Today, the European Parliament gave the green light to the newly revised Construction Products regulation (CPR), aimed at mainstreaming sustainable products, fostering circular business models, and empowering consumers for a green transition. While Bellona acknowledges some positive strides in the regulation, they believe it falls short of its full potential.
One positive aspect, according to Bellona, is the requirement for manufacturers to disclose the environmental sustainability performance of their products over their life-cycle. This provision is crucial for monitoring progress and establishing clear requirements for measuring the climate impact of construction products. However, Bellona notes that this requirement is limited to greenhouse gas emissions and does not encompass the full environmental impact.
Bellona also commends the inclusion of EU-level requirements for green public procurement (GPP). These rules, set to be established from the end of 2026, will introduce mandatory minimum environmental sustainability requirements for public procurement of construction products. This move is expected to stimulate demand for low-carbon products and address the proliferation of disparate GPP requirements across EU Member States.
However, Bellona expresses disappointment with the regulation’s approach to regulating sustainability measures. Most measures will continue to be determined by industry-led standardization processes, with limited oversight from EU institutions or civil society. This could impede the ambition level needed to effectively decarbonize the sector.
Furthermore, the decision to retain cement under the CPR’s regulation, with a conditional inclusion in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) by 2029 if insufficient measures are implemented, is seen as inadequate by Bellona. They emphasize the urgency of addressing cement’s environmental impact promptly, as the carbon emissions from current infrastructure projects will have long-lasting consequences.
In summary, while the revised CPR takes positive steps towards sustainability in construction products, Bellona stresses the need for stronger regulation, wider oversight, and accelerated action to meet the urgent challenges of climate change.