Over the course of a pivotal week in Brussels, BPIE participated in a series of events that placed whole-life carbon (WLC) at the centre of Europe’s conversation on the future of buildings. These discussions, hosted by WorldGBC, Eurima, and the INDICATE LIFE consortium, brought together policymakers, architects, researchers, and construction industry leaders — all united by a common goal: to support the upcoming Delegated Act under the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and advance climate-neutral buildings across Europe.

An opportunity for policy alignment and market transformation

The recast EPBD, adopted earlier this year, requires the European Commission to deliver a Delegated Act by the end of 2025. This act will establish an EU-wide methodology for calculating the global warming potential (GWP) of buildings across their full life cycle — from material extraction and construction to operation and eventual demolition.

This is a crucial step. While operational emissions have long been the focus of building regulations, embodied emissions — the carbon associated with construction materials and processes — have largely escaped regulatory scrutiny. Yet, they account for a significant and growing share of the sector’s total climate impact. Introducing a harmonised, fair and comprehensive approach to WLC is not only a policy necessity — it’s an opportunity for innovation and leadership.

Shared commitments, common messages

At Eurima’s “Industry Talks” event on June 4, BPIE presented findings from its latest report: “A common vision for climate-neutral buildings: a comprehensive and harmonised framework for whole-life carbon measurement.” The report outlines key principles for a future EU methodology and highlights the potential of WLC regulation to accelerate decarbonisation, improve transparency, and create a level playing field across the construction sector.

A recurring message throughout the events was clear: industry is on board. From materials manufacturers to designers and developers, stakeholders expressed their readiness to support the Delegated Act. What they want in return is a fair framework — one that ensures comparability, builds capacity, and recognises national contexts while setting a common direction.

Speakers emphasised that the success of WLC policy depends on enabling the entire value chain to take ownership. Industry representatives called for greater visibility on how far decarbonisation efforts can go, while architects stressed the need for early integration of LCA in the design phase and a new way of thinking about building longevity, flexibility and purpose. As Eliah Mallants from Evolta put it, “We need to rethink the question. It’s not just about reducing emissions, it’s about imagining a more attractive, sustainable built environment from the start.”

BPIE’s Zsolt Toth highlighted how momentum around whole-life carbon has been steadily building — not only among policymakers but also across the construction value chain.

“What’s really encouraging is that we’ve seen a genuine community form around whole-life carbon. For the first time, it feels like WLC holds the promise to overcome the notorious fragmentation that has long characterised both industry and policy. There’s a shared momentum now — and that’s powerful.”

Designing for impact

One theme stood out across the week: whole-life carbon is a lens through which we can rethink what we build, how we build, and why we build. With a holistic and integrated design approach, emissions can be reduced in smarter, more cost-effective ways — without compromising quality or affordability.

The message from the INDICATE LIFE project, where BPIE is a lead partner, echoed this vision. By developing WLC data infrastructure and benchmarks in five EU countries, the project is laying the groundwork for national implementation of the Delegated Act. The aim is clear: make WLC assessment scalable, reliable, and central to how we define building performance.

Next steps

With momentum building, now is the time to set a strong foundation for WLC policy in the EU. The Delegated Act is a one-time opportunity to ensure consistency, foster innovation, and empower countries to move forward with confidence. As the Commission begins work on its proposal, BPIE’s new report offers clear recommendations and a shared vision to guide the way.

📄 Read our report: A common vision for climate-neutral buildings