Green Building Council España (GBCe) has released the 2024 Country Report: AdaptAction for a Resilient Society, a strategic document calling for a profound transformation of Spain’s urban development and building model. In response to climate change, health concerns, biodiversity loss, and social inequality, the report sets out a roadmap towards a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient built environment.
A Holistic Framework for Transforming the Built Environment
The report is structured around six interlinked strategic axes that GBCe believes should guide public policy, business decisions, and citizen action:
- Decarbonisation
A key focus is reducing carbon emissions throughout the entire building lifecycle—from material production to construction, use, and end of life. The report calls for the integration of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies and Global Warming Potential (GWP) indicators into Spain’s Technical Building Code (CTE), directly tying the shift to sustainable building materials.
- Health
Buildings and urban environments play a critical role in human physical and mental well-being. The report promotes the design of spaces that enhance indoor air quality, natural lighting, acoustic comfort, and access to green spaces—outcomes that are supported by the use of non-toxic, sustainable building materials.
- Biodiversity
GBCe calls for reuniting the built environment with nature through nature-based solutions, green roofs and walls, and ecological urban corridors. These strategies benefit from sustainable building materials that support biodiversity and environmental regeneration.
- Circular Economy
A major transformation is needed in the production models of the construction sector. The report advocates for recyclable and reusable materials, and building systems that allow easy disassembly—principles embedded in the philosophy of sustainable building materials and circular design.
- Integrated Renovation
The report strongly supports energy-efficient renovation of the existing building stock, prioritising the most vulnerable buildings and encouraging interventions that improve not just energy performance but also accessibility, liveability, and social value. Sustainable building materials play a crucial role in ensuring these renovations are long-lasting, low-impact, and future-proof.
- Resilient Society
The vision is of inclusive, climate-adaptive cities. The report stresses the need to guarantee the right to decent, sustainable housing for all, reduce energy vulnerability, and promote public participation in urban planning.
Key Recommendations
Highlights of the 2024 Country Report include:
- Mandating carbon emissions tracking across the full building lifecycle.
- Aligning Spain’s goals with the European Green Deal and the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.
- Establishing robust environmental data infrastructure for tracking materials and processes.
- Upskilling professionals in sustainability, health, and circular economy practices.
- Ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind.
HONEXT®: A Model of Sustainable Building Materials for a Circular Future
Aligned with GBCe’s principles, HONEXT® exemplifies innovation in sustainable building materials. Manufactured from sludge from paper manufacturing, HONEXT® boards are produced without toxic resins or harmful emissions. The result is a non-toxic interior panel that is 100% recyclable, healthy for occupants, and acts as a carbon sink, contributing to the decarbonisation of buildings.
HONEXT® has earned prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified® and C2C Certified® Material Health Certificate™ Gold Level, confirming both its low environmental impact and its safety for indoor environments. As a circular, regenerative material, it is a leading example of how sustainable building materials can directly support the goals of the 2024 Country Report in decarbonisation, health, and circularity.
Such solutions demonstrate that a shift towards a regenerative and resilient built environment is not only possible but already underway—powered by innovation, industry leadership, and a shared commitment to sustainable development.
