Swisspearl: product lineup and EPD coverage
Swisspearl is a focused fiber‑cement player: rainscreen facades, roofing slates, and a small set of build boards. The headline for specifiers is simple. Their core facade families and slates have product‑specific EPDs in place, with a few newer coated plank and panel variants that look like candidates for the next wave.
Who Swisspearl is
Swisspearl Group makes fiber‑cement materials for building envelopes, and since acquiring Cembrit in 2022 they operate as a single European platform. Their public sustainability targets include zero landfill waste and no drinking‑water use in production by 2030, plus carbon neutrality across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2040 (Swisspearl Sustainability Pillars, 2024) (Swisspearl, 2024).
What they sell
The portfolio centers on ventilated facade boards under lines like Carat, Avera, Vintago, Nobilis, Terra, Reflex, Planea, Zenor and textured options such as Gravial. Roofing slates sit alongside coated wood‑look plank and panel products for soffits, fascia, and accents, plus functional “Windstopper” build boards for air and moisture control. It is a pure‑play in fiber‑cement, not a scattershot catalog.
How many SKUs this really is
Across colorways, formats, and finishes, facade boards add up into the hundreds of SKUs. Roofing slates land in the dozens across sizes and colors. Functional boards are a smaller set. That breadth means Swisspearl usually has a like‑for‑like aesthetic ready when architects pivot during design development.
EPD coverage at a glance
Recent IBU‑verified EPDs cover the flagship facade families and roof slates, with validity stretching well into 2029 for several declarations (IBU, 2024). A few legacy declarations are nearing renewal, which is normal as PCRs evolve and brands refresh their lines. For day‑to‑day specification, these current EPDs clear the bar for project teams who prefer product‑specific data under EN 15804.
Likely gaps worth closing next
We could not find product‑specific EPDs publicly listed for some newer coated variants marketed as Panel, Plank Connect and Deco. If these are among their higher‑volume US placements, prioritizing EPDs for those SKUs would remove friction where owners or GCs now ask for a submittal trail on every visible exterior component. If we missed a fresh publication, great, but if not it is definitly low‑hanging fruit.
The competitive set you will meet on submittals
Two names show up again and again.
- EQUITONE by Etex publishes multiple fiber‑cement panel EPDs with expiry dates into 2029, for example the [natura] family via EPD Hub (EPD Hub, 2024) (EPD Hub, 2024).
- James Hardie’s fiber‑cement cladding has a current International EPD System record valid through December 2027 for an external cladding set, which specifiers often point to in submittals (EPD International, 2022) (EPD International, 2022).
Architects sometimes swap toward high‑pressure laminate rivals for a similar look. Trespa or FunderMax are common alternates in offices, healthcare and education when fire class, maintenance, or palette drives the choice. Those materials are different categories, yet they compete for the same elevations.
Why coverage matters commercially
On LEED v5‑targeted projects and corporate frameworks that prefer product‑specific EPDs, a missing declaration pushes teams to apply conservative defaults that can penalize a product in the carbon tally. Having an EPD ready keeps the conversation on design, performance, and lead times rather than on exceptions and workarounds. One mid‑size facade package often repays the paperwork in avoided substitutions.
What we would do next if we were in their shoes
- Lock coverage on any coated plank and panel lines used in North American multifamily, education, and light commercial. Those SKUs are frequent alternates to fiber‑cement competitors with current EPDs.
- Keep the new IBU set current on the same cadence as color‑range updates, and map declarations to regional production so project LCAs reflect the right transport and energy profiles.
- Choose a partner that will shoulder data collection across plants and bills of materials, then publish with the program operator that best fits the market you sell into. In Europe, IBU is a common path. In the US, owners often accept EPDs from International EPD System and others, so program choice is pragmatic rather than religious.
Handy links
If you are reviewing Swisspearl’s posture, start with their sustainability materials and targets, then check which specific lines already carry EPDs.
- Swisspearl sustainability overview and goals (Swisspearl, 2024)
- Swisspearl Sustainability Report 2024 (Swisspearl, 2024)
That gives specifiers confidence while keeping bid cycles clean and quick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Swisspearl product families already have product‑specific EPDs?
IBU‑verified declarations cover core facade lines such as Carat, Avera, Vintago, Nobilis, Terra, Reflex, Planea, Zenor and roof slates, with several valid into 2029 (IBU, 2024).
How broad is Swisspearl’s assortment in rough terms?
Facade boards span hundreds of SKUs when you combine dimensions and colors. Roofing slates are in the dozens. Functional boards are a smaller, targeted set.
Where might EPD coverage be thinner today?
Some coated plank and panel variants marketed as Panel, Plank Connect and Deco did not show a clear product‑specific EPD in public registries at the time of writing. Those are good candidates for near‑term declarations.
Who are the main competitors with EPDs in fiber‑cement cladding?
EQUITONE by Etex has multiple panel EPDs extending to 2029 (EPD Hub, 2024) and James Hardie has a current EPD valid through December 2027 (EPD International, 2022).
Why do EPDs matter for bids under LEED v5‑aligned criteria?
Without a product‑specific EPD, project LCAs often apply conservative defaults that can make substitution more likely. A verified EPD keeps you in play without penalties.
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
