Europe: CO2 limits for buildings

Openly is in constant dialog with experts in climate-friendly construction. In the current challenging market situation, the industry is currently acting cautiously and awaiting regulatory developments, both in Switzerland and in the EU. On a positive note, some countries have already taken measures that allow for a comprehensive consideration of CO2 emissions during the construction and operation of buildings. The integration of often neglected gray energy into national building regulations is a decisive step towards promoting sustainable construction methods and transforming the industry.

Profound change is coming

The construction industry is facing a profound change as it has to tackle one of its biggest challenges: the comprehensive reduction of CO2 emissions along the entire value chain. Accounting for 37% of global emissions, the construction industry has a significant responsibility - eight times the emissions caused by air travel. While the focus in the past has mainly been on operational emissions (heating, cooling & hot water), regulations are increasingly being enacted in Europe that aim to reduce emissions during the construction of buildings and the production of building materials.

Europe as a pioneer in sustainable construction

Europe is leading initiatives to decarbonize the construction sector and is setting ambitious carbon targets. The European Green Deal and the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) call for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. The Level(s) framework, as a complementary tool, creates a unified system for assessing sustainability.

France and Denmark: Pioneers in ceilings

Beyond EU-wide initiatives, countries like France and Denmark are taking a leading role through stricter national laws and setting new standards for sustainable construction. Whether other countries will adapt these approaches to achieve the EU targets remains to be seen in the coming years.

Denmark

From 2025, Denmark will introduce strict CO2e limits per square meter for new buildings, taking into account both the CO2 emissions from building materials and emissions from construction processes. This regulation follows a clearly structured timeline with differentiations by building type to ensure realistic implementation. A general maximum of 7.1 kg CO₂e/m² applies to the majority of buildings, while schools and public institutions will receive slightly higher limits. Stricter regulations will come into force from 2025, 2027, and 2029. By taking a lifecycle approach—from material use to demolition—these regulations encourage innovation across the industry. Companies are increasingly turning to environmentally friendly materials such as recycled steel and biogenic alternatives such as wood, as well as cleaner construction methods.

France

The French RE2020 building regulations require a life cycle assessment (LCA) for all projects to measure and minimize carbon emissions. This framework encourages architects, engineers, and developers to integrate sustainability into every phase of the construction process—from design to execution. By incentivizing renewable materials, energy-efficient designs, and local procurement, France is accelerating the transition to carbon-neutral construction. Since January 1, 2022, embodied carbon analysis has been mandatory across the entire life cycle of residential buildings; from 2023, this will also apply to other building types. The focus is on a dynamic LCA that gives greater weight to current emissions than future ones, in line with global decarbonization goals. Low-emission building materials such as wood are favored. Furthermore, the RE2020 introduces gradual caps on embodied carbon to sustainably decarbonize the construction sector.

Current legal targets for emissions from new buildings in France range between 12.8 and 14.8 kg CO2e/m²/year. These targets will be further reduced in the coming years.

Since the construction industry in France is responsible for 44% of energy consumption and 25% of CO2 emissions, the regulation aims for comprehensive decarbonization. The regulation is more comprehensive than that in Denmark and, in particular, regulates CO2 emissions in later years of operation more strictly (dynamic life cycle assessment).

France's approach is seen by many as a potential model for other countries or for EU-wide regulations.

Significance of these regulations for the industry

The transition to stricter sustainability standards represents a fundamental shift that requires rapid action and adaptability from the industry. To comply with increasingly stringent regulations, companies must prioritize biogenic materials, leverage advanced technologies, and integrate life cycle assessments (LCAs) into their business processes. Interdisciplinary collaboration will be critical to navigating this complex regulatory environment and maximizing the opportunities it presents.

Further information: 2050-materials.com , green-forum.ec.europa.eu

Media reports

Julien Guillaume from Radio and Television of Western Switzerland (RTS) visited Openly Widnau at the end of May to find out more about our construction system. Here is his report, which was shown on the French-speaking Swiss news program Tagesschau.

SRF / RTS Tagesschau report