Thirteen major real estate parties have agreed hard cap values for emissions from building materials. Projects that exceed this ceiling value are basically not realized.
The thirteen parties involved signed a commitment Monday in which they agreed to adopt a target and ceiling value for material-related CO₂ emissions from their new construction projects. With these clear agreements, the signatories offer clarity to the market: everyone knows exactly what they have to comply with.
Steering sustainable building practice
Norbert Schotte of Building Balance calls the joint commitment a breakthrough. 'These major real estate parties collectively have a major influence on the direction of the construction sector,' he states. 'With this they show that they take this responsibility seriously. And the market knows where it stands: building projects that are insufficiently sustainable will no longer be developed or purchased. In this way they jointly steer a sustainable building practice.'
Smart, circular and biobased
The commitment describes three routes to reduce materials-related emissions. The first is to build smarter. This can be done by using materials more efficiently and making concrete and steel more sustainable. Second, more attention should be paid to circular construction, including through reuse and designs that can be easily disassembled. Third: bio-based construction using renewable materials such as wood, flax, hemp and straw.
Innovation
Currently, thirteen percent of global CO₂ emissions are attributable to building materials. Those emissions are released during the production, transportation, processing and application of building materials. The real estate parties' approach helps achieve the Paris climate goals of a 55 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and a completely climate-neutral sector by 2050. Furthermore, the new standard reduces the depletion of primary raw materials. Very important, because the construction sector is currently still responsible for about 50 percent of raw material consumption. Moreover, this approach creates more room for the necessary innovation in the construction chain.
From standard to policy
The commitment has been signed by Achmea Real Estate, Altera, Amvest, a.s.r. real estate, Bouwinvest, CBRE Investment Management, De Alliantie, Eigen Haard, NLV, Rochdale, Vesteda, Woonstad Rotterdam and Ymere. In the coming months, the parties will work out how they will give the agreements concrete form within their purchasing and development policies, how they will monitor and how they will share their practical experiences. The first evaluation will take place in the spring of 2026. Where necessary, the values will be further refined. The parties will also then discuss a possible extension of this approach to the renovation sector.
