (EPDM, TPO, asphalt), polyiso insulation for roof and wall, cover boards, adhesives, fasteners, and metal edge. EPDs should prioritize the highest‑volume items and the assemblies most often specified together so submittals stay clean and comparable.
Does Elevate have current EPDs today?
Yes in Europe for EPDM membranes under EN 15804+A2 with validity into 2029 (INIES, 2029). In North America, public listings appear limited, so refreshing TPO and polyiso EPDs would create the biggest immediate spec lift.
Which competitors typically appear on the same bid lists?
Carlisle, GAF, Sika Sarnafil, SOPREMA, Johns Manville, Hunter Panels, and Owens Corning for polyiso. Several have current, public EPDs for TPO and polyiso that make submittals straightforward (NSF International, 2029) (ASTM International, 2028).
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.
