Mar 20, 2025

Prefabricated solutions in response to new climate requirements in construction

The Danish construction industry faces significant changes from 1 July 2025, when new climate requirements take effect. The requirements include documenting CO₂ emissions from the transport of building materials and integrating this data into life cycle assessments (LCA) for new construction. For many players, prefabricated building modules can help to meet these requirements.

Planning and prefabrication can reduce carbon footprint

Prefabricated solutions can mean benefits for both the climate and project finances. Also, as the modules are produced indoors under controlled conditions, weather is not such a determining factor. This can result in shorter construction times, less waste of materials and fewer errors. According to a study from the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University (Pedersen et al., 2024), precise schedules and the use of prefabrication can help avoid extended construction times and energy consumption during the winter months, reducing emissions by up to 42% in the cases covered by the study.

It is precisely these benefits that are shared by Green Box, and which are highlighted time and time again when the company is chosen as the bathroom supplier for large construction projects in Denmark. The same trend can be seen in the other Nordic markets, where the use of prefabricated modules is also on the rise.

Finished bathroom modules produced close to the construction project are delivered assembled and ready for installation for the company’s customers, and, in many instances, they can help keep transport costs and emissions to a minimum. Because deliveries can be carefully planned, the developer avoids orders being delivered arbitrarily, which would otherwise impact the environment more than necessary while at the same time making it easier for the developer or turnkey contractor to comply with the new climate requirement to minimise transport to and from the construction site.

New opportunity for recycled materials in prefabrication

One of the biggest benefits of prefabrication is the ability to integrate recycled materials in a controlled production environment, with materials such as used bricks, wood and metal being cleaned, processed and recycled directly into new building modules. This approach has the potential to reduce the need for new raw materials, minimise waste and thus contribute to more efficient construction.

Peter Munk, vice-president of the Danish Association of Construction Clients (DACC) explains the potential:

“In production environments where standardised processes are already established, it will be possible to integrate recycled materials more efficiently than on the construction site. Used bricks, for example, can be cleaned and reused directly in prefabricated elements. The same goes for other materials, but it requires that demolition companies make a priority of preserving as much as possible for reuse in new builds.”

This approach also provides an opportunity to rethink how materials are preserved during demolition. If demolition companies focus on ensuring that materials are in good condition, they can provide a valuable resource for prefabricated building module manufacturers.

Fewer challenges on site

As mentioned, new requirements are also being implemented regarding CO₂-consumption-based emissions to and from and at the construction site itself. This is where prefabrication plays a key role – by providing complete solutions that reduce the need for energy and lighting on site while optimising the workforce.

According to Peter Munk, prefabricated modules can play a key role in ensuring that buildings comply with the new CO₂ emission thresholds. “Prefabricated modules offer a unique opportunity to reduce waste of materials and minimise transport to and from the construction site, which is traditionally more extensive in construction on site,” he explains.

Drone photo of residential construction in progress.

Focus on the environment and future building requirements

The study from the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University shows that good planning and reducing unnecessary winter working days in certain projects analysed in the study can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 86%. This highlights how crucial prefabrication can be as a solution to both time constraints and the new climate requirements.

Green Box and many other prefabricated building module manufacturers go out of their way every day to reduce waste of materials and document their carbon footprint throughout the value chain. Therefore, the new climate requirements are also welcomed here, as the industry is already used to working with optimisation and various environmental certifications in construction.

Kirsten Sønderskov Andersen, CEO at Green Box, is also very clear about Green Box’s plans for the coming years. Additional production capacity will be established, and targeted efforts will be made to optimise production processes and further develop Green Box’s comprehensive documentation and quality assurance system, which is already well integrated in many of the construction projects where Green Box has been chosen as supplier. In addition, new material solutions must be considered to further reduce the LCA footprint of the company’s prefabricated bathrooms.