A clear signal to the building materials industry: The German Society for Sustainable Building (DGNB) has launched the Sustainability Challenge 2026 and is calling for innovative solutions for climate-neutral construction – from bio-based adhesives to climate-neutral urban quarter development. The competition makes visible the innovation pressure under which the construction industry operates to develop climate-neutral materials and systems that are both compliant with standards and economically viable.
The thematic breadth of the Challenge shows where the greatest need for action lies from the DGNB's perspective: For adhesives and building chemistry, it is about replacing fossil-based binders used in virtually all building applications – from thermal insulation composite systems to floor coverings. Bio-based alternatives must not only convince in terms of CO₂ balance, but also meet building code requirements for fire behavior, emission classes according to the AgBB scheme, and durability. For planners, this means: Products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are becoming standard; the availability of abZ or ETA approvals determines market viability.
At the district level, the integration of recycled building materials is in focus. The DGNB emphasizes the need for closed material cycles – a topic already being addressed by manufacturers such as Austrotherm with their EPS recycling facility or Etex in cooperation with Heidelberg Materials in fiber cement recycling. What will be decisive is the scalability of such processes: Can recycled building materials be provided in consistent quality and at competitive prices without suffering in compressive strength classes or λ-values?
The competition also reflects regulatory pressure from the EU Taxonomy and national climate targets. For the building materials industry, this means concretely: Products without valid EPD data are losing market share. Manufacturers such as ROCKWOOL, which are already investing in expanded production capacity for mineral wool, are positioning themselves strategically for tightened energy efficiency requirements. The DGNB Challenge is likely to further accelerate the innovation race – particularly in cement alternatives, bio-based insulation materials, and circular composite systems.
For product managers and planners, the message is clear: Material innovations must in future provide transparent sustainability data in addition to technical performance and standards compliance. The DGNB Sustainability Challenge 2026 shows which topics will dominate the industry in the coming years.
