Insights into EU Sustainability Regulations Promoting Wood as a Climate-Smart Construction Material

Abstract

In response to the growing challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the European Union announced the Green Deal on 11 December 2019, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, a series of regulatory measures have been introduced to promote sustainability in the construction sector. This paper examines key EU regulations that, while not explicitly mandating wood, create conditions favorable to timber and wood-based products due to their low-carbon and renewable properties. The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) encourages timber adoption through voluntary carbon removal incentives, whereas the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR) represents a mandatory intervention, embedding environmental and climate criteria directly into market standards. Additional regulations, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), and the Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), further support wood by promoting resource efficiency, responsible sourcing, energy performance, and long-term carbon storage. Together, these measures form a multi-layered framework in which voluntary and binding instruments interact, indirectly supporting sustainable construction practices. Given its ability to store carbon over extended periods and achieve a net negative footprint in life cycle assessments, wood emerges as a strategic material for advancing the EU’s climate objectives