At a recent Futurebuild Connect365 webinar, delivered in partnership with One Click LCA, Steven Zijlstra (Product Marketing Manager, One Click LCA), Dr Nathan Wood (Senior Scientist & Carbon Co-Lead, Tunley Environmental), Matteo Dall’Ombra (Commercial Marketing Manager, Daikin UK), and host, Martin Hurn (Event Director, Futurebuild), outlined how new regulations are rapidly reshaping product specification and market access in the construction sector.

The key shift is clear: lifecycle assessment (LCA) is moving from reporting to decision-making. Frameworks like BREEAM v7 now require carbon data to be considered early in design, while updates to the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) introduces Digital Product Passports (DPP) expanding the role of digital product information. As a result, credible carbon data is becoming essential for specification, compliance and market access.

CBAM Introduces Real Carbon Costs

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will attach a financial cost to embedded emissions in imported goods. In the EU, CBAM’s definite regime started in 2026 and the data will determine financial exposure from 2027, with costs rising to full implementation by 2034. The UK will introduce a similar scheme from 2027.

Data Quality Drives Competitiveness

CBAM creates a clear divide:

· Default emissions data: easier to use but more expensive

· Verified actual data: more complex but lowers long-term costs

Verified carbon data can reduce CBAM liability compared to default values, improving cost competitiveness and potentially enhancing profit margins.

Carbon Becomes a Procurement Factor

Procurement decisions are evolving from price-only comparisons to price plus carbon. Buyers will increasingly assess both emissions levels and data credibility, making carbon a key differentiator in supplier selection.

Industry Response

Daikin shared how it is responding by adopting Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and TM65 methodology. This has enabled earlier project engagement, stronger client trust, and improved positioning in sustainability-driven tenders.

The Bottom Line

Carbon transparency is no longer optional; it is becoming a core commercial requirement. Companies that invest in accurate, verifiable emissions data now will be better positioned to compete in a carbon-constrained market.

Key session takeaways:

1. Carbon data is becoming a requirement for market access

· Clients, specifiers, and regulation (BREEAM v7, CPR) are driving demand for verified environmental data

· Without it, products risk not being specified or even considered

2. Carbon is now a commercial factor — not just sustainability

· Mechanisms like CBAM are turning carbon into a cost component

· Data quality directly impacts price, competitiveness, and supplier selection

· The question is shifting to: “What does this product cost including carbon?”

3. Early action creates competitive advantage

· Providing EPDs and usable carbon data already sets manufacturers apart

· Enables earlier engagement, stronger positioning, and better product decisions

You don’t need perfect data; you need credible, usable data.

WATCH THE WEBINAR PANEL DISCUSSION