New Construction Products Regulation: a practical guide for companies in 2026

The construction sector in Europe is entering a new regulatory phase. The new Construction Products Regulation redefines how products must be designed, manufactured, and marketed, but more importantly, it introduces something deeper: the obligation to work with structured data, including environmental data.

Although its rollout will be gradual, 2026 marks the start of its real application—and with it, the shift from theory to practice.

What is the Construction Products Regulation

The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) sets the rules for marketing products in the European Union under CE marking.

What it regulates

It defines how products must be:

• Designed
• Manufactured
• Assessed for performance
• Declared and marketed

It is no longer limited to product safety or functionality. The new approach increasingly incorporates sustainability and data management.

Who it affects

It impacts the entire value chain:

• Manufacturers
• Importers
• Distributors
• Companies that specify or select products

Timeline

• Legal entry into force: 2024
• Start of application: January 8, 2026
• Progressive rollout: 2026 to 2032

What changes in practice: from regulation to implementation plan

The key shift is not just the regulation itself, but the existence of an official work plan (2026–2029) that defines how it will be applied. This introduces three major changes for companies:

1. Regulation will be applied by product groups

The rollout will not be uniform. It will be structured by product families such as:

• Cement
• Insulation
• Windows and doors
• Glass
• Prefabricated elements

Each will have its own timeline, technical standards, and requirements.

2. A continuous regulatory wave until 2029 (and beyond)

The plan sets specific dates for the development of standards and their mandatory application.

• Initial impact: 2025–2026
• New requirements: 2027–2028
• Consolidation: 2029

3. Sustainability is integrated through technical standards

The regulation does not immediately impose mandatory carbon footprint reporting. Instead, it:

• Integrates environmental characteristics into product definitions
• Establishes common methodologies
• Introduces them progressively through harmonized standards

This includes:

• Global warming potential (carbon footprint)
• Life cycle data
• Circularity information

In addition, the European Commission is developing reference datasets to calculate these impacts. In other words, companies will not only need to report—they will need to do so using a common methodology.

What the Construction Products Regulation means for companies

The new regulation does not introduce a single obligation, but a structural shift in how product information is managed.

1. More demanding Declaration of Performance

Companies must continue issuing the Declaration of Performance (DoP), which includes:

• Technical characteristics such as strength or durability
• Intended use of the product

What’s new is clear:

• Environmental information is reinforced
• It aligns with frameworks such as the EU Taxonomy and ESG reporting

2. Products gain an environmental identity

The regulation promotes the integration of:

• Life cycle data (LCA)
• Product carbon footprint
• Information on reuse, recyclability, and recycled content

In practice, this means companies need traceable, verifiable, and structured data—not general estimates.

3. Digitalization of product information

One of the most significant changes is how information is managed.

It promotes:

• The digital product passport
• Access to information in digital format
• Interoperable systems

This means data must be:

• Comparable
• Updatable
• Integrable across systems

4. Greater responsibility across the value chain

The regulation extends obligations beyond manufacturers:

• Importers and distributors must also ensure compliance
• Traceability and documentation requirements are strengthened

This requires:

• Greater control over suppliers
• More transparency in the supply chain

5. Stronger CE marking framework

CE marking remains central, but with changes:

• Stricter verification requirements
• Increased market surveillance
• Less room for unsupported claims

What the regulation really means in practice

Until now, many organizations have worked with just enough information to comply. Some technical data, well-prepared documentation, and that was it. The problem is that this model is no longer sufficient.

From now on, it’s not just about declaring information—it’s about maintaining it over time, updating it, and, above all, connecting it.

Because the data required by the regulation does not live in one place. It is spread across production, procurement, sustainability, and quality. And when a requirement arises, companies often end up searching for it, rebuilding it, or simply estimating it.

The relationship with the product also changes. Before, it was enough to know it complied. Now, companies must explain how it performs, what its impact is, and where the data comes from. That requires a level of traceability many organizations have not yet fully achieved.

That’s why the real impact of the regulation is not a single new obligation, but something more transversal: how companies manage their information. Those who gain control over this will be able to adapt without friction.

How to adapt without turning it into an operational burden

When brought into the reality of a company, the challenge shifts from understanding the regulation to something much more practical: how to organize, maintain, and use all this information without starting from scratch every time requirements change.

The issue is rarely a lack of data—it’s that data is scattered, in different formats, and without a structure that allows it to be used efficiently. And when new requirements arrive, the effort multiplies.

This is where purpose-built solutions become relevant. Manglai allows companies to centralize all product information in a single system, connect data that is currently siloed, and automate processes that would otherwise require time and resources each time reporting is needed.

From calculating environmental indicators to preparing the information required for compliance, the goal is clear: to ensure compliance does not depend on redoing the work every time.

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In a context where requirements will grow progressively and in phases, having this foundation in place makes the difference—not just to comply, but to do so efficiently and with adaptability.

Because the regulation will continue to evolve. The real question is not whether there will be more requirements, but whether your company is ready to handle them without turning each change into an operational problem.

Frequently asked questions about the Construction Products Regulation

What does the Construction Products Regulation regulate?‍

It establishes how construction products must be designed, manufactured, assessed, and marketed in the European Union, including the information they must declare.

When does the new CPR apply?‍

Although it entered into force in 2024, it starts applying on January 8, 2026, with a progressive rollout.

Will carbon footprint reporting be mandatory?‍

Not immediately in all cases, but the regulation sets the framework for it to become mandatory progressively.

What changes compared to the previous regulation?‍

It expands information requirements, incorporates environmental criteria, and promotes the digitalization of product data.

Which companies are affected?‍

Primarily manufacturers, importers, and distributors of construction products, though it also impacts other actors in the value chain.

What should companies do now?‍

Start preparing their data: identify what information they have, structure it properly, and ensure they can meet future requirements.