WAREMA’s sun‑shading portfolio and its EPD coverage
WAREMA is a European heavyweight in exterior sun shading. They sell into offices, education, healthcare, and high‑end residential where daylight control is performance‑critical. Here is how their product range stacks up, how far their EPD coverage reaches, and where a few targeted declarations could unlock more specs with LEED v5‑minded owners.
Who WAREMA is
WAREMA Renkhoff SE manufactures exterior sun‑shading systems with a long European footprint. Think façade‑integrated solutions as much as retrofit kits. Their distribution mixes project work through fabricators and installers with a strong residential channel.
What they sell, at a glance
The core catalog spans external venetian blinds, roller shutters, textile screens and vertical awnings, patio and pergola awnings, conservatory and skylight shades, plus controls and building automation. Add insect screens and accessories. Across variants, colors, controls, and sizes, the SKU count realistically sits in the hundreds.
Today’s EPD status
WAREMA states it publishes Environmental Product Declarations in collaboration with IVRSA and IBU for three families: external venetian blinds, roller shutters, and window awnings (WAREMA, 2025). These are industry EPDs that follow EN 15804 and are verified by a program operator, which is acceptable in many procurement settings (IBU, 2025). For project teams working in LEED v5, product‑specific Type III EPDs remain the safer bet for maximum flexibility because many owners and consultants prefer product‑ or plant‑specific documentation to defend carbon accounting decisions (USGBC, 2025).
Coverage quality and notable gaps
Industry EPDs for the three flagship categories give specifiers a baseline. The gaps show up where buyers often ask for product‑specific declarations. Likely uncovered today are patio roofs and pergola systems, conservatory shades, insect screens, and the control hardware and electronics that drive automation. If these lines win a meaningful share of revenue, a few targeted product‑specific EPDs would shore up coverage quickly (IBU, 2025).
A practical example of lost specs
Take a vertical screen or zip awning that is a staple on office façades. WAREMA can point to an industry EPD, yet a competitor like Griesser lists Solozip vertical awnings with product‑specific declarations recognized by IBU and published in France’s INIES as FDES, current through the second half of the decade (IBU, 2026) (INIES, 2029). Another rival, ROMA, publishes external venetian blind EPDs via IBU for its Ventetain product line that remain active into 2029 (IBU, 2029). On owner‑driven projects that ask for product‑specific EPDs by name, these documents tip the table without a word said about price.
Why this matters commercially in 2025
LEED v5 raises the bar on embodied impacts and rewards credible, third‑party verified product data. Teams use EPDs to model tradeoffs and defend decisions under tighter internal sustainability policies and public disclosures. If a line lacks a product‑specific EPD, design teams default to generic or conservative values, which can add a carbon penalty and make switches more likely when budgets bite (USGBC, 2025). In France, project LCAs pull directly from INIES, and FDES validity is five years, which keeps data fresh for compliance workflows (INIES, 2025).
How many categories WAREMA serves
Conservatively, WAREMA sells across six to eight distinct product families, from façade blinds to outdoor living systems. With options for geometry, wind ratings, privacy levels, controls, and finishes, line items multiply fast. The outcome is a portfolio that can address dozens of building use cases without forcing architects into compromises.
Speed to an EPD without the busywork
Good news. The rulebook is set. IBU’s updated PCR Part A aligns with EN 15804+A2 and ECO Platform calculation rules, which makes solar shading EPD projects straightforward for experienced teams (IBU, 2024). Verification queues have been stretched, and IBU advises planning for several months in verification alone during high demand periods, roughly half a year in many cases today (IBU, 2025). The right partner will handle data capture across plants, utilities, purchased parts, and logistics with a white‑glove approach so engineering stays focused on products, not paper.
Competitor set WAREMA commonly meets
On exterior shading in Europe, expect Griesser, ROMA, HELLA, Schlotterer, and Schenker Storen. On project interiors and automation, Lutron and Hunter Douglas surface in conversations where blinds, fabrics, and controls converge. Several of these already publish product‑specific EPDs for blinds or screens with IBU or INIES, which speaks to buyer expectations in offices, education, and healthcare.
Sustainability stance you can point to
WAREMA also publishes product carbon footprints and a sustainability page that frames energy savings from automated shading, useful for early‑stage conversations with owners (WAREMA, 2023). Their EPD overview is here if you need a quick link for a submittal package (WAREMA, 2025).
What we would prioritize next
If we were advising a sun‑shading manufacturer in 2025, we would prioritize product‑specific EPDs for one external venetian blind system and one vertical screen system first. Pick the highest volume, then the second most spec‑sensitive SKU. Align with IBU Part B for solar shading systems, scope to EN 15804 A2, and plan authoring around a complete year of factory data. That sequence builds defensible specs for LEED v5 projects while keeping effort lean. It is definately the fastest route from interest to inclusion.
References in context
- IBU confirms public access to EPDs and outlines verification and timelines, including longer verification windows in 2025 due to high demand (IBU, 2025) (IBU FAQ, 2025).
- USGBC documents LEED v5 timeline and focus areas for decarbonization, which heighten the value of product‑specific EPDs in submittals (USGBC, 2025) (USGBC LEED v5, 2025).
- WAREMA states it publishes EPDs with IVRSA and IBU for external venetian blinds, roller shutters, and window awnings, and maintains an EPD downloads hub (WAREMA, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WAREMA have product-specific EPDs for flagship shading systems or mainly industry-wide ones?
WAREMA points to industry EPDs created with IVRSA and IBU that cover external venetian blinds, roller shutters, and window awnings, which are valid Type III declarations. Many projects accept these, but owner policies often prefer product‑specific EPDs for named SKUs, especially under LEED v5. Cite WAREMA’s EPD page for the association EPDs and plan to develop SKU‑specific EPDs for top sellers next. (IBU, 2025) (WAREMA, 2025).
Which competitors already publish product-specific EPDs for similar products?
Griesser lists Solozip vertical awnings with program‑operator EPDs recognized by IBU and FDES in INIES, current into the back half of the decade. ROMA publishes external venetian blind EPDs with IBU valid into 2029. Reference the program operator and year in submittals. (IBU, 2026) (INIES, 2029) (IBU, 2029).
How long should a manufacturer plan for verification at IBU in 2025?
IBU notes that verification is thorough and queues are long this year. Plan for several months, roughly six months in many cases, then add time for editorial checks and final publication. Start early to meet bid dates. (IBU, 2025) (IBU FAQ, 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.
