REHAU Group: big portfolio, small EPD footprint
REHAU Group sits in many construction conversations at once. Window and door systems. Plumbing and radiant. Pre‑insulated distribution. Interior components. That breadth is a strength, yet when specifiers filter by environmental product declarations, the story shifts. Here is what they make, where EPDs show up today, and how to close the gap fast.
The company at a glance
REHAU Group (reahugroup.com) spans building solutions, window and door profiles, and interior components for furniture and retail. The building‑facing brands most specifiers recognize trade simply as REHAU. The portfolio combines polymer know‑how with systems thinking, which is why they show up in both envelope and MEP scopes.
What they sell into construction
Across regions, REHAU offers PVC and composite window systems, curtain‑wall and façade accessories, plumbing and heating systems built around PEX and multilayer pipes, pre‑insulated district energy lines, underfloor heating and cooling, geothermal loops, and installation accessories. That is several distinct product families that land in Division 07, 08, 21 to 23, and site utilities. SKU counts across all of this are in the hundreds.
Current EPD coverage
We find one current, third‑party EPD for a REHAU window system family in Europe under IBU, which aligns with EN 15804. That shows the door is open. Coverage beyond windows looks light right now across plumbing, radiant, and pre‑insulated pipe systems in key markets. EPDs typically carry a five‑year validity window, so even a small set can work hard for multiple bid cycles (IBU, 2024).
Likely gaps that matter commercially
If plumbing and radiant are among REHAU’s best sellers, the absence of product‑specific EPDs for PEX‑a potable water pipe and for in‑slab heating pipe is a risk. Those lines appear frequently in healthcare, education, offices, and multifamily, where owners and design teams increasingly sort longlists by verified declarations. Without one, teams default to conservative generic values that create a quiet penalty against specability.
Competitors specifiers will compare
In potable water and radiant pipe, Uponor publishes a broad set of EPDs for PEX and pre‑insulated networks. Geberit carries EPDs for drainage and installation systems. Wavin shows EPDs for stormwater and sewer components. Viega posts EPDs for pressing systems and distribution components. In windows and façades, VEKA and Deceuninck are frequent peers depending on region.
A concrete example
Take a common decision point. A spec calls for PEX‑a for hot and cold water distribution. If a REHAU RAUTITAN equivalent is offered without a product‑specific EPD and a competitor’s PEX‑a with a current declaration is available, many design teams will lean to the option with verified data to keep carbon accounting clean for LEED v5 intents and client ESG policies. That is not theoretical pressure. It plays out daily in submittal reviews, and specifers notice.
Where to start for fast traction
- Prioritize EPDs for regional best sellers that repeat across projects. Potable PEX‑a, radiant PEX in slabs, and pre‑insulated heat or aqua lines are the short list.
- Publish one window‑system EPD per major series per region, then extend to doors and accessories where volume justifies.
- Use one reference year of factory data and lock a repeatable plan for updates. Pick sites with the cleanest data pipelines to move quickly.
Program operator choices
IBU is a natural home base in Europe for REHAU’s windows and profiles. North American plumbing and radiant products can publish with operators recognized by local green building programs. The operator choice matters less than speed to market and the data completeness behind the LCA model.
What good looks like in 90 days
A right‑sized EPD set that covers one window series and two to three piping families defends most current bids. It also gives sales the confidence to pursue projects that previously felt out of reach. Keep submission packets simple, align on one PCR per family, and avoid bespoke one‑offs unless a flagship customer requires it. Do the unglamorous data work once, then reuse it across closely related SKUs. That is how the flywheel starts moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many categories does REHAU serve in construction and how many SKUs roughly?
Several distinct families across envelope and MEP. The combined SKU count across windows, plumbing, radiant, and pre‑insulated distribution sits in the hundreds.
Does REHAU have EPDs today and where?
We see a current EPD for a REHAU window system under IBU in Europe. Coverage beyond windows appears light across plumbing, radiant, and pre‑insulated pipe systems.
Which competitors commonly appear head‑to‑head in bids?
Uponor for PEX and pre‑insulated networks, Geberit for drainage and installation products, Wavin for stormwater and sewer, Viega for pressing systems, and VEKA or Deceuninck in windows.
What is the fastest path to close EPD gaps?
Start with high‑volume lines that repeat across projects. Publish product‑specific EPDs for potable PEX‑a, in‑slab radiant PEX, and one flagship window series per region, then expand.
How long do EPDs stay valid?
Typically five years per program operator rules, after which renewal aligns with the latest PCR version (IBU, 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.
