Kohler’s first EPDs hit the spec stage
Kohler Co. just published its first wave of Environmental Product Declarations. That moves core plumbing SKUs from “nice design” to “documented performance,” which matters when teams must show carbon math at bid time. Here is what launched, where it lands in Division 22, and how it stacks up against the fixtures players architects already know.
What Kohler launched
Kohler Co. now has 5 current EPDs covering select bath and shower valve trims and a commercial flushometer. Product lines in scope include Components (deck‑mount bath spout and thermostatic trim), Modulo (thermostatic bath and shower trim), Composed (two‑way diverter with handshower), and the Mach Tripoint touchless toilet flushometer. All five list validity through July 1, 2030. These sit squarely in Division 22 Plumbing for faucets, mixing valves, diverters, and flushometers.
If an EPD developer or program operator is named publicly, call it out in your submittals. In this case, EC3 did not display the operator within the listing at the time of our review (January 5, 2026).
Why this matters commercially
In many proposals, a product without a product‑specific, third‑party verified EPD forces design teams to model worst‑case carbon. That adds friction and risk in scoring, so EPD‑backed SKUs tend to stay in play longer. Kohler’s debut puts branded trims and a flushometer into the documented set, which helps reps defend a preferred aesthetic without asking the specifier to take on extra accounting. It also makes refresh cycles easier across hospitality and mixed‑use where brand consistency is prized.
Quick company context
Kohler is a global fixtures brand serving residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. The portfolio spans faucets, valves, showering, toilets, and smart bathroom controls, which means EPDs in even a few high‑velocity SKUs can unlock outsized spec influence across families and finishes.
Competitive snapshot
- Flushometers and commercial faucets have been EPD territory for Sloan for several years, including diaphragm and piston flushometers as well as multiple lines of sensor faucets via SCS Global Services. TOTO publishes EPDs for touchless commercial faucets through Sustainable Minds. European peers like GROHE and Hansgrohe publish group and product EPDs for mixers, thermostats, and shower components through EPD International AB and IBU.
- Translation for day‑to‑day selling, Kohler just moved key trims and a flushometer into the same verified conversation as Sloan’s commercial workhorses and aligns with the documentation posture of GROHE and Hansgrohe on thermostatic gear. That closes a competitive gap in plan‑spec‑build and negotiated work.
Scope notes for spec writers
- The listed EPDs appear product‑specific to named models within Components, Modulo, and Composed plus the Mach Tripoint flushometer. Treat them as product‑level declarations when assembling Division 22 schedules and submittals.
- Check installation variants. Diverter and thermostatic trims often share cartridges across handles and escutcheons, yet an EPD may only name specific kits. Confirm model coverage to avoid a last‑minute substitution tangle.
Where to find them on Kohler.com
Kohler hosts a central page for LEED and environmental documentation that aggregates categories and documentation pointers. Start here and route to the relevant product family: Kohler LEED and EPDs. We did not see direct links to the new valve and flushometer EPD PDFs yet, so adding those to the product pages and the sustainability hub would raise visibility quickly. Visibility is spec fuel, so don’t hide the win.
What to do next if you are on the team
- Prioritize coverage across the most‑specified families and finishes first. Teams feel the gap when only a subset of trims or flow rates carry declarations.
- Use the new EPDs to standardize Division 22 language. Call out product‑specific EPDs in the basis‑of‑design note so alternates must meet like‑for‑like documentation.
- Keep data collection rolling so the next set of SKUs can be documented faster. The easiest way to win time back is to pick an LCA partner who takes the data‑wrangling off your plate and keeps PCR alignment tight, rather than asking engineering to calcluate everything themselves.
Bottom line
Kohler has entered the transparency arena with five EPD‑backed plumbing SKUs. That shores up credibility against Sloan in commercial restrooms, puts thermostatic and diverter trims in the same conversation as GROHE and Hansgrohe, and gives specifiers fewer reasons to swap out a Kohler look they already want. Make the documents easy to find, keep expanding coverage, and let the brand equity do the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kohler product categories are covered by these first EPDs?
Select bath and shower valve trims in the Components, Modulo, and Composed lines, plus the Mach Tripoint touchless toilet flushometer. All fall within Division 22 Plumbing.
Are these EPDs product-specific or group EPDs?
They appear product‑specific to named models. Verify model numbers in submittals so alternates match the documented scope.
Do competitors already have EPDs for similar products?
Yes. Sloan publishes EPDs for flushometers and sensor faucets via SCS Global Services, TOTO publishes faucet EPDs via Sustainable Minds, and GROHE/Hansgrohe publish EPDs for mixers and thermostats via EPD International AB or IBU.
Where can specifiers access Kohler’s sustainability documents?
Start at Kohler’s LEED and environmental documentation hub: https://www.kohler.com/en/browse/leed-certification. We recommend linking the new EPD PDFs directly on the corresponding product pages for faster access.
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.
