December 2025: New Sustainability Standard Reshapes Environmental

December 2025: New Sustainability Standard Reshapes Environmental Assessment in Construction

The construction industry has taken a significant leap toward greener practices with the publication of EN 15978:2026 in December 2025. This pivotal standard establishes robust requirements and guidance for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings—impacting new, existing, and refurbished structures. For industry leaders, engineers, sustainability managers, and quality professionals, this update offers both a technical and strategic roadmap to improving sustainability credentials and meeting evolving legislative and client demands. This article examines the essential criteria and practical impact of this new European standard shaping the future of environmental assessment in construction.

Overview / Introduction

Construction Materials have long been subject to evolving regulation due to their central role in sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and health and safety. Standards play a critical role in ensuring construction projects minimize negative environmental impacts while delivering value across the building lifecycle—from design to deconstruction.

Sustainability in the built environment is no longer optional. With stricter European Union requirements and market expectations, professionals must implement standardized, transparent methodologies for assessing environmental performance. This article will help you understand the scope, obligations, and benefits of the newly released standard, EN 15978:2026, guiding you through its core requirements, technical insights, and what they mean for compliance and industry advancement.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN 15978:2026 – Sustainability of Construction Works: Assessment of Environmental Performance of Buildings

Full Standard Title:Sustainability of construction works - Assessment of environmental performance of buildings - Requirements and guidance

EN 15978:2026 sets out the framework and calculation methodologies that enable construction professionals to evaluate the environmental impacts of buildings throughout their life cycle. Applicable to new structures, existing buildings, and refurbishment projects, this standard is designed for use by a broad array of stakeholders:

Architects and design teams
Engineers and technical consultants
Quality and compliance professionals
Developers and building owners
Certification and auditing bodies

Scope and Application

The standard offers a comprehensive approach to environmental assessment based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) principle, integrating environmental product declarations (EPDs), system boundaries, and relevant European frameworks such as Level(s). It covers:

Assessment and reporting of a building and its site
Procedures for inventory analysis and calculation of environmental indicators
Local environmental impacts—including emissions to air, water, and soil
Energy generated and reported on-site, and considerations for circularity
Requirements for data quality, reporting, and transparent communication

The guidance applies to the entire life cycle of the building, explicitly encompassing construction products, installation, operation, refurbishment, deconstruction, and end-of-life processing.

Key Requirements and Specifications

Functional Equivalence: A minimum set of required technical and functional performance characteristics for meaningful comparison and benchmarking
System Boundary Definition: Detailed description of which processes and stages (modules A0 to D2) are included in the assessment, in alignment with EN 15804 and related norms
Inventory Analysis: Methodology for collecting and processing environmental data, including product stages, construction, use, and end-of-life
Indicators: Calculation and reporting of key environmental impacts, such as global warming potential (GWP), abiotic depletion potential (ADP), and water deprivation potential (WDP)
Scenario Modelling: Requirements for developing and documenting life cycle scenarios, including baseline and prospective (future) conditions
Circularity and Resource Efficiency: Assessment of material reuse, recycling, ease of disassembly, and alignment with the principles of a circular economy
Reporting and Communication: Standardized formats and requirements for presenting results, enabling transparent communication with stakeholders and supporting policy and market instruments

Notable Changes from the Previous Edition

EN 15978:2026 brings several significant advancements over EN 15978:2011:

Harmonization with EN 15804+A2, ensuring consistent environmental indicators and modules
Expanded guidance for decoupling emissions, refurbishment (B5), water use (B7), and building-integrated energy reporting
Clearer assignment and scenario rules between replacement (B4) and refurbishment (B5)
Synergies with the circular economy are now normative, including ease of disassembly and material recoverability
Integration of macro-objectives from the EU Level(s) framework and explicit support for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Who Must Comply?

Compliance with EN 15978:2026 is recommended for:

Organizations pursuing sustainability certifications or market recognition
Developers and public sector clients responding to procurement or regulatory requirements
Design and engineering firms committed to best practice
Facility managers and organizations involved in building refurbishment, energy upgrades, or lifecycle costing

Practical implementation is relevant for both new projects and major upgrades to existing buildings.

Key highlights:

Comprehensive life cycle approach, spanning pre-construction to end-of-life
Integrated reporting for local and global impacts, with robust data requirements
Essential for achieving regulatory compliance, market competitiveness, and credible sustainability reporting

Access the full standard:View EN 15978:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The introduction of EN 15978:2026 has far-reaching implications for the construction sector’s approach to sustainability. Organizations adopting this standard demonstrate robust environmental responsibility and are better aligned to meet evolving European and global market requirements.

How This Standard Affects Businesses

Tendering Advantage: Projects assessed against EN 15978 are often favored in public procurement and green building programs
Certification and Benchmarking: Supports BREEAM, LEED, DGNB, and the EU Level(s) frameworks
Regulatory Compliance: Anticipates or enables compliance with future environmental regulations across the EU and beyond

Compliance Considerations

Organizations must ensure their project data, EPDs, and processes match the technical requirements of the standard
Implementation hinges on robust data collection, scenario development, and transparent reporting
Timeline: While alignment with EN 15978:2026 isn’t always a legal obligation upon publication, early adoption smooths future regulatory transitions and reduces compliance risk

Benefits of Adoption

Measurable reduction in environmental footprint
Enhanced transparency and stakeholder trust
Pathways to achieving net zero carbon and other sustainability targets
Access to sustainable finance, green bonds, and innovation-driven markets

Risks of Non-Compliance

Contractual and regulatory penalties where compliance is mandated
Reduced competitiveness in green procurement and certification opportunities
Potential reputational damage in an increasingly ecological market context

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements Across the Standard

EN 15978:2026 builds on a modular assessment structure, with clearly defined information modules (A0–D2):

Product Stage (A1–A3): Raw material extraction, manufacturing, and supply
Construction Process (A4–A5): Transport and site activities, including waste
Use Stage (B1–B7/B8): Operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, refurbishment, energy and water use
End-of-Life (C1–C4): Deconstruction, demolition, waste processing, and disposal
Beyond the System Boundary (Module D): Reuse, recovery, and benefits of building material and energy beyond the original project

The assessment must be based on high-quality, traceable data, typically drawn from third-party verified EPDs and manufacturer information. Data quality and granularity are critical for subsystem and component assessments, especially for:

Operational energy and water consumption
Embodied carbon and material cycles
Site-sourced emissions and localized impacts

Implementation Best Practices

Involve Multidisciplinary Teams: Early-phase collaboration between design, engineering, sustainability, and procurement is crucial for holistic assessment.
Develop Robust Scenarios: Use dynamic, project-specific life cycle scenarios to forecast future impacts and improvements.
Leverage Digital Tools: Invest in BIM and LCA software platforms for streamlined data integration and reporting.
Engage Suppliers: Specify data and reporting requirements for product manufacturers and supply chain partners.
Continuous Training: Keep teams updated on evolving standards and data quality requirements.

Testing and Certification Considerations

Use third-party verified EPDs in line with EN 15804+A2
Implement internal audits and documentation processes for traceability
Coordinate with certification schemes (e.g., BREEAM, LEED, DGNB) for cross-recognition
Prepare for periodic updates to scenarios and EPDs as part of ongoing asset and facility management

Conclusion / Next Steps

Adoption of EN 15978:2026 marks a breakthrough in sustainable construction, setting a new benchmark for transparency, comparability, and environmental responsibility. Its life cycle framework serves as the foundation for credible reporting, robust performance tracking, and value-driven decision-making in the built environment.

Key Takeaways

The new standard delivers cutting-edge methodologies for life cycle and circularity assessment
Early adoption future-proofs organizations for regulatory and market shifts
Structured, transparent reporting enhances credibility with both regulators and clients

Recommendations

Review procedures, data collection, and reporting practices in line with EN 15978:2026
Invest in team training and capacity building for LCA-based environmental assessment
Engage your supply chain and design partners early to maximize lifecycle performance gains
Monitor harmonization with EU frameworks and prepare for future evolutions in sustainability standards

Explore the full standard and related resources on iTeh Standards to ensure your projects lead in sustainability and compliant delivery for the construction sector of tomorrow.

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