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Building Revolution
EU Taxonomy
A practical guide for sustainable real estate development
The EU Taxonomy is a classification system that defines when economic activities can be considered environmentally sustainable. For the real estate sector, it is becoming one of the most influential regulatory tools, steering investment, financing and development decisions.
Large companies and financial institutions must report on the alignment of their activities with the Taxonomy, creating transparency for investors and ensuring that capital flows to truly sustainable assets.
Do no significant harm DNSH criteria for real estate
An activity can only be Taxonomy aligned if it does not harm other environmental objectives. Key DNSH criteria include:
- At least 70 percent of non hazardous construction and demolition waste must be prepared for reuse or recycling
- Building designs must demonstrate circularity, including efficient resource use, adaptability, flexibility and disassembly
Green Building Criteria
To qualify as a green building, projects must also meet the following:
- At least 90 percent of non hazardous waste must be prepared for reuse or recycling excluding backfilling
- Calculation of whole life cycle GWP carbon emissions
- Circular design proven by reporting on Level(s) indicators 2.3 and 2.4
- The three heaviest material categories must include a minimum amount of recycled or reused content
- Creation of a digital building passport
- For renovations: at least 50 percent of the original gross floor area must be preserved
Why the EU Taxonomy Matters
- Helps investors identify sustainable real estate assets
- Enhances access to green financing
- Provides clear, measurable sustainability criteria
- Supports long term value creation and risk management