TOTO’s lineup and EPD coverage, at a glance
TOTO (toto.com) is a bathroom heavyweight with design clout and deep engineering. They sell into many segments of construction, from commercial cores and shells to premium residential. Their EPD footprint has grown quickly, but it is not universal across every product line. Here is where they shine today, where coverage looks thin, and how that gap can influence specs on projects that now expect product‑specific transparency.
Company snapshot
TOTO is a global plumbing brand best known for high performance toilets, bidet seats, and touchless faucets. The portfolio also spans urinals, lavatories, flush valves, shower systems, and tubs. Across North America alone, the active catalog runs to dozens of distinct product families and likely hundreds of SKUs.
What they sell into buildings
In commercial work, TOTO shows up in public restrooms with water closets, urinals, and sensor faucets. In residential, they compete from mid range to luxury with one piece and two piece toilets, WASHLET and NEOREST smart toilets, and a growing faucet line. Their EcoPower technology powers certain sensor fixtures using the energy of flowing water, which matters when battery swaps are a pain for facility teams.
For a broader view of their sustainability posture, see TOTO’s U.S. sustainability hub, which consolidates goals and stories in one place (TOTO USA Sustainability).
Where EPDs exist today
Based on currently published declarations, TOTO’s strongest EPD coverage concentrates in these categories:
- Toilets and smart toilets, including premium NEOREST models.
- Commercial sensor faucets, including Standard S and Standard R lines.
- Commercial toilets and urinals that pair with sensor controls.
Most of these declarations are recent and remain valid well into the second half of the decade. That gives specifiers confidence that the data reflects contemporary manufacturing rather than a legacy footprint.
Notable gaps to watch
We did not find broad, product specific EPD coverage for several lines that TOTO actively markets, such as many lavatories, shower systems, bathtubs, and standalone flushometer valves. Coverage for bidet seats exists on flagship models, yet does not appear across the full range. If your sales team leads with these items, the enviromental paperwork may not yet match the catalog breadth.
Two cautions apply. First, a few EPDs may live with different program operators or be grouped in families that are easy to miss. Second, portfolio changes happen fast. Treat this as a snapshot, not a museum piece.
Why coverage gaps matter in specs
When an EPD is missing, project teams often must use conservative defaults in their carbon accounting. That creates friction for selection and increases substitution risk in categories with many look alike options. LEED v5 was ratified in March 2025 and continues to reward product transparency in materials credits, which keeps EPDs top of mind with design teams and owners (USGBC, 2025).
Water performance also drives decisions. WaterSense labeled toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, a 20 percent savings over the 1.6 gallons per flush federal standard (EPA WaterSense, 2025). In commercial restrooms, EPA estimates the installed base includes nearly 27 million flushometer valve toilets, with roughly a quarter still at 3.0 to 7.0 gallons per flush, so efficient fixtures are a big lever for owners (EPA WaterSense, 2025). When a fixture also carries a current, product specific EPD, it simplifies documentation for carbon goals and helps keep it in the spec.
Likely best sellers without EPDs and the competitive angle
TOTO’s commercial flushometer valves and many lavatories are frequent line items in education, healthcare, office, and transportation projects. Where an EPD is not available, specifiers can pivot to rivals that do publish. Examples in the market today include:
- Sloan with product specific EPDs covering sensor faucets, flushometers, lavatories, and water closets.
- Kohler with product specific EPDs on valves, diverters, and select flush controls.
- LIXIL group brands with EPDs on select ceramics and sinks.
In categories where performance and aesthetics tie, the presence of a current EPD can be the nudge that secures the submittal approval.
Playbook to close the gap fast
If expanding coverage is on the roadmap, pick the rulebook first. Confirm the Part B PCRs already used by your competitors in each category. Bundle closely related SKUs that share materials and processes so one study yields multiple declarations. Keep data collection tight by choosing a partner that will actually wrangle utility, throughput, and waste data from plants and suppliers rather than emailing templates back to your team. That saves time for engineering and product management and pulls weeks out of the schedule.
What this means for sales and product
TOTO’s EPD story already supports core commercial and premium residential lines. The next wins sit with lavatories, flush valves, and showers, where adding product specific EPDs would protect margins and reduce substitution on projects chasing LEED v5 and corporate carbon targets. The price of a high quality declaration is often outweighed by even one mid sized project that stays in spec because the paperwork is ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which TOTO product categories currently appear strongest on EPD coverage?
Toilets and smart toilets, commercial toilets and urinals, and commercial sensor faucets are the most visible with current, product specific EPDs published in recent years.
Where are the biggest opportunities to expand TOTO’s EPD portfolio?
Lavatories, flushometer valves, shower systems, and bathtubs see active sales but appear to have thinner EPD coverage. Prioritizing high volume SKUs in these lines will deliver fast commercial impact.
Does WaterSense matter for EPD decisions?
Yes. WaterSense performance thresholds shape product selection and retrofits. For example, the label caps toilets at 1.28 gpf or less, which is 20 percent below the federal 1.6 gpf standard (EPA WaterSense, 2025). Pairing that with a product specific EPD strengthens bids for efficiency focused projects.
How does LEED v5 change the picture?
LEED v5 was ratified in March 2025 and keeps product transparency visible in materials credits. Project teams benefit when commonly specified fixtures have current, product specific EPDs (USGBC, 2025).
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.
