Building for tomorrow starts with decisions made today

For investors, a building is not just a construction project. It is a long-term asset.

An office building opening its doors today could still be welcoming tenants in 2050. During that time, ownership may change, regulations will evolve and occupier expectations will almost certainly look different from today. Yet many of the materials that determine the building's future performance are chosen before construction even begins.

That is why investors are paying more attention to choices made early in a project. Some of these choices can still matter many years after the building is completed. One example is emissions from building materials. A few years ago, this topic was rarely discussed. Today, it is becoming more relevant in project decisions.

Why are material emissions becoming more relevant?

When building performance is discussed, the focus typically falls on energy efficiency, operating costs, fire safety and durability. These are still the criteria that shape most project decisions.

Yet project teams are increasingly looking at factors that extend beyond traditional performance criteria. Information that once sat deep within technical documentation is moving closer to the specification stage, particularly on projects where sustainability targets and future compliance are under closer scrutiny.

VOC and formaldehyde emissions are a good example. A few years ago, they were rarely discussed outside specialist circles. Today, they are appearing more frequently in design reviews, certification processes and project documentation.

European regulation reflects that trend. New requirements coming into force in August 2026 will introduce stricter limits for formaldehyde emissions. While the regulation covers a broader range of substances, formaldehyde remains one of the key indicators used to assess emissions performance in many building products.

Why should investors care?

At first glance, material emissions can seem like a topic for product specialists, consultants and testing laboratories rather than investors.

When investing in a building, few decisions are made with the next thirty years in mind. Yet this is exactly the period during which regulations, sustainability expectations and tenant demands are likely to change several times. A building completed today may be sold, refinanced or assessed against new sustainability requirements years from now. In those situations, the availability of reliable product data and documented performance can become more valuable than anyone anticipated during the original design phase.

A few years ago, emissions data rarely featured in discussions outside technical teams. Today, it is more likely to appear in project reviews, certification processes and sustainability assessments. That change alone says a lot about where the industry is heading.

In practice, this means that product choice is no longer judged only on how it performs today. Investors are increasingly considering how easily performance can be demonstrated years later if additional documentation or verification is required.

For most investors, success is not measured on the day the ribbon is cut. It is measured years later, when the building is being leased, refinanced, sold or assessed against new market expectations.

Why low-emission materials are gaining attention

Low-emission materials are getting more attention because people now want clearer proof of what is used in a building. It is no longer enough to say that a product performs well. Project teams may also need to show how it was tested, what it emits and which documents support those claims.

Whether the driver is regulation, certification or sustainability reporting, project teams are being asked to provide more evidence about the products they specify. That includes information on emissions performance, testing methods and supporting documentation.

This is not a future target for Trimo. The company's specialised solution achieves formaldehyde emissions that are eight times lower than the limit introduced under the new European requirements.

While the new formaldehyde threshold for most relevant products will be 80 micrograms per cubic metre from August 2026, these results demonstrate that significantly lower emission levels are already being achieved today.

Looking ahead

Most buildings will outlive the assumptions made when they were designed. Over the next twenty or thirty years, expectations will change, regulations will evolve and new priorities will emerge.

While no investor can predict everything that lies ahead, decisions made during specification can help reduce uncertainty later. Choosing products with proven performance is one way of building greater confidence into a project from the very beginning.

Ultimately, successful investments are not judged only on opening day. They are judged years later, when the building is still delivering value despite changing regulations, market expectations and tenant needs.

Because building for tomorrow's requirements starts with the decisions made today.