Schüco: product range and EPD coverage in 2025
Schüco is a heavyweight in building envelopes. Specifiers increasingly ask a simple question before anything else lands in the submittal queue: which of your systems have current, product‑specific EPDs, and where are the gaps that still push us to generic proxies?
Who Schüco is
Schüco, headquartered in Bielefeld, designs and supplies aluminium and PVC‑U systems for the building envelope. The portfolio spans windows, doors, sliding solutions, façades and unitized curtain walls, plus sun shading, ventilation, mechatronic hardware and digital tools.
How broad is the catalog
Across these families, Schüco serves several distinct product categories with variants by thermal break depth, acoustics, impact, security and automation. The total SKU count sits comfortably in the hundreds when you consider options by glazing, hardware, finishes and performance classes.
Where EPDs exist today
Schüco has multiple third‑party verified EPDs for aluminium profiles, including low‑carbon and ultra‑low‑carbon billets that feed its systems, and for selected flagship assemblies. Publicly named examples include AWS window systems and FWS façade modules. These cover high‑visibility lines and show a maturing EPD practice across both semi‑finished profiles and assembled fenestration.
What’s likely still uncovered
Coverage looks partial across the full catalog. Sliding systems, certain door families, unitized curtain wall variants, sun shading and some mechatronic options appear thin on EPDs. That matters because, in specs that prioritize declarations, any SKU without a product‑specific EPD often gets modeled with conservative defaults that make selection harder. It is not only a sustainability story, it is a revenue story.
A missed layup example
Sliding doors are classic best‑sellers in multifamily and hospitality. If a leading Schüco sliding line lacks an assembly‑level EPD for a target market, teams can pivot to competitors that publish them for comparable systems. Brands frequently seen in these head‑to‑head moments include Reynaers, Hydro’s WICONA, Kawneer, Aluprof and YKK AP. When the short list is tight, the EPD can be the tiebreaker that keeps price from becoming the only lever.
Why the clock matters to sales
Most construction EPDs are valid for five years under program operator rules, so staying current avoids last‑minute scrambles during prequalification windows (IBU FAQ, 2025) (IBU FAQ, 2025). LEED v5 is now live and continues to recognize verified, product‑specific EPDs inside its materials framework, which keeps owner and GC requests coming on U.S. jobs in 2025 (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC, 2025).
Competitors Schüco often meets in the spec lane
Project by project, the usual comparison set includes aluminium system houses with deep catalogs and active EPD programs: Reynaers on windows, doors and sliding; WICONA in façade and sliders; Kawneer across entrances, sliders and curtain wall; Aluprof with extensive European lines; and YKK AP in North America with UL‑verified EPDs across seven façade categories. Each has overlapping applications in offices, education, healthcare and hospitality, so EPD presence directly influences swap‑ability in submittals.
What great coverage looks like
Think in layers. First, keep material‑level EPDs for aluminium profiles current. Second, add assembly‑level EPDs for the revenue engines in each region: one or two hero windows, a top sliding system, a market‑standard door and one façade system. Third, fill obvious holes in accessories that affect final selections, like integrated shading or balcony configurations.
Fast path to close the gaps
Two moves save the most time. Pick one program operator per region and standardize templates and PCR choices so verifiers see a consistent approach. Then set a quarterly cadence for data pulls from plants and suppliers, not an annual scramble. The right LCA partner will run the gritty data collection and verifier coordination so engineering leaders stay focused on product, not spreadsheets. Done well, this turns EPD work from a stress spike into a repeatable release cycle. It is definately the smarter way to work.
Want to see their stance on sustainability
Schüco maintains a detailed sustainability portal with strategy, metrics and document downloads that are useful for bid narratives and ESG reviews. You can find it here: Schüco Sustainability.
Bottom line for manufacturers
Schüco’s EPD footprint shows meaningful momentum on core profiles and select systems, yet the catalog breadth means gaps remain. The commercial upside is clear. Wherever a best‑seller lacks a current, product‑specific EPD, competitors with assembly‑level declarations gain an instant edge on LEED‑chasing projects and corporate policies that favor verified disclosures. Lock in a predictable EPD pipeline and you stay in the choice set more often, at better margins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Schüco’s EPDs mainly material‑level or assembly‑level?
Both exist. There are EPDs for aluminium profiles, including low‑carbon variants, and for selected window and façade systems. The wider catalog still has room to expand assembly‑level coverage.
How many Schüco product categories are we talking about overall?
Several. Windows, doors, sliding, façades, unitized curtain walls, sun shading, ventilation and mechatronic hardware are all present, with total SKUs in the hundreds when options are included.
Why is EPD validity timing important for sales teams?
EPDs typically carry a five‑year validity. Keeping them current prevents last‑minute prequal issues and avoids being modeled with penalty proxies in building LCAs (IBU FAQ, 2025) (IBU FAQ, 2025).
Does LEED v5 still value product‑specific EPDs?
Yes. LEED v5 is active and continues to recognize verified, product‑specific EPDs within its materials framework, so project teams still request them on U.S. jobs (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC, 2025).
About the Author
With a passion for sustainability and a love for complex data, Toby helps manufacturers efficiently collect data from across their organization and get their EPDs done right. He’s especially interested in how AI can support human expertise, helping R&D and factory teams work faster, smarter, and with less friction.
