How EPDs give Trimo a competitive edge in sustainability

Trimo, a leader in building envelope solutions, has long made sustainability a cornerstone of its operations. For nearly six decades, this dedication has guided their efforts to align environmental responsibility with business growth. Recently, Trimo partnered with One Click LCA to create environmental product declarations (EPDs) and life-cycle assessments (LCAs), revamping its entire construction products portfolio including the insulated and fireproof panels and façades, going beyond compliance and reaffirming Trimo’s commitment to sustainability for shaping the future of green building. 

"Trimo is a recognized trailblazer in the sandwich panel industry, and having environmental product declarations (EPDs) for its entire product portfolio is essential to maintaining this status. Our EPDs, published using One Click LCA alongside other product certifications, are crucial documentation for our customers, providing a competitive edge and contributing to our business success."

— Boštjan Černe, Head of Product Development

Trimo targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Trimo is a global leader in providing innovative, flexible, and energy-efficient architectural building envelope solutions. With over 60 years of experience, the company puts its customers at the heart of its operations and is guided by core values of partnership, reliability, responsibility, trust, innovation, and passion. As part of the Recticel Group, Trimo is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with 2021 as its baseline year and targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The importance of EPDs in Trimo's sustainability strategy

EPDs are integral to Trimo’s sustainability strategy, offering transparent, third-party verified data on the environmental impact of its products across their lifecycle. They are not only essential for the company during research and product development but also support its customers in their selection of materials for sustainable building projects and aid in achieving certifications like LEED, BREEAM, DGNB and others. 

"An EPD is more than just Global Warming Potential (GWP), it captures a product’s full environmental impact. One Click LCA has empowered us to efficiently manage EPDs, integrate supplier data, and make informed, environmentally conscious decisions, giving us a competitive edge in sustainability."

— Jan Tisu, Product Sustainability and Development Specialist 

In 2019, Trimo published its first EPDs for products such as Trimoterm, Qbiss One, and Qbiss Screen, initially outsourcing the life-cycle assessment (LCA) process. This approach proved time-consuming and limited access to detailed data. As a result, Trimo sought greater control over its EPD process and chose One Click LCA to streamline and enhance its EPD creation for greater business success.  

Trimo started using One Click LCA's software in 2023, enabling the company to conduct in-house LCAs and create EPDs with greater efficiency. Trimo chose the EPD Generator for its ability to use supplier-specific EPDs and perform calculations with them, as well as for its extensive EPD and Ecoinvent databases, which provided the data needed to accurately model its products. Trimo’s team also valued the responsiveness and support from One Click LCA in providing resources and guidance. The software is now used daily. 

How Trimo benefited from the EPD Generator: Easy, accurate, and flexible 

"EPDs give us a competitive advantage as clients increasingly prioritize environmentally responsible solutions. They also guide our future development by enabling continuous assessment of environmental performance, allowing us to evaluate improvements across the product life cycle from technical, financial, and environmental perspectives. You can’t improve something that you don’t measure." 

— Boštjan Černe, Head of Product Development 

In the past six months, Trimo conducted a comprehensive update of its EPD portfolio, creating LCAs and EPDs for all product lines, including its Trimoterm, Qbiss One and Qbiss Screen sandwich panels.  With One Click LCA, the company maintained an agile development pace, enabled closer collaboration with suppliers to align processes for mutual benefit and was able to respond effectively to customers’ specific, detailed inquiries. 

Staying competitive with One Click LCA

"In recent years, we've observed a shift in the role of EPDs. Our customers’ perspective has evolved from seeing EPDs as a 'nice-to-have' to actively comparing EPDs and seeking products with the lowest environmental impact." 

—Jan Tisu, Product Sustainability and Development Specialist 

Using One Click LCA has enabled Trimo to independently create and manage accurate EPDs across its product portfolio, strengthening the company's commitment to sustainability and innovation. Not only has the software helped Trimo enhance its environmental transparency, but it also supports its customers in making sustainable choices.  

Given the current pace of change, Trimo predicts that the importance of EPDs will continue to grow, both globally and across Europe. Driven by regulatory pressures, market demand, and sustainability goals, the Trimo team believes EPDs are on the path to becoming a standard requirement for construction product manufacturers.