On April 10, 2024, the European Parliament approved the amended Construction Products Regulation with a significant majority. Originally established in 2011, the CPR has been a cornerstone for ensuring the quality, safety, and reliability of construction products in the EU since its enactment in 2013. This regulation mandates adherence to specific health, safety, and performance criteria for a wide range of construction materials, including cement, steel, glass, insulation materials, doors, windows, and roofing products.

In essence, any construction product entering the EU market must comply with these predefined standards, aimed at fostering a more unified, secure, and sustainable construction industry within the EU’s integrated market.

Amid increasing environmental awareness and the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 as outlined in the EU Green Deal, there has been significant demand for updated guidelines for construction products. Aspart of the EU's digital and sustainable transition, policymakers reached apolitical consensus on December 13th to revise and modernize the existing CPR legislation.

Navigating the Changes

The revision of the CPR intends to rectify deficiencies in the previous framework, with the main goal of creating a unified market for construction products across Europe to promote efficient and sustainable building practices. Key areas of focus in the revision include:

1. Standardization: The revised regulation seeks to establish consistent EU standards with clear definitions for product categories, effectively eliminating trade barriers. Currently, the lack of updated harmonized standards creates significant obstacles, increasing costs and administrative burdens. Variations in quality and efficiency of market surveillance among Member States have weakened trust in the regulatory system. The new CPR addresses these challenges by intensifying standardization efforts and clarifying principles and conditions.‍
2. Digitization of the Construction Sector: The introduction of a construction products database with defined sustainability criteria will require manufacturers to provide comprehensive environmental lifecycle information. Additionally, manufacturers must electronically submit declarations of performance and conformity for each product brought to market. These declarations must be presented in a universally readable, unalterable electronic format or accessible via a permalink that meets equivalent standards
3. ‍Sustainability: The updated regulation demands that construction products exhibit longer lifespans, are easy to repair, and are recyclable at the end of their service life. Manufacturers will face new environmental obligations, including the requirement to declare sustainability characteristics and design products for environmental stewardship. This initiative aligns with the revisions to the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, reflecting growing pressures for more ambitious sustainability provisions. Currently, construction products contribute significantly to energy consumption and carbon emissions in the EU, with an average annual carbon footprint of approximately 250 million tonnes‍

Looking Ahead

For the revised CPR to become law, the final text will require formal approval from both the European Parliament and the Council. Once ratified, it will be published in the Official Journal, thus becoming a binding directive across all Member States.

A critical aspect of this regulatory evolution is the anticipated increase in harmonized reporting requirements. By 2030, manufacturers will need to provide extensive environmental impact data in line with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) conforming to EN 15804standards. This not only highlights a commitment to environmental sustainability but also sets a new standard for transparency and accountability within the construction sector.

In a recent statement, rapporteur Christian Doleschal emphasized the transformative potential of these new regulations, asserting that “This comprehensive set of new rules will ensure prompt publication of construction product standards, allowing manufacturers to quickly introduce innovative products to the European market.”

Furthermore, all product information, including environmentally relevant properties, will be housed on a single, accessible platform, thereby advancing sustainability within the construction industry.

As these regulatory changes unfold, stakeholders can expect a significant shift towards greater transparency, clearer guidelines, improved reporting mechanisms, and a stronger emphasis on digital innovations. This coordinated effort not only aligns with the EU’s broader sustainability goals but also lays the groundwork for a more resilient and environmentally conscious construction sector.