Union française des tapis et moquettes: EPD reality check
Looking at UFTM, we quickly discover a trade group, not a factory. That matters for EPDs. The union promotes textile floor coverings in France and coordinates tools for its member brands, but it doesn’t sell products. Here’s how their ecosystem shows up in specs, where collective FDES help, and where brand‑specific EPDs still win when projects keep score.
Who UFTM is, and what that means for EPDs
The Union française des tapis et moquettes (UFTM) is a French industry association representing textile floor coverings. It convenes brands, suppliers, labs, and recyclers, and runs initiatives like Sols Textiles and the CRET testing lab. Because UFTM is not a manufacturer, you will not find a retail catalog or plant‑specific EPDs under the UFTM name.
What products the UFTM ecosystem covers
Member brands collectively span the textile flooring spectrum used in commercial buildings: modular carpet tiles, broadloom carpets, wool and polyamide constructions, tufted, woven, and needle‑punched products for offices, education, hospitality, healthcare and multi‑residential. Think dozens of core styles across the group, expanding to hundreds when you factor colorways and backing options. That breadth is why specifiers often meet UFTM’s members on shortlists for open‑plan offices and classrooms.
Collective FDES exist, but they are not the whole story
UFTM sponsors collective French EPDs known as FDES covering common constructions, including carpet in rolls and tiles above or below 750 g/m². The union references three updated FDES that align with EN 15804+A2 and the national addition, published for download on its site (UFTM HQE‑FDES, 2025) (link). These are useful baselines when a brand‑specific declaration is not yet available. Still, on many projects, teams prefer product‑specific EPDs that name the manufacturer and sometimes the plant.
How well are products covered by EPDs today
Coverage across UFTM’s member brands is mixed. Several global players active in France publish product‑specific EPDs at scale for carpet tiles and broadloom, often counted in the dozens or even hundreds across portfolios. Others, especially niche or design‑forward lines, still lean on the collective FDES or have partial coverage by range. In practice, that means a popular stock tile could be specified quickly if it carries a product‑specific Type III EPD, while a similar tile covered only by the collective FDES may face extra scrutiny and slower approvals.
Why EPD choice changes your spec odds
- France’s national database has scaled fast, which signals buyer expectations. As of November 21, 2025, INIES displays 5,367 FDES and 1,738 PEP, representing over 308,000 commercial references for products of construction. That scale keeps raising the bar for transparent data in bids (INIES, 2025) (link).
- LEED continues to value disclosure. Under LEED v4.1, product‑specific Type III EPDs are weighted more in the BPDO credit calculation, and projects need a minimum set of compliant products from multiple manufacturers to earn points. This is one reason buyers often give preference to brand‑specific EPDs when they can get them (USGBC, 2025) (link).
Where UFTM members win, and where gaps cost
Textile floors shine on acoustics, underfoot comfort, and design flexibility. Members with robust EPD coverage slip neatly into public and private specs because their documents match the credit language and local database workflows. The gaps appear when a best‑seller lacks a product‑specific EPD while rivals market a ready‑to‑download declaration. That’s a missed chance, definately.
The competitive set you’re really up against
In project rooms, UFTM‑member carpets face two types of competitors. First are likekind carpet brands with deep EPD benches, such as Interface, Milliken, Shaw Contract, Forbo’s Tessera lines, Modulyss, Balsan, Mohawk Group, and Tarkett. Second are substitution candidates like LVT, linoleum, and rubber from resilient specialists that carry extensive EPD libraries. For offices, education, and healthcare, that second group often sits one tab away in the spec folder.
A fast route to full coverage
If you manage a textile flooring portfolio, map your ranges by revenue and spec frequency, then cover the top sellers with product‑specific Type III EPDs first. Use the collective FDES as a safety net while you gather plant data, then convert to brand‑specific documents that align with EN 15804+A2 and the French national addition for smooth listing in INIES. The right LCA partner will simplify data collection across tufting lines, dye processes, and backing variants so your team stays focused on launches and deliveries instead of document wrangling.
Bottom line for specability
UFTM itself doesn’t sell products, yet it anchors a market where EPDs are increasingly non‑negotiable. Collective FDES help you be present. Product‑specific EPDs help you get picked. Prioritize the lines that drive margin and visibility, and your brand shows up where it counts: in the winning schedule of finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UFTM a manufacturer and can we find their product EPDs by brand name?
UFTM is an industry association, not a producer. Its site points to three collective FDES for common carpet constructions, but plant‑ or brand‑specific EPDs live with each member manufacturer (UFTM HQE‑FDES, 2025).
Do collective FDES satisfy French and LEED requirements?
They satisfy many French RE2020 workflows when published in INIES and can support design decisions. For LEED v4.1 BPDO, product‑specific Type III EPDs are weighted more in the credit calculation, so brand‑specific documents usually perform better in earning points (USGBC, 2025).
How big is the demand signal for EPDs in France?
Very strong. INIES reported 5,367 FDES and 1,738 PEP as of November 21, 2025, representing over 308k commercial references, and growth has accelerated with RE2020 thresholds (INIES, 2025).
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.
