Who chose EPDItaly tells its story: LATICRETE Europe

Matteo De Somma, Technical Director of LATICRETE Europe

LATICRETE Europe is the European subsidiary of LATICRETE International (USA), a group active globally in tile installation systems and construction chemicals. The European entity was established in 2016 and has built a growth path in just a few years based on local production, technological innovation, and a direct presence in major European markets, consolidating a model that combines local roots with an international vision.

The company decided to rely on EPDItaly to obtain the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for three core families of its range: mortars and screeds, tile adhesives, and products for the protection of cementitious surfaces and sealants, all manufactured in its European facility.

In this regard, we interviewed Matteo De Somma, Technical Director, who shared the motivations behind the choice to undertake a voluntary EPD certification process, the benefits obtained from publishing verified environmental data, and EPDItaly’s role in an increasingly international and sustainability-oriented market.

What are the main motivations that pushed you towards voluntary EPD certification?

The main motivation is the desire to give concrete substance to the theme of sustainability. Today, it is no longer enough to speak about it in generic terms: data, numbers, and recognized tools are needed to objectively measure the environmental impact of products. The EPD moves exactly in this direction because it makes what happens daily in our plants transparent and verifiable. For us, it represents a natural step, consistent with the goal of supporting designers and clients with reliable information based on real data and scientific analysis.

Which of your company’s products have obtained the EPD? What are their main characteristics?

The published Environmental Product Declarations cover three central families of our range: mortars and screeds, tile adhesives, and products for the protection of cementitious surfaces and sealants. These are products manufactured in our European plant, for which the environmental analysis was developed starting from data collected directly from production processes. This aspect is fundamental for us, as it means the results reported in the EPDs faithfully represent our industrial reality, offering a concrete snapshot of the environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle.

What are the main advantages obtained from publishing the Environmental Product Declaration? What are the impacts on the end consumer?

The main advantage is the ability to credibly support sustainable design. EPDs provide structured environmental information that can be used within sustainability protocols and criteria that are increasingly widespread in the construction sector. For designers and professionals, this means being able to make choices based on comparable and verified data. For the end consumer, even if they do not go into technical details, the benefit translates into buildings designed with greater attention to environmental impact, thanks to more informed decisions made in the initial phases of the project.

Do you think EPDItaly can contribute to spreading a culture of product sustainability?

Yes, because it promotes a culture of sustainability founded on data. In this way, it helps the market distinguish between generic communication and truly comparable environmental information. The value of an operator like EPDItaly lies precisely in its ability to create a common and shared language, making sustainability a technical and concrete tool accessible to the entire construction supply chain.

How important do you believe it is to have sustainable Italian products within a Program Operator with a recognized international network?

It is a very relevant aspect. Having sustainable products made in Italy within an operator with a strong international dimension—as also demonstrated by the partnership with EPD Norway—means adding value to Italian industry in a global context, while ensuring technical recognition and credibility. For a company like LATICRETE Europe, active in different markets, this allows us to speak a shared language of sustainability everywhere, while simultaneously maintaining a strong link with the territory and the quality of European production.