Europe: CO2 limits for buildings
Openly is in constant dialogue with experts in climate-friendly construction. Given the current challenging market situation, the industry in Europe is currently proceeding cautiously, awaiting regulatory developments, both in Switzerland and the EU. On the positive side, some countries have already taken measures that enable a comprehensive consideration of CO2 emissions during the construction and operation of buildings. Integrating the often-neglected embodied energy into national building regulations is a crucial step toward promoting sustainable construction methods and transforming the industry.
SRF / RTS Tagesschau report
Profound change is coming
The construction industry is facing profound change as it faces one of its greatest challenges: the comprehensive reduction of CO2 emissions across the entire value chain. Accounting for 37% of global emissions, the construction sector bears a significant responsibility—eight times the emissions caused by aviation. While the focus in the past was primarily on operational emissions (heating, cooling, and hot water), regulations are increasingly being introduced in Europe aimed at reducing emissions during the construction of buildings and the production of building materials .
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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
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Openly clay ceiling
The hollow box ceiling with a total thickness of 380 mm consists of a sophisticated layered construction: a 42 mm thick three-layer spruce panel forms the base, above which lies a 280 mm high hollow box, which is filled with a 140 mm thick loose clay fill and finished with a 60 mm thick three-layer panel.
This construction is characterized by high load-bearing capacity and maximum spans while simultaneously using minimal material. The clay used gives the ceiling optimal structural properties and acts as a phase-shifted heat storage system. In addition, the mass of the construction provides excellent sound insulation and regulates humidity in the room.
The entire house follows a modular construction principle and can be assembled using simple plug-and-screw connections. The hollow-core ceilings are delivered as prefabricated elements, ensuring high cost-effectiveness.
Caption: ... Pictured here: clay filling...
Clay, as a key building material, impresses with its exceptional properties: It offers excellent thermal insulation and is permeable to diffusion, which buffers humidity, absorbs odors, and positively influences the indoor climate. With a sound insulation index of 46 to 50 dB, it provides very good sound insulation. Its durability is remarkable – clay can be used for over 200 years without losing quality, which means it is truly sustainable. Another advantage is that clay does not require energy- and CO₂-intensive firing processes. As a latent heat storage material, it absorbs heat at a certain point and releases it again in a controlled manner. Furthermore, clay filters environmental toxins from the indoor air, thus contributing to a healthy living environment.
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