On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EU) 305/2011
ENVI-PA-736636
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Sara Matthieu
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The draft opinion responds to the Commission's proposal for a regulation on harmonised conditions for marketing construction products. The rapporteur welcomes the proposal but says further measures are needed for a climate-neutral, toxic-free circular economy.¶¶¶ The rapporteur proposes amendments: environmental requirements set by Commission acts rather than standards, mandatory life cycle assessment, basic sustainability obligations for all manufacturers, and a timeline for mandatory green public procurement criteria.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal but finds further measures are needed for a climate-neutral, toxic-free circular economy, and proposes amendments on Commission acts, life cycle assessment, sustainability obligations and green public procurement.¶¶¶
Key points
- The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal, especially new opportunities to promote sustainability and increase competition and innovation in sustainable construction products.¶
- The rapporteur finds further measures are needed to reach a European climate-neutral, toxic-free circular economy for construction products and proposes amendments.¶¶
- Harmonised standards are burdensome, slow and unable to fulfil Union environment and climate objectives; environmental requirements should be set through Commission acts and updated regularly.¶
- Using Commission acts increases democratic oversight; mandatory thresholds should be developed by the Commission, involving Parliament and the Council, not the standardisation process.¶
- The new Construction Products Regulation should follow the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation as closely as possible, with a clear working plan for harmonised standards and Commission acts.¶
- The rapporteur proposes making life cycle assessment of all relevant essential characteristics mandatory, using science-based tools such as the updated Product Environmental Footprint method.¶
- Basic, common sustainability obligations, including promoting recyclable and recycled materials and providing information on repair, remanufacturing and recycling, should apply to all manufacturers.¶
- The Commission should be empowered to develop more detailed requirements where necessary.
- The rapporteur proposes a clear timeline for developing mandatory criteria for public procurement of construction products.¶
Who is affected
- Construction product manufacturers, who would face mandatory life cycle assessment and basic sustainability obligations.¶¶
- Public authorities, who would apply mandatory green public procurement criteria for construction products.¶
- The European Commission, which would set environmental requirements and thresholds through acts and develop detailed requirements.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- Construction products account for half of raw materials used in Europe.¶
- Construction products generate a third of the EU's total waste.
- Construction products account for almost 10% of the EU's total carbon footprint.
- Only 1% of construction products are reused.