Why furniture EPDs vary
Furniture spans product types with genuinely different construction and use profiles — a task chair, a filing cabinet, and a conference table aren't manufactured through comparable processes, and each is measured against its own functional unit under BIFMA's PCR family rather than a single generic "furniture" standard. Whether an EPD is industry-wide (an association average) or product-specific also shapes how directly it applies to a particular product being specified.
Key materials typically covered
"Furniture" EPDs span several distinct product types, each generally declared separately:
- Seating — task chairs, lounge seating, and other office seating
- Casegoods / storage — filing cabinets, credenzas, and storage units
- Tables and desks — including benching and workstation systems
- Systems furniture — partitions and modular workspace systems
Key standards and PCRs
In North America, BIFMA (the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association) maintains the PCR for Office Furniture Workspace Products (facilitated through NSF, valid through January 2030) and a separate PCR for storage products. European manufacturers more commonly publish under EN 15804. See Product Category Rules for how to confirm the current, applicable PCR for a specific furniture product.
Top EPD program operators for Furniture
A small set of program operators handles most furniture-sector EPDs:
- SCS Global Services — an eligible EPD program operator and independent verifier, also active in BIFMA level certification
- NSF International — facilitates BIFMA's PCR development and verifies EPDs built against it
- UL Solutions — also active as a program operator for furniture and related products
- Internationally: EPD International and EPD-Global operate active furniture EPD programs in Europe
Notable producers of Furniture
Major office furniture manufacturers — including large North American makers alongside European producers like Flokk — have published product-specific EPDs across seating, casegoods, and table lines. Coverage varies by manufacturer and product line; check a specific manufacturer's own published EPDs (via a database or the manufacturer directly) rather than assuming coverage.
Sample EPDs for Furniture
To see what an actual furniture EPD looks like, EPD-Global's public registry publishes full documents — for example, Flokk AS's EPD for the Profim Chic office chair, searchable by NEPD number. In North America, BIFMA and SCS Global Services list published furniture EPDs directly.
How to Get a Furniture EPD: Step-by-Step
Getting an EPD for an office chair, casegood, or table follows the same core process as any other product: choosing the applicable BIFMA PCR (workspace or storage), collecting primary production data, building the LCA, and having it independently verified before publication. See How to Get an EPD: Step-by-Step for the full process, or go directly to BIFMA or SCS Global Services if you're pursuing a program specific to office furniture.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one PCR that covers all furniture types?
No — BIFMA's PCR family separates workspace/office furniture from storage products, each with its own functional unit and requirements, so the applicable PCR depends on the specific product type rather than "furniture" as a single category.
Does frame material (steel, wood, aluminum) change which PCR applies?
Generally no — the PCR is keyed to product function (seating, storage, tables) rather than frame material, though the underlying LCA still accounts for material differences in the reported results.
Are BIFMA level certification and an EPD the same thing?
No — level is a multi-attribute sustainability certification covering a broader set of criteria, while an EPD is a single-issue, LCA-based disclosure. A product can carry both, and SCS Global Services works with both programs.
Who verifies BIFMA-PCR EPDs?
Program operators such as SCS Global Services and NSF International verify EPDs built against BIFMA's PCRs, following the same independent third-party verification model used across other product categories.
Do European furniture makers use a different framework?
Often yes — European manufacturers more commonly publish EN 15804-based EPDs through the International EPD System or EPD-Global rather than BIFMA's North American PCR, reflecting the different regional standard each market defaults to.
Where can I see an example of a real furniture EPD?
Public EPD registries such as EPD-Global publish full furniture EPD documents — see Sample EPDs below. BIFMA and SCS Global Services also list North American furniture EPDs directly.
Sources
- BIFMA, Product Category Rule for Office Furniture Workspace Products (via NSF International)
- EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, Sustainability of construction works — Environmental product declarations — Core rules for the product category of construction products