Historically, the EU’s Construction Products Regulation (CPR) has focused on ensuring construction products, such as building materials and fire safety products for buildings, meet technical and safety standards. A new version has now been adopted, paving the way to include environmental requirements (known as environmental essential characteristics).
Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 laying down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products, came into force on 7th January 2025 and will replace the previous version of the CPR (Regulation (EU) 305/2011) over time.
There are 2 key changes introduced by the updated Regulation:
- Harmonised standards for construction products will be further developed to include environmental requirements which will apply from 8th January 2026.
- A digital product passports (DPP) system covering construction products will be introduced by the European Commission.
The new rules will impact manufacturers of construction products, as well as other economic operators who place these products on the EU market (including Northern Ireland), with requirements to ensure that products are sustainable, and that consumers are provided with increased environmental information.
Whilst the new version of the CPR won’t have an immediate impact on most organisations, it’s recommended that those who manufacture or supply construction products in the EU and/or Northern Ireland ensure they are familiar with and prepare for changes in requirements.
Digital product passports systems
The Regulation requires the EU Commission to establish a digital products passports (DPP) system for construction products. The system will hold key information on products, their technical specifications and environmental data. This will make it easier for users to check they are using compliant products and access information on the environmental impact of products.
Manufacturers will be required to comply with the requirements of the digital passport system for construction products within 18 months of its implementation.
Environmental essential characteristics
Harmonised standards will be developed and expanded to include environmental requirements.
The first requirements which relate to climate change effects will apply from 8th January 2026, with additional environmental requirements applying from 9th January 2030 and 2032.
It is expected that the first products impacted by updated standards will be those most associated with environmental impacts such as concrete and steel.
| Environmental Essential Characteristic | Date from which Harmonised Technical Specifications will Cover Characteristics |
|---|---|
| • Climate change effects – total. • Climate change effects – fossil fuels. • Climate change effects – biogenic. • Climate change effects – land use and land use change. | 8th January 2026 |
| • Ozone depletion. • Acidification potential. • Eutrophication aquatic freshwater. • Eutrophication aquatic marine. • Eutrophication terrestrial. • Photochemical ozone. • Abiotic depletion – minerals, metals. • Abiotic depletion – fossil fuels. • Water use. | 9th January 2030 |
| • Particulate matter. • Ionising radiation, human health. • Eco-toxicity, freshwater. • Human toxicity, cancer. • Human toxicity, non-cancer. • Land use related impacts. | 9th January 2032 |
Important note for LUS subscribers:
We have added a new profile code in the environment register for subscribers that this new legislation is relevant for.
You can add the ‘Manufacture and supply of construction products’ profile code in your register setup by following the steps here.
This will automatically add the entry for Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 laying down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products in your register if you have the EU selected as an applicable jurisdiction, as well as any additional future environment legislation relating to construction products.