The Challenge: Turning complexity into structure
Ahlsell, a leading distributor of installation products, tools, and supplies, has set ambitious sustainability goals. A key focus area is driving its own-brand products toward greater environmental responsibility — not just by improving performance, but by proving progress through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
With thousands of products and suppliers across varying levels of data maturity, managing EPDs at scale is a major challenge.
“We contact our suppliers, get them to collaborate, and share data with us, which can take time, especially considering the products’ complexity and the varying maturity of our suppliers,” explains Ekatherine Lagovardos, Product Sustainability Specialist at Ahlsell.
Each new regulation adds another layer of complexity, both for Ahlsell as a company and for its private-label products.
“Our goal is to create processes that let our product teams continue working as usual, even when regulations change,” says Miriam Jallow, Sustainability and Compliance Manager.
The Approach: Building a connected process for long-term efficiency
Ahlsell began building its EPD process in early 2023 supported by CarbonZero and powered by EandoX. The work is ongoing, focusing on establishing clear methods, templates, and training — and on strengthening collaboration across Ahlsell’s large supplier base. The aim is to offer our customers a sustainable assortment to choose from.
EandoX plays a central role in structuring and managing the underlying data, enabling Ahlsell to move from fragmented reporting to a connected, scalable process.
“In the interface with EandoX, we get strong technical support and can continuously share feedback. They’ve taken our ideas seriously, and we have annual workshops to align on direction and development,” says Miriam Jallow.
As suppliers are onboarded and EPDs are created, the data flows into Ahlsell’s internal systems and is visualised on the web and external industry databases — giving a live overview of supplier data, materials, and environmental impact.
“We continuously measure the coverage rate of EPDs, which keeps increasing thanks to collaboration and process improvements,” Miriam adds.
The Broader Context: From compliance to continuous improvement
Sustainability is a central part of Ahlsell’s business strategy. It’s not just about meeting legal requirements – it’s about integrating sustainable practices across the entire organization to ensure long-term progress and adding value to our offerings.
Even though the work with EPDs can still be considered an administrative task, it is part of a broader movement toward transparency, innovation, and lasting impact. Through EPDs and digital product passports, Ahlsell will gain deeper insights into supplier data, material flows, and climate impact.
“That insight is incredibly valuable. The EPD process has become a concrete part of our strategy for measuring, tracking, and reducing environmental impact throughout our product flows,” says Miriam Jallow.
Ekatherine Lagovardos acknowledges the challenge of operating within complex supplier networks, each with different risks and regulations:
“We’re focusing heavily on digitalisation and data management, and we’re relying on software to help us strengthen traceability and risk management. By combining the capabilities of EandoX with our own business analytics tools, we maintain a clear view of every step in the value chain. In the end, the EPD work reflects our broader ambition — not just to comply, but to continuously improve, innovate, and make a real, long-term difference.”
Ahlsell’s EPD initiative continues to evolve — refining data quality, expanding supplier collaboration, and building a foundation for future regulatory readiness to meet our customer’s demands.
We are building a robust foundation for smarter, more sustainable product data management. Turning complexity into actionable insights that drive continuous improvements.
“Once the foundation is in place, we can start driving the data in smarter ways,” concludes Miriam Jallow.
Ahlsell’s commitment goes beyond compliance. By combining technology, collaboration, and innovation, we aim to lead the industry toward a more sustainable future.
